Visa Requirements

Every person entering South Africa must be in possession of a valid passport for travel to South Africa. Enquiries for visa's can be directed to South African diplomatic representatives abroad or the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria. Should you wish to visit South Africa or neighbouring countries you are advised to apply for your visa's prior to entry to avoid uncessary delays.

Certain passport holders of countries are exempt from visa requirements. Tourists must satisfy immigration officers that they have the means to support themselves during their stay, and that they are in possession of return or onward air tickets. They must also have valid international health certificates.

Countries exempt from South African visas

Holders of passports of Australia, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland including the British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Mann and Virgin Islands, the Republic of Ireland as well as British Overseas Territories are totally exempt from South African visa control and thus do not require visas for any purpose regulated by visas

Andorra

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Antigua and Barbuda

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Argentina

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Austria

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Barbados

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Belgium

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Belize

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Benin

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Bolivia

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Botswana

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Brazil

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Canada

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Cape Verde

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Chile

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Costa Rica

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Cyprus

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Diplomatic and official passport holders

visiting the RSA for holiday purposes are exempt for 90 days.

Czech Republic

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday

visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Denmark

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Ecuador

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Egypt Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday

visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Finland

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

France

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Gabon

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Germany

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Greece

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Guyana

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Hong Kong - This exemption is only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National - Overseas (BNO) passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports.
Hungary

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Diplomatic and official passport holders

visiting the RSA for holiday purposes are exempt for 120 days.

Iceland

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Israel

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Italy

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Jamaica

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Japan

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Jordan

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Lesotho

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Liechtenstein

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Luxemburg

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Macau -This exemption is only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR).

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Malaysia

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Maldives

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Malta - Malta Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Mauritius

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Mexico

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Monaco

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Morocco Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday

visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Namibia

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

New Zealand

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Norway

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Paraguay

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Peru

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Poland

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday

visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Portugal

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Romania Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday

visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

San Marino

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Seychelles

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Singapore

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Slovak Republic

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

South Korea

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Spain

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

St Vincent & the Grenadines

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Swaziland

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Sweden

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Switzerland

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Taiwan (Republic of China)

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Thailand

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Tunisia Holders of diplomatic and official passports for holiday

visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Turkey Visits

not exceeding 30 days and transits

United States of America

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Uruguay

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Venezuela

Visits not exceeding 90 days and transits

Zambia

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Zimbabwe - Only in respect of government officials, including police on cross border investigation

Visits not exceeding 30 days and transits

Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry and airline officials are obliged to insist on visas, if required, before allowing passengers to board.

Nationals of the following countries are subject to the payment of South African visa fees (currently set at US$37.00 or ±R425.00):

Countries subject to South African visa fees

Aden  
Afghanistan  
Albania  
American Samoa  
Andorra  
Angola  
Anguilla  
Armenia  
Aruba  
Ascension  
Australia Exempt under certain conditions.
Austria  
Azerbaijan  
Bahamas  
Bahrain  
Belarus  
Belau  
Belgium  
Belize Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Benin (Dahomey) Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Bhutan  
Bosnia/Herzegovina  
Bouvet Islands  
Brunei  
Bulgaria  
Burkino Faso  
Burma (Myanmar)  
Burundi  
Byelorussia  
Cambodia (Kampuchea)  
Cameroon  
Canada  
Central African Republic  
Chad  
China (People's Republic)  
Comores  
Cote D'Ivoire  
Croatia  
Cuba  
Dahomey (Benin)  
Democratic Republic of the Congo  
Denmark  
Diego Garcia  
Djibouti  
Dominican Republic  
Eastern Caribbean  
El Salvador  
Ellice Island (Tuvalu)  
Eritrea  
Estonia  
Ethiopia  
Euatorial Guinea Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Falkland Islands  
Fiji  
Finland  
France  
French Guiana  
French Polynesia  
Gabon Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Gambia  
Georgia  
Germany  
Ghana  
Gibraltar  
Gilbert Island(Kiribati)  
Greece  
Greenland  
Grenada  
Guadaloupe  
Guam  
Guatemala  
Guinea-Bissau  
Haiti  
Honduras  
Hong Kong Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Iceland  
Indonesia  
Iran (Persia)  
Iraq  
Italy  
Jamaica  
Japan  
Kampuchea (Cambodia)  
Kazakhstan  
Kenya Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Kirgizstan  
Kiribati (Gilbert Island)  
Korea (Republic of/South) Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Korea(People's Republic/North)  
Laos  
Latvia  
Lebanon  
Liberia  
Libya  
Lithuania  
Luxemburg  
Macedonia  
Madagascar  
Malaysia Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Mali  
Marshall Island  
Martinique  
Mauritania  
Mexico  
Micronesia  
Moldavia  
Monaco  
Mongolia  
Morocco  
Mozambique  
Myanmar (Burma)  
Nauru  
Nepal  
Netherlands  
Netherlands Antilles  
New Guinea  
New Zealand  
Nicaragua  
Niger  
Nigeria  
Northern Marianas  
Norway  
Oman  
Pakistan  
Palaci  
Panama  
Papua New Guinea  
Persia (Iran)  
Phillipines Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Pitcairn Islands  
Poland  
Portugal  
Puerto Rico  
Reunion  
Romania  
Russian Federation  
Rwanda  
San Marino  
Sao Tome & Principe  
Saudi Arabia  
Serbia & Montenegro (former Yugoslavia)  
Sicilia  
Sierra Leone  
Singapore  
Slovenia  
Somalia  
Spain  
Sri Lanka  
St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla  
St Lucia  
Sudan  
Surinam  
Syria  
Tajikistan  
Tanzania  
Thailand Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Tibet  
Togo  
Trinidad and Tobago  
Tristan da Cunha  
Tunisia  
Turkey Only subject to visa fees for visits exceeding 30 days
Turkmenistan  
Turks & Caicos Islands  
Tuvalu (Ellice Islands)  
Uganda  
Ukraine  
United Arab Emirates  
United States of America Exempt under certain conditions
Uzbekistan  
Vanuatu  
Vatican City  
Venezuela  
Vietnam  
Western Sahara  
Yemen (Arab Republic of)  
Yemen (People's Republic)  


The above information is supplied by the South African Department of Home Affairs


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