Normally, sovereign countries demand entry Visas to enable foreign nationals entry into their land. However, some countries may relax those laws in order to encourage travel, tourism, or business within their borders, or sometimes just to boost their relationships with certain countries, these are the countries that fill up the South Africa passport Visa-Free countries.
As South Africans, your passports are respected all over the world, and this is because of the good foreign relations policies of the government, and also because of the general good behavior of South African citizens who have travelled to other countries.
The following are the passport visa-free countries you can go to with your South African passport, even without an entry Visa. We also state necessary information about what you need to know before going to those countries.
South Africa Passport Visa Free Countries List
Angola
Duration of stay: 30 days
Special stipulation: 30 days per visit, up to 90 days per year.
Antigua and Barbuda
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 1 month
Argentina
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Armenia
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 120 days
Azerbaijan
Entry Requirements: evisa
Duration of stay: 30 days
Special stipulation: Extendable up to 8 months.
Bahamas
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Special stipulation: Extendable up to 8 months.
Bahrain
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Duration of stay: 14 days
Special stipulation: Extendable up to 8 months.
Barbados
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 6 Months
Special stipulation: Extendable up to 8 months.
Belize
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Special stipulation: Extendable up to 8 months.
Benin
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 Days
Special stipulation: Extendable up to 8 months.
Bolivia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Special stipulation: Extendable up to 8 months.
Botswana
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Special stipulation: Extendable up to 8 months.
Cambodia
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Cameroon
Entry Requirements: Pre-approved visa can be picked up on arrival.
Canada
Entry Requirements: A Visa is required, but holders of the Right of Abode to the UK with a Certificate of Entitlement as proof of authenticity may enter the country without Visas.
Cape Verde
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Chile
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
China
Entry Requirements: You will need a Visa to visit China on extended trips.
Stipulations: 24-Hour Transit Visa obtainable at the airport.
You can get a 5-day Schenzen Visa at the Shenzhen border if travelling from Hong Kong or Macao. The stipulation is that you must stay within Shenzhen City and surroundings. You must also leave the country at the end of your 5-day permission.
Colombia
Entry Requirements: Visa required for extended stays, but a Transit visa is not required.
Costa Rica
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Croatia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Stipulation: You may enter with a Valid multiple entry Schengen visa or if you have a valid multiple entry visa for Bulgaria, Cyprus or Romania.
Cuba
Entry Requirements: Visa is not required, but you need a ‘Tourist card.’
Duration of stay: Stay as long as you like
Djibouti
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Duration of stay: 31 days
Dominica
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 6 months
Dominican Republic
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of Stay: Stay as long as you like
Ecuador
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Egypt
Entry Requirements: Visa required, however, South African citizens who are holders of residence permits issued by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, or the United Arab Emirates, can get an entry visa immediately on arrival for a maximum duration of 30 days. The residence permit must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date they arrive in Egypt. They must also enter Egypt by air.
El Salvador
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Eritrea
Entry Requirements: Visa required
You can enter the country without a Visa but it must have been pre-approved. You will then pick it up upon arrival in the country.
Eswatini
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Ethiopia
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: up to 90 days
You can get a Visa online, or on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. eVisa holders must also arrive at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
Fiji
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 4 months
Gabon
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Georgia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 1 year
Grenada
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Guatemala
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Guinea
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Duration of stay: 90 days
Guinea-Bissau
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 90 days
Guyana
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Haiti
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Honduras
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
India
Entry Requirements: e-Visa
Duration of stay: 60 days
Stipulation: India is quite liberal: e-Visa holders can come in through 26 designated airports, and 3 designated seaports. e-Tourist Visas can only be obtained twice in one year.
Indonesia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Stipulations: You can either stay for 30 days without a Visa, or get a visa on arrival. If you choose to stay without a Visa you must leave after 30 days, while if you get a Visa on Arrival you may extend your stay after 30 days.
Iran
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Ireland
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Ireland does not require entry Visa from South African’s however, you must not cross into Northern Ireland unless with a valid UK Visa. Visa checks may be carried out along strategic points.
Israel
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Jamaica
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 180 Days
Jordan
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Kenya
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
South Korea
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Stipulation: Extendable up to 90 days.
Kyrgyzstan
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 1 month
Stipulations: Visa on arrival available at Manas International Airport. Visitors coming in with eVisas too must come in through Manas International Airport or Osh Airport.
Laos
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
You may enter Laos with eVisa, at the following airports: Wattay International Airport and the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
You can also get a Visa on arrival at international airports Luangphabang, Pakse, Savannakhet and Vientiane. Visa on Arrival is also available at 4 land borders, Friendship Bridge, and train stations.
You may extend your Visa on arrival up to 60 days.
