# Visa requirements for South African citizens

Visa requirements for South African citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Republic of South Africa.
As of 2024, South African citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 106 countries and territories, ranking the South African passport 47th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.
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.
It does not provide for where certain people under the assumption remained British Subjects without Citizenship, then later became British Overseas Citizens or British Subjects in 1983, there are different requirements. See Visa requirements for British Overseas citizens or South African nationality law.

## Visa requirements

This list provides for the period of stay under "Allowed Stay" generally for short stay activities where a Visa is not required in sovereign states.
| Country | Visa requirement | Allowed stay | Notes (excluding departure fees) | Reciprocity |
| Afghanistan | Visa required | | | — |
| Albania | eVisa | | Holders of a valid, multiple entry and previously used visa issued by a Schengen area country, United States, or the United Kingdom can enter Albania without a visa for 90 days. | — |
| Algeria | Visa required | | | — |
| Andorra | Visa required | | Andorra has no visa regime, but is only accessible through France and Spain. Multiple Entry Schengen Visa required. | — |
| Angola | Visa not required | 90 days | | No |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Visa not required | 6 months | | Yes |
| Argentina | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Armenia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 120 days | | No |
| Australia and territories | Visa required | | May apply online (Online Visitor e600 visa). Transit visa is not required. Biometric Collection is mandatory upon request for the Online Visitor e600 Visa. Visas can be issued within a matter of seconds depending on the length of queue once all the appropriate information is provided including Biometrics. Departing Passengers may use SmartGate for a faster entry into the passenger area, this is not applicable to arriving passengers for entry into Australia. | — |
| Austria | Visa required | | | — |
| Azerbaijan | eVisa | 30 days | | No |
| Bahamas | Visa not required | 3 months | | Yes |
| Bahrain | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 14 days | | No |
| Bangladesh | Visa required | | | — |
| Barbados | Visa not required | 6 months | | Yes |
| Belarus | Visa required | | | — |
| Belgium | Visa required | | | — |
| Belize | Visa not required | | | Yes |
| Benin | Visa not required | 90 Days | | Yes |
| Bhutan | eVisa | | Must pay 100 USD per person per day for Sustainable Development Fee | — |
| Bolivia | Online Visa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | | Yes |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa required | | Valid multiple entry visa holders and residents of the European Union, Schengen Area member states, and United States of America can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa for a maximum stay of 30 days. | — |
| Botswana | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Brazil | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Brunei | Visa required | | | — |
| Bulgaria | Visa required | | | — |
| Burkina Faso | eVisa | | | — |
| Burundi | Visa on arrival | 1 month | | — |
| Cambodia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | | No |
| Cameroon | eVisa | | | — |
| Canada | Visa required | | Temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa are not accepted by Canadian immigration officials. Holders of the Right of Abode to the UK with a Certificate of Entitlement as proof of authenticity do not require a visa. | — |
| Cape Verde | Visa on arrival | | | Yes |
| Central African Republic | Visa required | | | — |
| Chad | Visa required | | | — |
| Chile | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| China | Visa required | | 24-hour visa-free transit through any international airports of China, allows domestic travel through different airports. 5-day Shenzhen Visa on Arrival available at the Shenzhen border if travelling from Hong Kong or Macao. Visa holders must stay within the Shenzhen City and surrounds, not travel to other cities and leave at the end of the 5 day permission. Travelling to Guangzhou would be in violation of the conditions. | — |
| Colombia | Online Visa | | Transit visa is not required. | — |
| Comoros | Visa on arrival | 45 days | | No |
| Republic of the Congo | Visa required | | | — |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | eVisa | 7 days | | — |
| Costa Rica | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Côte d'Ivoire | eVisa | 3 months | e-Visa holders must arrive via Port Bouet Airport. | No |
| Croatia | Visa required | | | — |
| Cuba | eVisa | 90 days | Can be extended up to 90 days with a fee. | — |
| Cyprus | Visa required | | Holders of a visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state or Monaco may also travel to Cyprus, without an additional visa, for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period or until visa expiry date (whichever is shorter) | — |
| Czech Republic | Visa required | | | — |
| Denmark | Visa required | | | — |
| Djibouti | eVisa | 90 days | | No |
| Dominica | Visa not required | 6 months | | No |
| Dominican Republic | Visa not required | 90 days | | No |
| Ecuador | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Egypt | eVisa | 30 days | | Yes |
| El Salvador | Visa not required | 90 days | | No |
