The visa policy of South Africa is how the South African government determines who may and may not enter South Africa. Visitors to South Africa must obtain a visa from one of the South African diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries, in which case they get a "Port of Entry Visa". Visitors who require a visa must apply in person and provide biometric data.[1]

All visitors must hold a passport that is valid for 1 month after departure and with one blank page (two if a visa is required).[2]

In February 2022, the South African Government launched an e-Visa system, initially for 14 nationalities.[3][4]

In September 2025, the Department of Home Affairs launched a new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system. The ETA system is designed to simplify entry procedures into the country, and first went live in mid-October 2025, for the G20 summit participants.[5][6] In late November, the second phase extended the requirement to obtain an ETA to all passport holders from these countries entering South Africa for business or tourism only for these specified countries: Mainland China, India, Indonesia and Mexico.[7][8]

Visa policy map

Visa exemption

Citizens of the following countries / territories who hold valid national passports are allowed to stay in South Africa without a visa: [9]

90 days

30 days

1 - Cypriot and Polish citizens can enter for a period of 30 days instead.
2 - Visa exemption applies to holders of ordinary passports only.
3 - The maximum stay is 90 days per year for ordinary passport holders; this limit does not apply to non-ordinary passport holders.
4 - The maximum stay is 90 days per year for all passport holders.

Date of visa changes

Visa free:

  • 26 December 1996: Brazil[10]
  • 29 April 2005: Mozambique[11]
  • 30 March 2017: Russia
  • 1 December 2017: Angola[12]
  • 15 August 2019: New Zealand (resumed), Qatar, Saudi Arabia,[13] United Arab Emirates
  • 1 January 2023: Kenya[14]
  • 24 September 2023: Palestine
  • 1 November 2023: Ghana [15]
  • 11 September 2025: Romania, Croatia
  • 15 September 2025: Estonia, Latvia
  • 16 October 2025: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Slovakia

Cancelled:

  • Taiwan: 1 July 2005[16]
  • Slovakia: 18 April 2016[17] (was resumed in 2025)
  • New Zealand: 16 January 2017[18] (was resumed in 2019)
  • France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America: 25 March 2020 (Since restored) [19]
  • Palestine: 7 December 2025[20]

Non-ordinary passports

Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries do not require visas for visits of the indicated period and transit for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):

1 - 120 days
2 - 30 days

Visa exemption agreement was signed with Mali but not yet ratified.[21]

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Starting in late November 2025, business and tourist visitors from the following countries may apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The ETA is valid only for entry through the designated ports of entry: OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, or Lanseria International Airport.

The ETA is usually granted instantly or within 72 hours. Passport holders from eligible countries may stay for up to 90 days per year, with the possibility of extending their stay for an additional 90 days:[22]

Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Citizens of the following countries/territories who hold valid national passports may apply for e-Visa online provided they will land at O. R. Tambo International Airport: [23]

1 - ETA also available.

Eligible international organizations

Individuals holding the following travel documents are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of 90 days or less on bona fide official business:


Visa types

Visas issued by South Africa are for

Source:[24]

Temporary residence visas issued by South Africa are

Source:[25]

The critical skills list [26] outlines high-demand occupations that qualify foreign professionals for a Critical Skills Visa, helping to address skill shortages in key industries.

Overstay consequences

It is a departure of a foreigner from South Africa on an expired visa that triggers an overstay.[27]

A foreigner who remains in South Africa beyond the expiry of his/her visa and has not applied for a valid status is an illegal foreigner in terms of the South African Immigration Act.[28]

An overstayer will upon departure be declared an undesirable person in terms of section 30(1)(f) of the Immigration Act.

The ban does not simply expire over time and the restrictions placed against the foreigner need to be removed and/or the undesirability uplifted. An undesirable person does not do not qualify for a port of entry visa, visa, admission into the Republic or a permanent residence permit.

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving to South Africa were from the following countries of nationality:[29][30]

Country 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Zimbabwe 2,258,794 2,208,930 2,039,932 2,028,881 1,900,791 2,143,716
Lesotho 1,563,448 1,739,188 1,747,211 1,757,058 1,394,913 1,501,642
Mozambique 1,333,195 1,360,896 1,339,245 1,268,258 1,200,335 1,283,016
Eswatini 917,631 883,735 876,992 893,618 835,006 918,490
Botswana 668,315 688,566 681,379 679,828 593,514 555,590
United Kingdom 436,559 430,708 447,901 447,840 407,486 401,914
United States 373,694 376,892 370,747 345,013 297,226 309,255
Germany 322,720 343,229 349,211 311,832 256,646 274,571
Malawi 199,079 197,317 175,014 154,017 135,260 166,964
Namibia 184,431 200,367 208,747 214,664 212,514 211,453
Total 10,228,593 10,472,105 10,285,197 10,044,163 8,903,773 9,549,236

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for South Africa.

References

  1. "New visa rules will hurt tourism: DA – IOL News".
  2. "Department of Home Affairs – Exempt Countries". home-affairs.gov.za. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018.
  3. "eVisa". Department of Home Affairs eVisa.
  4. "South Africa: SA eVisa System Launched in 14 Countries". allAfrica. 10 February 2022.
  5. VisasNews (18 September 2025). "South Africa unveils its new ETA system". VisasNews.
  6. https://www.visamundi.co/en/blog/leta-south-africa-unveiled-heres-our-news/
  7. "Electronic Travel Authorization Requirement Forthcoming". Fragomen - Immigration attorneys, solicitors, and consultants worldwide - Electronic Travel Authorization Requirement Forthcoming.
  8. "Minister Leon Schreiber presents new Electronic Travel Authorisation to tourism industry | South African Government". www.gov.za.
  9. "Department of Home Affairs - Exempt Countries".
  10. "Concórdia". Concordia.itamaraty.gov.br.
  11. "Statement of Treaties and International Agreements Registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat during the month of February 2010" (PDF). New York: United Nations. June 2010.
  12. Edwards, Caryn (24 November 2017). "Angola-South Africa entry VISA free exemption a big boost for tourism, trade & investment in the Cape".
  13. "South Africa soon to open visa-free door to Kiwis". 14 June 2023.
  14. "Kenya, South Africa to begin mutual visa-free system in January".
  15. "Ghana and South Africa agree visa-free entry to both countries".
  16. 外交部 (12 July 2017). "中華民國(台灣)外交部全球資訊網". 中華民國外交部 – 全球資訊網 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan).
  17. Gschwind, RIC Media – Enrica Hölzinger, Patrick. "Visa & Consular – South African Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna". suedafrika-botschaft.at.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. "DHA revokes visa free travel for New Zealand nationals, but that's just the beginning". 14 December 2016.
  19. "Department of Home Affairs - Exempt Countries". Archived from the original on 19 October 2020.
  20. https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2025-12-06-sa-pulls-90-day-palestinian-visa-waiver-after-charter-flight-abuse-probe/
  21. "South Africa and Mali sign reciprocal Visa Waiver Agreement - African Daily Voice". Archived from the original on 9 February 2019.
  22. "South Africa ETA".
  23. "South Africa eVisa".
  24. "Types of Visas". Department of Home Affairs.
  25. "Types of Temporary Residence Visas". Department of Home Affairs.
  26. Critical Skills List
  27. Eisenberg, Gary (June 2018). "Immigration Attorney". Eisenberg & Associates. Eisenberg & Associates.
  28. Department of Home Affairs. "South African Immigration Act" (PDF). DHA: Publications.
  29. "Tourism 2019, pages 11–14" (PDF).
  30. Africa, Statistics South. "Publication – Statistics South Africa". statssa.gov.za.