Lesotho
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Madagascar
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 90 days
Malawi
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Malaysia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Maldives
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 90 days
Marshall Islands
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 90 days
Micronesia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Mozambique
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Myanmar
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Duration of stay: 28 days
Stipulations: eVisa holders must arrive via Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports. If they must arrive by land: Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung or Rih Khaw Dar and Tamu.
eVisa available for both tourism or business visits.
Namibia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Nicaragua
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Oman
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Duration of stay: 30 days
Pakistan
Entry Requirements: Online Visa
Stipulations: You can get Electronic Travel Authorization to obtain a visa when you arrive for business purposes
Palau
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Panama
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 180 days
Papua New Guinea
Entry Requirements: Easy Visitor Permit (Just for Documentation)
Duration of stay: 30 days
Paraguay
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Peru
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 180 days
Philippines
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Qatar
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Stipulations: to enter the country without a visa you have to come in through Hamad International Airport. The Visa Waiver Facility lasts for 30 days. If you intend to stay less than 1 night, please get a travel visa instead.
You can also get an eVisa, Transit Visa from Qatar Airways.
Russia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Stipulations: You can only be in Russia for 90 days within any 180 day period.
Rwanda
eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Saint Lucia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 6 weeks
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 1 month
Samoa
Entry Requirements: Entry Permit on arrival
Duration of stay: 60 days
São Tomé and Príncipe
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Senegal
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 90 days
Seychelles
Entry Requirements: No Visa required, but you need a Visitor’s Permit on arrival, just for documentation.
Duration of stay: 3 months
Sierra Leone
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Singapore
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Somalia
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Stipulation: You can get a visa on arrival at Bosaso Airport, Galcaio Airport and Mogadishu Airport.
South Sudan
Entry Requirements: Electronic Visa
Stipulations: you can get the electronic visa online, but must submit a printed copy at the time of entry.
Sri Lanka
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Suriname
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Tajikistan
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Duration of stay: 45 days
Stipulation: E-visa holders can enter through all border points
Tanzania
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Thailand
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Stipulation: you may stay in the country without a visa for a maximum of two visits annually if not arriving by air. Your initial 30 day stay can be extended by 30 days at any Immigration Office within Thailand.
Timor-Leste
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Togo
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Information from the Togo Embassy in the United Kingdom that is not found in the IATA database which states that visa is obtainable on arrival
Trinidad and Tobago
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Tunisia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Turkey
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Duration of stay: 30 days
Tuvalu
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 1 month
Uganda
Entry Requirements: eVisa / Visa on arrival
You may apply online.
Ukraine
Entry Requirements: eVisa
You may apply for the evisa online.
Uruguay
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Vanuatu
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Venezuela
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Zambia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Zimbabwe
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Kosovo
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 90 days
Northern Cyprus
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months
Palestine
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Stipulations: Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed.
Somaliland
Entry Requirements: Visa on arrival
Duration of stay: 30 days
Stipulations: The Visa is obtainable for 30 US dollars, payable on arrival.
South Ossetia
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Stipulations: You need a multiple entry visa to Russia, and still need a three day prior notification to enter South Ossetia.
Transnistria
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Stipulations: even though an entry visa is not required, you need to register your arrival after 24h.
Hong Kong
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days.
Stipulations: A landing slip with stay conditions will be issued to you upon arrival. This document shows that as a South African you are not required to have a visa.
Macau
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Réunion
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 3 months.
Stipulations: Travel to mainland France is prohibited unless you have a Valid Schengen Visa. You will meet regular Identity and Visa checks.
Cook Islands (New Zealand Territory)
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 31 days
Niue (New Zealand Territory)
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days
Anguilla
Entry Requirements: Electronic Visa
You do not need a visa if: You already have a visa for the UK, US or Canada.
British Virgin Islands
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 30 days, extensions possible
Cayman Islands
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 6 months
Falkland Islands
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Montserrat
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration of stay: 6 months
Pitcairn Islands
Entry Requirements: Visa not required
Duration: 14 days visa-free.
Stipulation: you must pay a landing fee of US$35 or a tax of US$5 if not going ashore.
Ascension Island
Entry Requirements: eVisa
Duration of stay: 3 months within any year period
Saint Helena
Entry Requirements: No visa is required but you need a Visitor’s Pass for documentation.
Stipulations: You can get the visitor’s pass for 12,14,16,20,25 pounds sterling, depending on duration.
Conclusion:
Please remember that you have been afforded the privilege of entering these countries without visas largely because of the good behavior of other South African nationals who have visited these countries before you. Therefore, you must ensure that you comply with all directives, and obey all laws that apply in the countries you are travelling to.
Please take a while to learn about the South Africa passport visa free countries, the people, and the cultures of these places so as not to take any action that may be contrary to their culture, and constitute a nuisance.