| Equatorial Guinea | eVisa | | Must arrive via Malabo International Airport, processing fee 75 USD | — |
| Eritrea | Visa required | | | — |
| Estonia | Visa required | | | — |
| Eswatini | Visa not required | 30 days | | Yes |
| Ethiopia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | up to 90 days | Visa on arrival is obtainable only at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. e-Visa holders must arrive via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. e-Visa is available for 30 or 90 days. | No |
| Fiji | Visa not required | 4 months | | No |
| Finland | Visa required | | | — |
| France | Visa required | | | — |
| Gabon | Visa not required | 30 days. | | Yes |
| Gambia | Visa not required | 90 days | In addition to a visa, an entry clearance must be obtained from the Gambian Immigration prior to travel. | — |
| Georgia | Visa not required | 1 year | | No |
| Germany | Visa required | | | — |
| Ghana | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Greece | Visa required | | | — |
| Grenada | Visa not required | 3 months | | No |
| Guatemala | Visa not required | 90 days | | No |
| Guinea | eVisa | 90 days | | No |
| Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival | 90 days | | No |
| Guyana | Visa not required | 3 months | | Yes |
| Haiti | Visa not required | 3 months | | No |
| Honduras | Visa not required | 90 days | | No |
| Hungary | Visa required | | | — |
| Iceland | Visa required | | | — |
| India | eVisa | 30 days | e-Visa holders must arrive via 31 designated airports or 5 designated seaports. An Indian e-Tourist Visa may only be obtained twice within 1 calendar year. Foreigners of Pakistani origin or who hold a Pakistani Passport are not eligible for an e-Visa. Foreigners who are not Pakistani nationals, but whose parents or grandparents (either paternal or maternal) were born in, or were permanent residents in Pakistan, are also not eligible for an e-Visa. | Yes |
| Indonesia | e-VOA / Visa on arrival | 30 days | | No |
| Iran | eVisa | 30 days | | Yes |
| Iraq | eVisa | | | — |
| Ireland | Visa required | | | No |
| Israel | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Italy | Visa required | | | — |
| Jamaica | Visa not required | | | Yes |
| Japan | eVisa | 90 days | Cash payment required at the consulate in Pretoria or Cape Town. | — |
| Jordan | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | Visa can be obtained upon arrival, it will cost a total of 40 JOD, obtainable at most international ports of entry and land border crossings. (except King Hussein/Allenby Bridge) | Yes |
| Kazakhstan | eVisa | | | — |
| Kenya | Electronic Travel Authorisation | 90 days | Applications can be submitted up to 90 days prior to travel and must be submitted at least 3 days in advance. eTA fee is USD 32.50. Proof of reservation at the hotel where visitors plan to stay is required (if staying with friends, an invitation letter is also acceptable). Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries. eTA issued free of charge for South African Citizens | Yes |
| Kiribati | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within any 12-month period. | — |
| North Korea | Visa required | | | — |
| South Korea | Electronic Travel Authorization | 30 days | The validity period of a K-ETA is 3 years from the date of approval. | Yes |
| Kuwait | Visa required | | Holders of residence permit's issued by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates may apply for an eVisa if the main applicant works in a specific profession. Dependents holding residence permits may also obtain an eVisa, on the conditional they will enter Kuwait with the main applicant. | — |
| Kyrgyzstan | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 60 days / 1 month | Visa on arrival available at Manas International Airport. e-Visa holders must arrive via Manas International Airport or Osh Airport or through land crossings with China (at Irkeshtam and Torugart), Kazakhstan (at Ak-jol, Ak-Tilek, Chaldybar, Chon-Kapka), Tajikistan (at Bor-Dobo, Kulundu, Kyzyl-Bel) and Uzbekistan (at Dostuk). | No |
| Laos | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | 17 of the 31 border crossings are only open to visa holders. e-Visa may be used to enter Laos through Luang Prabang, Pakse and Vientiane international airports, 3 Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges and in Boten (road and railroad). Visa on arrival is available at Luang Prabang, Pakse and Vientiane international airports, the 4 Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges and 6 border crossings. Visa on arrival is extendable for an additional 60 days at the Department of Immigration in Vientiane. | No |
| Latvia | Visa required | | | — |
| Lebanon | Visa required | | In addition to a visa, an approval should be obtained from the Immigration department of the General Directorate of General Security (La Surete Generale). | — |
| Lesotho | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Liberia | Visa required | | | — |
| Libya | eVisa | | | — |
| Liechtenstein | Visa required | | | — |
| Lithuania | Visa required | | Certain travelers who are of Lithuanian Descent (i.e. by the parent, grandparent and great-grandparent) may be issued a long-stay Category D Visa or Permanent Residence valid if the relationship can be proved. | — |
| Luxembourg | Visa required | | | — |
| Madagascar | Visa on arrival | 60 days | | Yes |
| Malawi | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Malaysia | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Maldives | Free visa on arrival | 30 days | | No |
| Mali | Visa required | | | — |
