Countries exempt from South African Visas
Countries exempt from South African Visas
EXEMPT PASSPORT HOLDERS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN VISAS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
A port-of-entry visa is not necessary for admission for holders of a national South African passport, travel document, or document for travel purposes.
For legitimate official business visits lasting up to 90 days and while in transit, an employee of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) traveling on a SADC laissez-passer is exempt from the port of entry visa requirement.
To enter the Republic for stays under 90 days, including official visits, transit, or when applying for accreditation to work at a UN mission, port of entry visas are not necessary for holders of United Nations laissez-passers, volunteers attached to the UN, people working for any UN agency, and people performing services on behalf of the UN, including their spouses, dependent relatives, and other members of their households.
Regardless of the length of their stay, members of foreign military forces are exempt from port-of-entry and study visa requirements if they are attending military-related events with the South African National Defence Force and have valid passports, letters of invitation from the SA National Defence Force, and letters of consent from the military force they are a part of.
Lesotho, Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi nationals driving commercial heavy-duty vehicles do not need port-of-entry visas to enter the Republic as long as their stays do not exceed the time frames in which those countries are visa-free, and as long as they can show documentation proving their employment with a transport company abroad. For the duration of the respective country's visa exemption status, which cannot exceed 90 days at a time, visitor visas under section 11(1)(a) of the Immigration Act may be issued with permission to undertake work under section 11(2) of the same Act.
Typical Work Drivers of foreign commercial heavy-duty vehicles employed by South African businesses who are citizens of nations with visa-free entry privileges are exempt from needing visas, provided they can show a letter verifying their job upon entry. Foreign commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers may receive visitor visas under section 11(1)(a) of the Immigration Act and authorization to engage in employment under section 11(2) of the same Act for the duration of their countries' visa exemption status, which cannot exceed 90 days at a time. This decision was made by the North Gauteng High Court on March 31, 2011.
By section 10B(4)(a) of the Immigration Act of 2002, transit visas are no longer necessary for travelers passing through O R Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, King Shaka International Airport, and Lanseria International Airport as of December 18, 2015, except for deportees (Act No 13 of 2002). However, biometric data will be taken from travelers in transit. Deportees passing through any port of entry are expected to have a transit visa on them at all times, and they must also be escorted.
In addition, beginning on August 1, 2022, all ordinary passport holders from Pakistan and Bangladesh who plan to travel to another nation via South Africa must have a transit visa or a port of entry, as applicable.
The attached Schedule lists national passport holders from nations who are exempt from port-of-entry visa requirements, along with the category of exempt passport holders and the duration of the visa exemption. The list also specifies if an administrative processing charge is required or not when a national passport holder of a particular nation must have a port of entry visa to go to South Africa. Please take note that visa fees only apply to the nations denoted by an asterisk if the proposed visit lasts longer than thirty (30) days:
All visitors to South Africa are advised that a port of entry visa application must be made through the South African Embassy/High Commission/Consulate General in your country of origin or of long-term residence if you are the owner of a national passport from a nation whose passport holders are exempt from visa requirements, but your visa exemption has been formally withdrawn.
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Visa Exemption List |
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| 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 P/A | 90 Days | 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 | 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 | 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* | 30 Days | 30 Days | 30 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 | ||
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 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 annum 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 (Special Administrative Region of China)* | ||||||
| Malaysia* | ||||||
| Republic of Korea (South Korea)* | ||||||
| Thailand (Kingdom of)* | ||||||
| Turkey (Republic of)* | ||||||
Information supplied by the South African Department of Home Affairs.
All information was correct at the time of publishing.
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Petrus Jacobus van der Walt
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