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South Africa visa requirements by passport

Holders of 120 passports can enter South Africa without applying at an embassy: 93 visa-free, 4 with an online eTA and 23 with an eVisa. The other 78 need an embassy visa.

Source: Passport Index dataset (visualpharm/visa-free-dataset, updated 2026-06-14) + 181 sourced corrections (last checked 2026-10-15). Page built 15 October 2026. Report an error

Check your passport

Daily cost
~$85 per day
Best weather
Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov
Main airport
JNB
US travel advisory
Level 2: Exercise increased caution

Pick your passport to see the entry rule for South Africa, how long you can stay and a flight search.

Official South Africa eTA website

Apply only on the government's own website. Agencies and look-alike sites charge extra and can delay your trip. The lists below show which passports need an eVisa or eTA for South Africa.

Apply for the eTA on the official website

eta.dha.gov.za

The government fee is shown on the official website.

Look-alike websites charge extra "service fees". Check the address before you pay.

Source: Department of Home Affairs, South Africa (checked 9 October 2026)

Recent rule changes for South Africa

  • 1 October 2025 · China, Indonesia, India and Mexico

    South Africa's online ETA replaced visitor visas for China, India, Indonesia and Mexico

    Now eTA · 90dRead the detailsSource

Entry rules for South Africa by passport

Visa free93 passports

Show your passport at the border. Bring proof of your return trip.

eTA4 passports

A quick online travel authorization, usually approved within days. Apply before you fly.

eVisa23 passports

Apply on the official government website before you fly. No embassy visit.

Embassy visa required for 78 passports

South Africa entry: common questions

Which passports can enter South Africa without a visa?

Holders of 93 passports can enter South Africa visa-free: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Who needs an eTA or eVisa for South Africa?

An online eTA is needed for China, India, Indonesia and Mexico passport holders. An eVisa, applied for online before you fly, is needed for Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Cameroon, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Iran, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of the Congo, Senegal and Uganda passport holders. Apply only on the official government website, eta.dha.gov.za; other sites add service fees.

How up to date are these South Africa entry rules?

The visa data comes from the Passport Index dataset (visualpharm/visa-free-dataset, updated 2026-06-14) + 181 sourced corrections (last checked 2026-10-15). This page was built on 15 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with South Africa's official immigration website or embassy before you travel.