| Malta | Visa required | | | — |
| Marshall Islands | Visa on arrival | 90 days | | No |
| Mauritania | Visa on arrival | | Available at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport. | No |
| Mauritius | Visa not required | 180 days | 180 days for tourism, 120 days for business | Yes |
| Mexico | Visa required | | Residents of French overseas departments and territories, Danish territories and Dutch Caribbean territories, permanent residents or valid visa holders of the United Kingdom or countries that comprise the Schengen area, holders of Permanent Resident Cards or valid visas issued by Canada, holders of permanent residence permits issued by Chile, holders of permanent residence permits issued by Colombia, holders of Permanent Residence Card, Permanent Re-entry Permit or valid visas issued by Japan, holders of permanent residence permits issued by Peru and holders of valid US visas or Green Cards - may enter Mexico without a visa for up to 180 days. Passport holders with less than six months validity may face difficulty when attempting to enter as a Business Visitor/ Tourist as they are usually permitted six months stay which might exceed the passport's validity. | — |
| Micronesia | Visa not required | 30 days | | No |
| Moldova | Visa required | | South African nationals are allowed to visit Moldova without a Moldovan visa if they hold a valid residence permit or a valid multiple entry visa issued by a Schengen member state, the United Kingdom, Ireland or Cyprus. | — |
| Monaco | Visa required | | Schengen Visa Required. Monaco is a de facto member of the Schengen Area and there are no formal immigration procedures upon exit and entry. | — |
| Mongolia | eVisa | 30 days | | — |
| Montenegro | Visa required | | Nationals of South Africa may visit Montenegro without a visa for up to 30 days if they hold a passport with visas issued by Ireland, a Schengen Area member state, the United Kingdom or the United States or if they are permanent residents of those countries. Residents of the United Arab Emirates do not require a visa for up to 10 days, if they hold a return ticket, fly directly in and out of Tivat Airport on FlyDubai and hold proof of accommodation. | — |
| Morocco | Visa required | | | — |
| Mozambique | Visa not required | 3 months | | Yes |
| Myanmar | eVisa | 28 days | e-Visa holders must arrive via Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports or via land border crossings with Thailand — Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung or India — Rih Khaw Dar and Tamu. e-Visa available for both tourism or business purposes. | No |
| Namibia | Visa not required | 3 months | | Yes |
| Nauru | Visa required | | | — |
| Nepal | Online Visa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | | No |
| Netherlands | Visa required | | | — |
| New Zealand | Visa required | | Holders of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Resident Return Visa may be granted a New Zealand Resident Visa on arrival permitting indefinite stay (pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement), subject to meeting character requirements and obtaining an Electronic Travel Authority prior to departure. | — |
| Nicaragua | Visa not required | 90 days | | No |
| Niger | Visa required | | | — |
| Nigeria | eVisa | | | — |
| North Macedonia | Visa required | | Holders of a valid multiple entry visa or Residence Permit for the Schengen Area may enter North Macedonia for up to 15 days visa free. A temporary residence permit of a Schengen member state is accepted since 27 February 2019. Holders of a valid UK, Canada or USA visa may enter North Macedonia for up to 15 days visa free. | — |
| Norway | Visa required | | | — |
| Oman | Visa not required | 14 days | 30 days eVisa also available | No |
| Pakistan | eVisa | 90 days | Issued free of charge as of August 2024. | Yes |
| Palau | Free visa on arrival | 30 days | | No |
| Panama | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Papua New Guinea | eVisa | 30 days | | No |
| Paraguay | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Peru | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Philippines | Visa not required | 30 days | | Yes |
| Poland | Visa required | | | — |
| Portugal | Visa required | | | — |
| Qatar | Visa not required | 30 days | Available at Hamad International Airport. The Visa Waiver Facility (of 30 days) cannot be facilitated if stay is less than 1 night, a Transit Visa should be applied for instead. Label is put in the passport in addition to a stamp upon arrival after satisfying the entry requirements. e-Visa, Transit Visa from Qatar Airways (9–96 hours) and ETA are also available. eVisa refers to a Tourist Visa. These three methods are all acceptable alternatives for tourism should the South African passport holder wish not to use the Visa Waiver Facility available upon arrival. Male travelers who are ordinarily a resident in Qatar require an Exit Visa/ Permit. | Yes |
| Romania | Visa required | | | — |
| Russia | Visa not required | 90 days | 90 days within one calendar year period. | Yes |
| Rwanda | Visa not required | 30 days | | No |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Visa not required | 3 months | | No |
| Saint Lucia | Visa not required | 6 weeks | | Yes |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa not required | 3 month | | Yes |
| Samoa | Entry Permit on arrival | 60 days | | No |
| San Marino | Visa required | | San Marino has no visa regime, but is only accessible through Italy. Multiple Entry Schengen Visa required. | — |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | eVisa | | | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | | — |
