Visa requirements for South African citizens

Holders of regular South African passports are allowed to enter a number of countries without the need of a visa. Prior application for a visa is required for countries or territories not mentioned below.

Where visa-free access is permitted, such access is not necessarily a right, and admission is at the discretion of border enforcement officers. Visitors engaging in activities other than tourism, including unpaid work, may require a visa or work permit.

Africa

Countries and Territories	Allowed Stays
Benin	3 months [1]
Botswana	90 days [2][3]
Cape Verde	Visa issued upon arrival [4][5]
Comoros	Visa issued upon arrival [6]
Egypt	Visa issued upon arrival 15 days free of charge provided remaining in South Sinai and not continuing to any other city
Ethiopia	3-month tourist visa issued on arrival at Bole International Airport [7]][8]
Gabon	One month
Kenya	30 days [9][10]
Lesotho	14 days [11]
Madagascar	90-day visas can be granted on arrival for MGA140,000.- (or equivalent in Euros or US Dollars) [12]
Malawi	90 days [13]
Mauritius	60 days for touristic visits, 90 days for business visits [14][15]
Mozambique	30 days [16]
Namibia	3 months [17]
Rwanda	90 days [18]
Saint Helena	Visitors pass valid for 3 months issued upon arrival for £12.00 [19]
Senegal	3 months [20]
Seychelles	1 month [21]
Swaziland	30 days [22]
Tanzania	Visa can be obtained on arrival* [23]
Togo	7-day visa can be obtained on arrival** [24]
Tunisia	30-day visa can be obtained on arrival for TND 35.- [25]
Uganda	Visas can be obtained upon arrival if required [26]
Zambia	90 days in a 12 month period (which can be taken at once or in intervals) [27]
Zimbabwe	3-month holiday visa, 30-day business visa, or 3-day transit visa can be issued on arrival free of charge. [28]

Notes

* Visitors from countries where Tanzania has diplomatic or consular representation are strongly advised to obtain a visa from the Tanzanian Mission beforehand [29]
** If a Togolese visa is required on arrival, the traveller's passport will be confiscated, and will need to be collected with the visa the next day at the police station [30]

Americas

Countries and Territories	Allowed Stays
Antigua and Barbuda	1 month [31]
Argentina	3 months [32]
Bahamas	3 months [33]
Barbados	6 months [34]
Belize	1 month [35]
Bolivia	30 day Tourist visa issued upon arrival if in possession of sufficient funds for stay and return ticket
Brazil	90 days [36]
British Virgin Islands	30 days [37]
Cayman Islands	30 days [38]
Chile	90 days [39]
Colombia	90 days [40]
Costa Rica	90 days [41]
Dominica	6 months [42] [43]
Dominican Republic	30 days (Tourist card issued on arrival for US$10) [44]
Ecuador	90 days [45]
El Salvador	3 months [46]
Falkland Islands	90 days
Grenada	3 months [47]
Guatemala	90 days [48]
Guyana	3 months [49]
Haiti	3 months [50]
Honduras	3 months [51]
Jamaica	6 months [52][53]
Montserrat	3 months [54]
Nicaragua	90 days [55]
Panama	180 days [56]
Paraguay	90 days [57]
Peru	90 days [58] [59]
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Visa required, except for travelers continuing their journey to a third country within 14 days [60].
Saint Lucia	6 weeks [61] [62]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	1 month [63]
Turks and Caicos Islands	30 days [64]
Uruguay	3 months [65] [66]
Venezuela	90 days with tourist card issued on board scheduled airlines [67] [68]

Asia

Countries and Territories	Allowed Stays
Armenia	120-day Visa issued upon arrival (15,000 AMD)
Bangladesh	90-day visa can be issued upon arrival for USD50, though it is strongly recommended that the visa be obtained before arrival [69].
Cambodia	30 days visa issued on arrival
Georgia	360 days [70]
Hong Kong	30 days
Indonesia	7 days or 30 days Visa issued on arrival
Laos	30-days tourist Visa issued upon arrival for US$30
Macau	30 days
Malaysia	3 months
Maldives	30 days
Nepal	60 days or 120 days Tourist Visa issued upon arrival
Philippines	21 days
Singapore	30 days
Sri Lanka	30-day visa issued upon arrival
South Korea	30-day visa issued upon arrival [71]
Thailand	30 days
Timor-Leste	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30

Europe

Countries and Territories	Allowed Stays
Ireland	3 months
Kosovo	90 days
Turkey	One month entry visas can be issued on arrival for gratis [72] [73]

Middle East

Countries and Territories	Allowed Stays
Israel	3 months
Jordan	1 month visa issued free on arrival
Oman	One month visa issued on arrival
Bahrain	visa is issued at Bahrain airport for a two-week-period

Oceania

Countries and Territories	Allowed Stays
Cook Islands	31 days
Fiji	4 months
Federated States of Micronesia	30 days
Nauru	30 days Tourist Visa can be issued free on arrival
New Zealand	3 months
Niue	30 days
Palau	30 days
Samoa	60 days
Tuvalu	One month
Vanuatu	30 days

See also

• South African passport

References

Working