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Travel photo of South Africa

Visa free countries · updated 17 June 2026

South Africa passport cover

Flag of South AfricaSouth African Passport Visa-Free Countries: Where Can South Africa Passport Holders Travel?

South Africa passport holders can visit 61 countries without a visa, 6 of them with no time limit. That ranks the South Africa passport #96 of 199.

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61
Visa-free destinations
6
With unlimited stay
55
With a time-limited stay
90 days
Most common stay (33 countries)
  • Visa-free, unlimited
  • Visa-free, limited days
  • Visa on arrival
  • eTA
  • eVisa
  • Visa required
  • South Africa

Below is the full list of countries that South Africa citizens can enter without a visa. The map shows visa-free countries in green — darker for an unlimited stay, lighter where the stay is limited to a set number of days, most often 90 days (3 months). Always check the destination's entry conditions before you travel: most countries require a passport valid for at least six months.

Visa-free destinations for South Africa passport

CountryEntryMaximum stay
Flag of AngolaAngola Visa-free 30 days
Flag of Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda Visa-free 180 days
Flag of ArgentinaArgentina Visa-free 90 days
Flag of BahamasBahamas Visa-free 90 days
Flag of BarbadosBarbados Visa-free 180 days
Flag of BelizeBelize Visa-free Unlimited
Flag of BeninBenin Visa-free 90 days
Flag of BotswanaBotswana Visa-free 90 days
Flag of BrazilBrazil Visa-free 90 days
Flag of ChileChile Visa-free 90 days
Flag of Costa RicaCosta Rica Visa-free 180 days
Flag of DominicaDominica Visa-free 180 days
Flag of Dominican RepublicDominican Republic Visa-free Unlimited
Flag of EcuadorEcuador Visa-free 90 days
Flag of El SalvadorEl Salvador Visa-free 180 days
Flag of EswatiniEswatini Visa-free 30 days
Flag of FijiFiji Visa-free 120 days
Flag of GabonGabon Visa-free 30 days
Flag of GambiaGambia Visa-free 90 days
Flag of GeorgiaGeorgia Visa-free 360 days
Flag of GhanaGhana Visa-free 90 days
Flag of GrenadaGrenada Visa-free 90 days
Flag of GuatemalaGuatemala Visa-free 90 days
Flag of GuyanaGuyana Visa-free 30 days
Flag of HaitiHaiti Visa-free 90 days
Flag of HondurasHonduras Visa-free 90 days
Flag of Hong KongHong Kong Visa-free 30 days
Flag of IsraelIsrael Visa-free 90 days
Flag of JamaicaJamaica Visa-free Unlimited
Flag of KiribatiKiribati Visa-free 90 days
Flag of LesothoLesotho Visa-free Unlimited
Flag of MacauMacau Visa-free 30 days
Flag of MalawiMalawi Visa-free 90 days
Flag of MalaysiaMalaysia Visa-free 90 days
Flag of MauritiusMauritius Visa-free 90 days
Flag of MicronesiaMicronesia Visa-free 30 days
Flag of MozambiqueMozambique Visa-free Unlimited
Flag of NamibiaNamibia Visa-free 90 days
Flag of NicaraguaNicaragua Visa-free 90 days
Flag of PalestinePalestine Visa-free Unlimited
Flag of PanamaPanama Visa-free 90 days
Flag of ParaguayParaguay Visa-free 90 days
Flag of PeruPeru Visa-free 180 days
Flag of PhilippinesPhilippines Visa-free 30 days
Flag of RussiaRussia Visa-free 90 days
Flag of RwandaRwanda Visa-free 30 days
Flag of Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis Visa-free 90 days
Flag of Saint LuciaSaint Lucia Visa-free 42 days
Flag of Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines Visa-free 90 days
Flag of SeychellesSeychelles Visa-free 90 days
Flag of SingaporeSingapore Visa-free 30 days
Flag of TanzaniaTanzania Visa-free 90 days
Flag of ThailandThailand Visa-free 60 days
Flag of TogoTogo Visa-free 30 days
Flag of Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago Visa-free 90 days
Flag of TunisiaTunisia Visa-free 90 days
Flag of UruguayUruguay Visa-free 90 days
Flag of VanuatuVanuatu Visa-free 120 days
Flag of VenezuelaVenezuela Visa-free 90 days
Flag of ZambiaZambia Visa-free 90 days
Flag of ZimbabweZimbabwe Visa-free 90 days

Unlimited stay countries for South Africa passport

6 countries let South Africa passport holders enter visa-free with no predetermined limit on the length of stay — the highest level of travel freedom, usually thanks to freedom-of-movement or special bilateral agreements.