| Senegal | Visa on arrival | 1 month | | No |
| Serbia | Visa required | | Visa free for a maximum stay of 90 days for valid visa holders or residents of the European Union member states and the United States. | — |
| Seychelles | Electronic Border System | 3 months | Application can be submitted up to 30 days before travel. Visitors must upload a reservation confirmation(s) for each visitor's location of stay in Seychelles. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries. Payment of the fee (EUR 10) by credit or debit card. Valid for one journey only and it expires once exit the country. | Yes |
| Sierra Leone | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 3 months / 30 days | | No |
| Singapore | Visa not required | 30 days | | Yes |
| Slovakia | Visa required | | | — |
| Slovenia | Visa required | | | — |
| Solomon Islands | Visa required | | | — |
| Somalia | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Available at Bosaso Airport, Galcaio Airport and Mogadishu Airport. | No |
| South Sudan | eVisa | | Obtainable online. Printed visa authorization must be presented at the time of travel. | No |
| Spain | Visa required | | | — |
| Sri Lanka | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 60 days / 30 days | The standard visitor visa allows a stay of 60 days within any 6-month period. Visa fees (for Standard visitor visa): SAARC - USD 35 Non SAARC - USD 75 e-Visa categories will be charged an additional USD 18.50 service fee. If transiting from any of the Sri Lankan airports, An e-Visa is exempted (2 day transit period). | No |
| Sudan | Visa required | | | — |
| Suriname | eVisa | | | No |
| Sweden | Visa required | | | — |
| Switzerland | Visa required | | | — |
| Syria | Visa required | | | — |
| Tajikistan | eVisa / visa on arrival | 60 days / 45 days | e-Visa holders can enter through all border points. | No |
| Tanzania | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Thailand | Visa not required | 60 days | Extendable by 30 days at any Immigration Office within Thailand. | Yes |
| Timor-Leste | Visa on arrival | 30 days | | No |
| Togo | Visa not required | | Information from the Togo Embassy in the United Kingdom that is not found in the IATA database which states that visa is obtainable on arrival. | No |
| Tonga | Visa required | | | — |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Tunisia | Visa not required | 3 months | | Yes |
| Turkey | eVisa | 30 days | | Yes |
| Turkmenistan | Visa required | | | — |
| Tuvalu | Visa on arrival | 1 month | | No |
| Uganda | eVisa | 3 months | | Yes |
| Ukraine | Visa required | | e-Visa (30 days) is currently suspended. | No |
| United Arab Emirates | Visa required | | May apply using 'Smart service'. Visa not required in advance if in possession of the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom with a Certificate of Entitlement in Commonwealth passport, may enter the Emirate of Dubai in the same way as a British Citizen. | — |
| United Kingdom and Crown dependencies | Visa required | | Right of Abode holders with a Certificate of Entitlement in their Commonwealth passport may enter the United Kingdom and remain indefinitely. Temporary Visa holders can only enter for 3 months if entering from the Republic of Ireland (Eire). The Crown dependencies include the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey as well as the Isle of Man. The same Visa Policy applies mainly to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, therefore a United Kingdom Visa can be used. Transit Visa Required unless in possession of an exemption document; Australian, New Zealand and all other Visas with confirmation slips/ electronically granted Visas with a paper print-out as confirmation are not permitted as an exemption document unless endorsed by the airline. Note: Schengen Visa type "C" is not an approved exemption document. Entry must be refused or denied boarding on vessel. Direct Airside or Transit Visa required depending on type of transit. Entering the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland) by land, sea or air from the Republic of Ireland is not permitted unless in possession of a valid U.K. Visa or Immigration Document. UK Land or Transit Visa cannot be used to transit the UK from Ireland or from Ireland to the UK, a Standard Visa is required. | — |
| United States | Visa required | | Holders of a B1 / B2 (B) Visa, Permanent Resident Card, D Visa who have entered the United States at least once since 2008 may use the Automated Passport Control (APC) Kiosk for faster processing at selected airports, before proceeding to a US Customs and Border Protection officer for finalization of entry into the United States. Available locations include some United States border preclearance facilities as well. | — |
| Uruguay | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Uzbekistan | Visa required | | 5-day visa-free transit at the international airports if holding a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to a third country. | — |
| Vanuatu | Visa not required | 30 days | | No |
| Vatican City | Visa required | | Schengen Visa Required. Entry can be made from Italy exclusively. Vatican City is a de facto member of the Schengen Area and there are no formal immigration procedures upon entry and exit. | — |
| Venezuela | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Vietnam | eVisa | 90 days | 30 days visa free when visit Phu Quoc Island | — |
| Yemen | Visa required | | | — |
| Zambia | Visa not required | 90 days | | Yes |
| Zimbabwe | Visa not required | 3 months | | Yes |

