Countries exempt from South African Visas

PASSPORT HOLDERS WHO ARE EXEMPT FROM VISAS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE 

  1. The holder of a national South African passport, travel document or document for travel purposes does not require a port of entry visa to enter the country,

  2. ​A staff member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who travel on a SADC laissez-passer does not require a port of entry visa for bona fide official business visits up to 90 days and when in transit.

  3. Holders of United Nations Laissez-passers; excluding its agencies, except for to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and persons performing services on behalf of the United Nations, including their spouses, dependent relatives and other members of their households, do not require port of entry visas when visiting the Republic for periods not exceeding 90 days, including official visits, transit or when applying for accreditation for placement at a UN mission in the Republic: Provided they are in possession of the relevant letters or identification documents to identify themselves at ports of entry as personnel of a United Nations agency.

  4. Members of foreign military forces attending any military related matters with the South African National Defence Force do not require port of entry visas or study visas, irrespective of their duration of stay, provided that they are in possession of valid passports and letters of invitation by the South African National Defence Force, as well as letters of consent from the military force of which they are members.

  5. ​Foreign commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers from Lesotho, Botswana, Kingdom of Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi do not require port of entry visas when entering the Republic, provided their visits do not exceed the period for which their respective countries enjoy visa free entry and on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment with a transport company abroad. Visitor’s visas in terms of section 11(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, with authorisation to conduct work in terms of section 11(2) of the said Act, may be issued for the period of the visa exemption status of the respective country, which period may not exceed 90 days at a time.

  6. ​General Work Visas are not required by foreign commercial heavy duty vehicle drivers who are employed by South African companies and originate from countries which enjoy visa free movement into South Africa, on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment on entry. In accordance with a High Court ruling by the North Gauteng High Court on 31 March 2011, foreign commercial heavy duty vehicle drivers may be issued with visitor’s visas in terms of section 11(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, with authorisation to conduct work in terms of section 11(2) of the said Act for the period of their countries’ visa exemption status, which period may not exceed 90 days at a time.

  7. With effect from 18 December 2015 travellers, with the exception of deportees, who transit through O R Tambo International Airport; Cape Town International Airport; King Shaka International Airport and Lanseria International Airport do not require transit visas as contemplated in section 10B(4)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002). However, transiting passengers will be subjected to biometric capturing. Deportees transiting at any port of entry are required to be in possession of a transit visa at all times and must be escorted.

  8. Further to this, with effect from 1 August 2022 all ordinary passport holders of Pakistan and Bangladesh who intend to enter South Africa en route to another country, are required to be in possession of a port of entry or a transit visa, as the case may be.

  9. The attached Schedule outlines national passport holders from countries who are exempt from port of entry visa requirements, the category of passport holders who are exempt from port of entry visa requirements and the period for which such visa exemption applies. Where a national passport holder of a specific country is required to be in possession of a port of entry visa to proceed to South Africa, the list also outlines whether or not an administrative processing fee is payable or not. Please note that countries marked with an asterisk are only subject to visa fees if the intended visit exceeds thirty (30) days:

  10. All travellers to South Africa are advised that if you are the holder of a national passport of a country whose passport holders are exempt from visa requirements, but your individual visa exemption has been officially withdrawn, a port of entry visa application must be submitted through the South African Embassy/ High Commission/ Consulate General in your country of origin or of long-term residence.

Issued on 18 JUNE 2024

 