  • Flag of BelizeBelize
  • Flag of Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
  • Flag of JamaicaJamaica
  • Flag of LesothoLesotho
  • Flag of MozambiqueMozambique
  • Flag of PalestinePalestine

No fixed time limit does not mean no rules: border officers may still ask about the purpose of your visit, and staying long-term usually requires registering your residence.

Overview of visa-free access for South Africa citizens

Holders of a South Africa passport can travel to 61 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance. 6 of them allow an unrestricted stay and 55 allow visa-free entry for a limited number of days.

Add 33 countries that issue a visa on arrival and 5 that only need an online travel authorisation (eTA), and South Africa citizens can reach 99 countries without a classic visa application. A further 28 countries offer an eVisa, and 71 require a visa from an embassy or consulate.

Visa-free destinations include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, among many others.

Where can South Africa citizens travel, and for how long?

Visa-free destinations for the South Africa passport grouped by the maximum stay:

Unlimited stay (6 countries)

Belize, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Lesotho, Mozambique and Palestine

360 days (almost a year) (1 country)

Georgia

180 days (6 months) (6 countries)

Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador and Peru

120 days (4 months) (2 countries)

Fiji and Vanuatu

90 days (3 months) (33 countries)

Argentina, Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Kiribati and 18 more

60 days (2 months) (1 country)

Thailand

42 days (6 weeks) (1 country)

Saint Lucia

30 days (1 month) (11 countries)

Angola, Eswatini, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong, Macau, Micronesia, Philippines, Rwanda, Singapore and Togo

Key takeaways for South Africa passport holders

With 61 visa-free destinations, the South Africa passport ranks #96 of 199 in our ranking. The most common allowance is 90 days (3 months).

Visa-free status normally covers tourism and short business visits only — not work or study. Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure, and you may be asked for a return ticket, an accommodation booking or proof of sufficient funds.

The stay shown in the table is the maximum allowed without a visa. Entry rules can change at short notice, so confirm the current requirements with the destination's embassy or official immigration website before you travel.

Frequently asked questions about visa-free travel for South Africa citizens

How many countries can South Africa passport holders visit without a visa?

South Africa passport holders can visit 61 countries without a visa (data updated 17 June 2026). 6 of them have no fixed limit on the length of stay and 55 allow a visa-free stay of a set number of days. Counting visa on arrival (33) and electronic travel authorisations (5), South Africa citizens can enter 99 countries without applying for a visa in advance.

Which countries allow unlimited stay for South Africa citizens?

6 countries let South Africa passport holders stay without a predetermined time limit: Belize, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Lesotho, Mozambique and Palestine.

What is the most common visa-free stay for South Africa passport holders?

90 days (3 months) is the most common allowance — it applies in 33 countries, including Argentina, Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada and 23 more.

What is the longest visa-free stay available to South Africa citizens?

Apart from the 6 countries with no time limit, the longest fixed visa-free stay is 360 days (almost a year), available in Georgia.

Where is the South Africa passport ranked?

With 61 visa-free destinations the South Africa passport ranks #96 of 199 passports in our visa-free ranking. The strongest passport in the ranking opens 130 countries visa-free.

What happens if I overstay my visa-free period?

Overstaying is a breach of immigration law. Depending on the country it can mean a fine, detention, deportation and a ban on future entry. The stay shown in the table is the maximum allowed without a visa — if you need longer, apply for an extension or the right visa before that period ends.

What is the difference between visa-free entry, visa on arrival and an eTA?

Visa-free means you only show your passport at the border. Visa on arrival is issued at the airport or land border, usually for a fee. An eTA (electronic travel authorisation, e.g. ESTA for the USA or ETA for the United Kingdom) is a short online application you must complete before departure. For South Africa passport holders: 61 visa-free, 33 visa on arrival, 5 eTA and 28 eVisa destinations.

Data: Passport Index dataset (MIT licence) with corrections from official embassy and immigration sources · updated 17 June 2026.

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