## Dependent, disputed, or restricted territories
### Unrecognised or partially recognised countries

| Territory | Conditions of access | Notes |
| Abkhazia | Visa required | |
| Kosovo | Visa not required | 90 days |
| Northern Cyprus | Visa not required | 3 months |
| Palestine | Visa not required | Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed. |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | | Undefined visa regime in the Western Sahara controlled territory. |
| Somaliland | Visa on arrival | 30 days for 30 US dollars, payable on arrival. |
| South Ossetia | Visa not required | Multiple entry visa to Russia and three day prior notification are required to enter South Ossetia. |
| Taiwan | Visa required | |
| Transnistria | Visa not required | Registration required after 24h. |

### Dependent and autonomous territories

| Territory | Conditions of access | Notes |
| China |||
| Hong Kong | Visa not required | 30 days. Landing slip with stay conditions issued upon arrival in place of entry stamp. This is not a permit, however it is used to classify South African citizens as being visa exempted. |
| Macau | Visa not required | 30 days |
| Denmark |||
| Faroe Islands | Visa required | |
| Greenland | Visa required | |
| France |||
| French Guiana | Visa required | |
| French Polynesia | Visa required | |
| French West Indies | Visa required | Includes overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique and overseas collectivities of Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin. |
| Mayotte | Visa required | |
| New Caledonia | Visa required | |
| Réunion | Visa not required | 3 months. Travel to mainland France is prohibited unless in possession of a Valid Schengen Visa, Identity and Visa checks are conducted between Reunion and mainland France/ EU or EEA countries and Switzerland. |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | Visa required | |
| Wallis and Futuna | Visa required | |
| Netherlands |||
| Aruba | Visa required | |
| Caribbean Netherlands | Visa required | Includes Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. |
| Curaçao | Visa required | |
| Sint Maarten | Visa required | |
| New Zealand |||
| Cook Islands | Visa not required | 31 days |
| Niue | Visa not required | 30 days |
| Tokelau | Visa required | |
| United Kingdom |||
| Akrotiri and Dhekelia | Visa required | |
| Anguilla | eVisa | You do NOT need to apply for a visa if: You have a valid visa to enter the UK, US or Canada. A valid UK, US or Canada visa can be used to enter Anguilla. |
| Bermuda | Visa required | Visa not required for holders of Canadian, US or UK multiple-entry visa valid for at least 45 days beyond the period of intended stay in Bermuda for a maximum stay of 3 months |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | Special permit required | Special permit required. |
| British Virgin Islands | Visa not required | 30 days, extensions possible |
| Cayman Islands | Visa not required | 6 months |
| Falkland Islands | Visa not required | |
| Gibraltar | Visa required | Gibraltar is the only British Overseas Territory which falls under the UK's Visa Policy. UK Visa Required for Entry. |
| Montserrat | Visa not required | 6 months |
| Pitcairn Islands | Visa not required | 14 days visa free and landing fee US$35 or tax of US$5 if not going ashore. |
| Ascension Island | eVisa | 3 months within any year period |
| Saint Helena | Visitor's Pass required | Visitor's Pass granted on arrival valid for 4/10/21/60/90 days for 12/14/16/20/25 pound sterling. |
| Tristan da Cunha | Permission required | Permission to land required for 15/30 pounds sterling (yacht/ship passenger) for Tristan da Cunha Island or 20 pounds sterling for Gough Island, Inaccessible Island or Nightingale Islands. |
| South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Permit required | Pre-arrival permit from the Commissioner required (72 hours/1 month for 110/160 pounds sterling). |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | Visa not required | 90 days |
| United States |||
| American Samoa | Visa required | |
| Guam | Visa required | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Visa required | |
| Puerto Rico | Visa required | US visa is required to visit Puerto Rico |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Visa required | |
| Antarctica and adjacent islands |||
| Special permits required for Bouvet Island, British Antarctic Territory, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Argentine Antarctica, Australian Antarctic Territory, Chilean Antarctic Territory, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Peter I Island, Queen Maud Land, Ross Dependency. |||

