South Africa Passport Visa Free Countries List (2023)

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.