Travellers from Côte d'Ivoire with SA passports can reach 108 destinations without visas

South African passport holders can reach 108 destinations without going through a traditional visa application before departure, according to the latest data from Passport Reports. The passport ranks 86th globally, with a Mobility Score of 108 and global access of 54.5%.

Key facts

• Global rank: 86th, with a Mobility Score of 108 and global access of 54.5%
• Visa-free access: 59 destinations
• Visa on arrival or simplified entry: 42 destinations
• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): 7 destinations
• Visa required before travel: 90 destinations
• African ranking: third out of 54 African passports

How is the Mobility Score calculated?

Passport Reports builds the score by adding together destinations that are visa-free, those accessible through visa on arrival or other simplified entry arrangements, and those accessible with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Where passports share the same overall Mobility Score, visa-free access, ETA access and visa-on-arrival or simplified-entry access are used as tie-breakers.

The ranking means more than half of the destinations assessed by Passport Reports can be reached by South African passport holders without the traditional visa application process before travelling.

Where does South Africa rank against other groups?

Within Africa, the passport is among the stronger ones: third out of 54 African passports and third among the 54 African Union member states. Passport Reports records total access for South African passport holders across Africa at 71.7% once visa-free, simplified-entry and ETA destinations are combined.

Elsewhere, South Africa ranks fourth among 11 BRICS countries, 15th among 19 G20 countries, 26th among 56 Commonwealth countries and 38th among 132 G77 countries.

Does visa-free mean no paperwork?

Not always. Even where no traditional visa is required before departure, travellers may still face additional requirements. The report lists Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand as requiring arrival cards, while Côte d'Ivoire requires pre-registration. Seychelles has a tourist registration requirement, and travellers heading to Cabo Verde are subject to its EASE procedure.

How long can you stay?

Permitted stays vary widely between destinations. Passport Reports lists maximum stays of up to 360 days in Georgia, while Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Peru are listed at up to 180 days. Numerous other destinations allow stays of up to 90 days.

What this means for travellers

South African passport holders should check the specific entry requirements of their destination before booking, even when no traditional visa is required, since arrival cards, pre-registration or registration procedures may apply and permitted stays differ from one country to the next.

Not the same as South Africa's welcoming ranking

Passport Reports separates passport strength from how easy it is for foreign nationals to enter South Africa. On that welcoming measure, South Africa ranks 92nd among 199 countries — a figure that relates to entry requirements faced by foreign passport holders travelling into South Africa, not to how easily South Africans can travel abroad.

The report also notes that different passport indexes can produce different rankings because they may classify entry arrangements differently or use different scoring methods.