### Other territories

| Territory | Conditions of access | Notes |
| Belarus Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park | Visa not required | 3 days; must first obtain an electronic pass |
| China Hainan | Visa on arrival | 15 days. Available at Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Visa not required for 15 days for traveling as part of a tourist group (5 or more people) |
| China Tibet Autonomous Region | TTP required | Tibet Travel Permit required (10 US Dollars). |
| Crimea | Visa required | Visa issued by Russia is required. |
| Ecuador Galápagos | Pre-registration required | Online pre-registration is required. Transit Control Card must also be obtained at the airport prior to departure. |
| Eritrea outside Asmara | Travel permit required | To travel in the rest of the country, a Travel Permit for Foreigners is required (20 Eritrean nakfa). |
| Greece Mount Athos | Special permit required | Special permit required (4 days: 25 euro for Orthodox visitors, 35 euro for non-Orthodox visitors, 18 euro for students). There is a visitors' quota: maximum 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox per day and women are not allowed. |
| India PAP/RAP | PAP/RAP required | Protected Area Permit (PAP) required for whole states of Nagaland and Sikkim and parts of states Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) required for all of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Some of these requirements are occasionally lifted for a year. |
| Iran Kish Island | Visa not required | Visitors to Kish Island do not require a visa. |
| Iraqi Kurdistan | Visa required | |
| Fiji Lau Province | Special permission required | Special permission required. |
| France Clipperton Island | Special permit required | Special permit required. |
| Kazakhstan | Special permission required | Special permission required for the town of Baikonur and surrounding areas in Kyzylorda Oblast, and the town of Gvardeyskiy near Almaty. |
| North Korea outside Pyongyang | Special permit required | People are not allowed to leave the capital city, tourists can only leave the capital with a governmental tourist guide (no independent moving) |
| MalaysiaSabah and Sarawak | Visa not required | These states have their own immigration authorities and passport is required to travel to them, however the same visa applies. |
| Maldives outside Malé | Permission required | With the exception of the capital Malé, tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of Maldives. |
| Norway Jan Mayen | Permit required | Permit issued by the local police required for staying for less than 24 hours and permit issued by the Norwegian police for staying for more than 24 hours. |
| Norway Svalbard | Visa not required | Unlimited Stay. Transit Visa not required when transiting Oslo, Norway to get to Svalbard Airport, Longyear, Svalbard. |
| Novorossiya | Restricted area | Crossing from Ukraine requires visit purpose to be explained to Ukrainian passport control on exit and those who entered from Russia are not allowed to proceed further into Ukraine. |
| Russia | Special authorization required | Several closed cities and regions in Russia require special authorization. |
| Sudan outside Khartoum | Travel permit required | All foreigners traveling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit. |
| Sudan Darfur | Travel permit required | Separate travel permit is required. |
| Tajikistan Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province | OIVR permit required | OIVR permit required (15+5 Tajikistani Somoni) and another special permit (free of charge) is required for Lake Sarez. |
| UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus | Access Permit required | Access Permit is required for travelling inside the zone, except Civil Use Areas. |
| Korean Demilitarized Zone | Restricted zone. | |
| UNDOF Zone and Ghajar | Restricted zone. | |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands | Special permits required | Special permits required for Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island. |
| Venezuela Margarita Island | Visa not required | All visitors are fingerprinted. |
| Vietnam Phú Quốc | Visa not required | 30 days |
| Yemen outside Sana’a or Aden | Special permission required | Special permission needed for travel outside Sana’a or Aden. |

## Changes in Visa Requirements for South African Citizens

List of Changes
| Visa Requirements Abolished/ Imposed (agreement conferred) | Abolished | Imposed | Date of Effect | Reciprocity (at time of agreement and subsequent implementation) |
| Canada | | Yes | 1969-1972 | No |
| Switzerland (12 Dec 2008) | | Yes | 12 Dec 2008 | No |
| United Kingdom (July 2009) | | Yes | July 2009 | No |
| Colombia (September 2016) | | Yes | | Yes |
| New Zealand (November 2016) | | Yes | 21 November 2016 | No |
| Russia (April 2017) | Yes | | 1 April 2017 | Yes |
| Qatar (June–August 2017) | Yes | | | Yes |
| Angola (November 2017) | Yes | | 1 December 2017 | Yes |
| Egypt (November 2019) | Simplified (E-visa) | | November 2019 | No |
| Ireland (Republic of) | | Yes | July 2024 | No |

## Visa exemptions

In some instances, a Visa Exemption permits entry in lieu of obtaining a Visa/ Entry Visa if in possession of the following Visas or Permanent Relationships, this is not limited to entitlements or provisions laid down by the country's law, for instance, right to enter without prior authority due to background such as in the case of former Indian Citizens:
This list does not include the ability of a Visa Document Exemption/ Substitute for a Visa Application, for instance a US Visa as an exemption document for the issue of a Qatari e-Visa.