Visa  Exemption List
COUNTRY NAME/ORGANISATIONS Passport Type Visa Fees 
Diplomatic Official Service Ordinary Special 
 African Union Laissez Passer 90 Days No
 African Development Bank Laissez-Passers 90 Days No
 Albania (Republic of) 120 Days 120 Days 120 Days     Yes
 Algeria 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days     No
 Andorra (Principality of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Angola (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days  90 Days  90 Days P/A   Yes
 Anguilla 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Antigua and Barbuda 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Argentina 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Australia 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Austria (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days  90 Days 90 Days   Yes
 Bahamas       30 Days   Yes
 Barbados 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Belarus (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Belgium 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Belize* 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   Yes
 Benin (Republic of)* 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   Yes
 Bermuda 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Botswana 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Brazil 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 British Antarctic Territory       90 Days   Yes
 British Indian Ocean Territory 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 British Virgin Island 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Bulgaria (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Canada 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Cape Verde 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Cayman Islands 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Chile 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 China (People’s Republic of) 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days     Yes
 Comoros (Union of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Congo (Democratic Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Costa Rica 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Croatia (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Cuba (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Cyprus 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 30 Days   No
 Czech Republic 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Denmark (Kingdom of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Ducie and Oeno Islands 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Ecuador 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Egypt 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days     No
 Ethiopia (The Federal Democratic Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days      Yes
 Falkland Islands 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Finland (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 France (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Gabon (Republic of)* 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   Yes
 Germany (Federal Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Ghana (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days P/A    Yes
 Gibraltar 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Greece (Hellenic Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Guernsey 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Guinea (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Guyana 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Henderson 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Hong Kong (SpecialAdministrative Region of China)* 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   Yes
 Hungary 120 Days 120 Days 120 Days 30 Days   No
 Iceland (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 India 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     No
 Indonesia (Republic of) 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days     Yes
 Ireland 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Isle of Man 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Israel 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Italy (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Ivory Coast (Republic of Còte D’Ivoire) 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days     Yes
 Jamaica 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Japan 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Jersey 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Jordan 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Kenya (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days P/A    Yes
 Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland) 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Lesotho (Kingdom Of) 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Liberia 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Liechtenstein 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Lithuania (Republic of) 30 Days P/A 30 Days P/A       Yes
 Luxembourg (Grand Duchy of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days   Yes
 Macau       30 Days   No
 Madagascar (Republic of) 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days 90 Days P/A   Yes
 Malawi 30 Days     30 Days  30 Days No
 Malaysia 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days  90 Days   Yes
 Maldives 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Mali (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Malta 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Mauritius 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Mexico 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     No
 Monaco (Principality of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Montserrat 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Morocco (Kingdom of) 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days     Yes
 Mozambique (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 30 Days   Yes
 Namibia 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days 90 Days P/A   No
 Netherlands (The Kingdom of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days   Yes
 New Zealand       90 Days   Yes
 Niger 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Nigeria (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Norway 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Palestine (State of)       90 Days     No
 Panama (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Paraguay 120 Days 120 Days 120 Days 90 Days   No
 Peru 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   No
 Pitcairn Islands 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Poland (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 30 Days   Yes
 Portugal (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Qatar (State of)       90 Days   Yes
 Republic of Korea (South Korea)* 30 Days 30 Days   30 Days   Yes
 Romania 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Russian Federation 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days  90 Days   Yes
 Rwanda (Republic of) 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days     Yes
 SADC laissez-passers   90 Days       No
 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha,Gough Island 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 San Marino (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 São Tomé and Príncipe (Democratic Republic of)       90 Days   Yes
 Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of)       90 Days   Yes
 Senegal 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     No
 Seychelles 30 Days 30 Days   90 Days P/A   No
 Sierre Leone (Republic of) 90 Days P/A 90 Days P/A 90 Days P/A     Yes
 Singapore (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Slovak Republic 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     No
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Spain (Kingdom of) 90 Days 90 Days  90 Days 90 Days   Yes
 Sweden 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Switzerland 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Tanzania (United Republic of) 90 Days P/A 90 Days P/A   90 Days P/A   Yes
 Togo (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     No
 Thailand (Kingdom of)* 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 30 Days   Yes
 Trinidad and Tobago (Republic of)       90 Days   Yes
 Tunisia (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days Yes
 Turkey (Republic of)* 30 Days   30 Days  30 Days  30 Days Yes
 Turks and Caicos Islands 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Uganda (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 United Arab Emirates       90 Days   Yes
 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland       90 Days   No
 United Nations Lasse Passer 90 Days No
 United States of America 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days Yes
 Uruguay 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   Yes
 Vietnam (Republic of) 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days     Yes
 Virgin Islands (British) 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No
 Zambia 90 Days P/A 90 Days P/A   90 Days P/A   No
 Zimbabwe 90 Days 90 Days   90 Days   No

 

Special Notes
Diplomatic,Official and Service Passport holders do not pay VISA FEES
 Angola (Republic of) Each visit not to exceed 30 days
 Germany (Federal Republic of) Except diplomatic passport holders who are due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of Germany in South Africa, require visas for accreditation purposes
 United States of America Except  diplomatic passport holders who are due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of the USA in South Africa, require visas for accreditation purposes
 P/A P/A indicates per anum or per calendar year
 Belize* Please note that countries marked with an asterisk are only subject to visa fees if the intended visit exceeds thirty (30) days:
 Benin (Republic of)*
 Gabon (Republic of)*
 Hong Kong(SpecialAdministrative Region of China)*
 Republic of Korea (South Korea)*
 Thailand (Kingdom of)*
 Turkey (Republic of)*