### Summary of Visa Exemptions

| Country of Issue where document can be used as an Exemption for entry | for entry to | Visa or Residence Permit |
| United States | Albania  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Bermuda of the United Kingdom  Mexico  Montenegro  North Macedonia  São Tomé and Príncipe  Serbia | Both |
| Canada | Bermuda of the United Kingdom  Mexico | Both |
| United Kingdom | Canada #  New Zealand #  United Arab Emirates #  United Kingdom: +Indefinitely #  Bermuda of the United Kingdom # | # Holders of the Right of Abode |
| United Kingdom | Bermuda of the United Kingdom | Both Indefinite and Temporary Visas |
| Australia | New Zealand | Australian Permanent Residence |

### List of Visa Exemptions
#### North America

United States of America - South African Citizens in possession of a valid United States Multiple Entry Visa in their passport may enter the following country(ies) visa-free for the time indicated beside, this also includes the countries consisting of the former Yugoslavia:
* Albania - 90 days
* Bosnia and Herzegovina - 30 days
* Bermuda of the United Kingdom - 3 months (if arriving or transiting from the United States)
* Mexico - 180 days, see note in Mexico under "Visa Requirements";
* Montenegro - 30 days
* North Macedonia - 15 days
* São Tomé and Príncipe - 15 days
* Serbia - 90 days
Canada - South African Citizens in possession of a valid Canadian Multiple Entry Visa in their passport may enter the following country(ies) visa-free for the time indicated adjacent:
* Bermuda of the United Kingdom - 3 months (if transiting or arriving from Canada)
* Mexico - 180 days

#### British Isles

United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Right of Abode in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - South African Citizens who are in possession of a Valid Certificate of Entitlement substantiating their claim to the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom in their South African passport (as either a British National or South African / Commonwealth Citizen) may enter the following Commonwealth Realms / countries for the same period for as a South African Citizen who would usually a Visa but without the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom (+except the United Kingdom as right to reside is automatic):
* Canada - 6 months
* United Arab Emirates
* United Kingdom - Indefinitely
South African citizens in possession of Leave to Remain or Enter holders(whether permanent or temporary) / Ireland Biometric Visa or Permanent Residency holders:
Holder's of a United Kingdom Visa May enter:
Bermuda of the United Kingdom - 3 months (if arriving or transiting from the United Kingdom).

#### Australia

Permanent Residence in the Commonwealth of Australia - South African Citizens with any type of a Valid Australian Permanent Resident Visa electronically granted or as a label still valid may enter the following country:
* New Zealand - Indefinite. Note: may apply for Permanent Residency in New Zealand after satisfying two years residence with an Australian Resident Visa in New Zealand. Australian Resident Visa is a New Zealand (Indefinite) Visa which is granted at the New Zealand border to Australian Permanent Residents in the form of an entry stamp, if the holder leaves New Zealand the Visa would therefore end and the time spent would not count towards satisfying the Two Year Residence requirement in order to become a New Zealand Permanent Resident (2 years) or a Citizen (5 years). Australian Resident Visa is the name of the Visa given to Australian Permanent Residents or Australian Citizens upon arrival in New Zealand.
Holder's must also consider that they will be able to return to Australia as a Permanent Resident should the expiry of their travel facility on their Australian Permanent Residence occur whilst they are in New Zealand. The Australian Resident Visa granted in New Zealand is indefinite if in New Zealand, however expires when leaving.
As of 1 October 2019, Australian Permanent Residents need to apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) if they wish to enter New Zealand. The ETA is valid for 2 years however there is no time limit on the length of stay, this is just the time the holder must enter within. The cost is NZD 9 on the mobile app and NZD 12 on the internet per traveller and takes about 5 minutes to complete. The aim is to preauthorise travel to New Zealand. Once the Australian Permanent Resident arrives, they will be granted a New Zealand Visa for Australian Residents (Australian Resident Visa) subject to satisfying character requirements. It is very important to consider three things: Validity of Australian Permanent Residence in order to return to Australia or New Zealand, Validity of NZeTA and leaving New Zealand. Leaving New Zealand will terminate the New Zealand Visa for Australian Resident, if the Australian Permanent Resident Visa is not Valid then they will not be able to return to New Zealand or Australia. There are no other costs involved. Australian Resident Visa

#### European Union

European Union Family Member - South African Citizens who are travelling with or joining their EU family members in the European Union in a Country other than where their family member is a citizen of does not require a Visa to enter and enjoy the same entry rights and stay, however this would be difficult to prove and as a result, entry could be refused. Visa should be applied for in advance which is usually with no or minimal requirements to meet if the applicant is a family member of an EU Citizen. For instance, a person who wants to travel with their spouse to France where their spouse is a Citizen of the Republic of Lithuania should apply for a Schengen Visa in advance or where a person wants to join their Lithuanian spouse who resides in France should also apply for a Schengen Visa in order to prove their right and avoid misconception. In most cases, airlines will not permit travel without a visa. There is no time limit a family member can stay (indefinite stay), they must just enter before the Visa expires if joining their family or travelling at the same time. There are no costs involved either. European Union citizens and their South African family members will need to apply for settled or pre-settled status if they wish continue residing in the UK after 31 December 2020. Settled Status can be granted when the applicant has resided in the UK for 5 years and is valid indefinitely. In order to maintain settled status, people must visit the UK every 5 years. Pre-Settled status is granted when the applicant has resided in the UK for less than 5 years and is valid for 5 years. In order to maintain pre-settled status, people must visit the UK every two years. However, applicants would have to meet continuous residence until they reach 5 years if they want to qualify for settled status after 31 December 2020. It will not be possible to be granted another pre-settled Visa.
Schengen Visa (Long Stay) - Holder's of a Valid Long Stay Category D Visa who arrive in the Schengen European country of their Visa and apply for a Residence Card shortly after arriving will be able to use their EU residence permit/ card for travel within the Schengen States, if granted.

## Non-visa restrictions

Many countries have entry restrictions on foreigners that go beyond the common requirement of having either a valid visa or a visa exemption. Such restrictions may be health related or impose additional documentation requirements on certain classes of people for diplomatic or political purposes.

### Blank passport pages

Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages. Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted as being valid or available.

### Vaccination

Many African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia, require all incoming passengers older than nine months to one year to have a current International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, as does the South American territory of French Guiana.
Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area or has visited one recently or has transited for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

### Passport validity length

Very few countries, such as Paraguay, just require a valid passport on arrival.
However many countries and groupings now require only an identity card – especially from their neighbours. Other countries may have special bilateral arrangements that depart from the generality of their passport validity length policies to shorten the period of passport validity required for each other's citizens or even accept passports that have already expired (but not been cancelled).
Some countries, such as Japan, Ireland and the United Kingdom, require a passport valid throughout the period of the intended stay.
In the absence of specific bilateral agreements, countries requiring passports to be valid for at least 6 more months on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Bahrain, Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia and Zambia.
Countries requiring passports with a validity of at least 3 months beyond the date of intended departure include Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Honduras, Montenegro, Nauru, Moldova and New Zealand. Similarly, the EEA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, all European Union countries (except Ireland) together with Switzerland also require 3 months validity beyond the date of the bearer's intended departure unless the bearer is an EEA or Swiss national.
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 3 months on arrival include Albania, North Macedonia, Panama, and Senegal.
Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry.
Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives and South Africa.

#### Maximum passport age

Countries of the Schengen area require non-EU passports to be less than 10 years old upon entry. A number of holders of British passports, which until September 2018 could be issued with a validity period of up to 10 years and nine months if the previous passport was not expired, were unable to travel to the EU subsequent to Brexit due to this restriction.

### Criminal record

Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States, routinely deny entry to non-citizens who have a criminal record, while others impose restrictions depending on the type of conviction and the length of the sentence.

### Persona non grata

The government of a country can declare a diplomat persona non grata, banning them from entering the country or expelling them if they have already entered. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a foreigner persona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity.

### Israeli stamps

Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, and Yemen do not allow entry to people with passport stamps from Israel or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa, or where there is evidence of previous travel to Israel such as entry or exit stamps from neighbouring border posts in transit countries such as Jordan and Egypt.
To circumvent this Arab League boycott of Israel, the Israeli immigration services have now mostly ceased to stamp foreign nationals' passports on either entry to or exit from Israel (unless the entry is for some work-related purposes). Since 15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports at Ben Gurion Airport. Passports are still (as of 22 June 2017) stamped at Erez when passing into and out of Gaza.
Iran refuses admission to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa or stamp that is less than 12 months old.

### Biometrics

Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, be fingerprinted on arrival and will refuse admission to or even arrest travellers who refuse to comply. In some countries, such as the United States, this may apply even to transit passengers who merely wish to change planes rather than go landside.
Fingerprinting countries/regions include Afghanistan, Argentina, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Japan, Kenya (both fingerprints and a photo are taken), Malaysia upon entry and departure, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States, which does not fully implement exit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long mandated by its own legislation), intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.
Together with fingerprint and face recognition, iris scanning is one of three biometric identification technologies internationally standardised since 2006 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for use in e-passports and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa.