Visa policy of South Africa

South African visa

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]

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

Visa policy map

Visa policy of South Africa

  South Africa

  Visa not required - 90 days

  Visa not required - 30 days

  eVisa - 90 days

  Visa required

Visa exemption

Nationals of the following countries can enter South Africa without a visa:^[5][6]

90 days

Citizens of the following countries / territories who hold valid national passports are allowed to stay in South Africa for up to 90 days without a visa: ^[7]

Andorra  Argentina  Australia  Austria  Belgium  Botswana  Brazil  Canada  Chile  Czech Republic  Denmark  Ecuador  Finland  France  Ghana^2

Germany  Greece  Iceland  Ireland  Israel  Italy  Jamaica  Japan  Kenya^2  Liechtenstein  Luxembourg  Madagascar^2  Malaysia  Malta  Monaco

Namibia^2  Netherlands  New Zealand^1  Norway  Palestine^1  Panama  Paraguay  Portugal  Qatar^1  Russia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  San Marino  São Tomé and Príncipe^1  Saudi Arabia^1  Seychelles^2

Singapore  Spain  Sweden   Switzerland  Tanzania^3  Trinidad and Tobago^1  Tunisia  United Arab Emirates^1  United Kingdom^1  United States  Uruguay  Venezuela  Zambia^3  Zimbabwe

_{1 - Visa exemption applies to holders of ordinary passports only.
2 - The maximum stay is 90 days per year for ordinary passport holders; this limit does not apply to non-ordinary passport holders.
3 - The maximum stay is 90 days per year for all passport holders.}

30 days

Citizens of the following countries / territories who hold valid national passports are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of up to 30 days:

Angola^2  Antigua and Barbuda  Bahamas^1  Barbados  Belize  Benin  Bolivia

Cape Verde  Costa Rica  Cyprus  Eswatini  Gabon  Guyana  Hong Kong

Hungary  Jordan  Lesotho  Macao^1  Malawi  Maldives  Mauritius

Mozambique  Peru  Poland  South Korea  Thailand  Turkey

_{1 - Visa exemption applies to holders of ordinary passports only.
2 - The maximum stay is 90 days per year for ordinary passport holders; this limit does not apply to non-ordinary passport holders.}

Date of visa changes

Visa free: 26 December 1996: Brazil[8] 29 April 2005: Mozambique[9] 30 March 2017: Russia 1 December 2017: Angola[10] 15 August 2019: New Zealand (resumed), Qatar, Saudi Arabia,[11] United Arab Emirates 1 January 2023: Kenya[12] 24 September 2023: Palestine 1 November 2023: Ghana [13] Cancelled: Taiwan: 1 July 2005[14] Slovakia: 18 April 2016[15] New Zealand: 16 January 2017[16] (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) [17]

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):

Albania  Algeria^2  Angola  Belarus  Bulgaria  Comoros  Croatia  Cuba  Cyprus  DR Congo (conditional)  Egypt^2  Ghana

Guinea  Hungary  India  Indonesia^2  Ivory Coast^2  Kenya^2  Liberia  Madagascar^2  Mexico  Morocco^2  Mozambique  Namibia^2

Nigeria  Paraguay^1  Poland  Romania  Rwanda^2  Senegal  Slovakia  Thailand  Togo  Tunisia  Uganda  Vietnam

_{1 - 120 days
2 - 30 days}

Visa exemption agreement was signed with Mali but not yet ratified.^[18]

Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

South African eVisa Grant Notice

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: ^[19]

Albania  Algeria  Belarus  Bulgaria  Cameroon  China  Comoros  Congo  DR Congo

Côte d'Ivoire  Croatia  Cuba  Egypt  Ethiopia  Ghana  Guinea  India  Indonesia

Iran  Kenya^1  Liberia  Lithuania  Mali  Mexico  Morocco  Niger  Nigeria

Pakistan  Philippines  Romania  Saudi Arabia^1  Senegal  Slovakia  Uganda

_{1 - Already exempt from visa requirement.}

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:

• African Union laissez-passer
• Southern African Development Community (SADC) laissez-passer: Staff members of SADC who travel on SADC laissez-passer are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide official business visits of 90 days or less and transit.
• United Nations laissez-passer
• Interpol Passport Holders

Visa types

Visas issued by South Africa are for:^[20]

• Tourism or visits to family or friends
• Medical treatment
• Working in the entertainment industry
• Attending a conference
• Treaty conditions compliance
• Maritime crew
• Cultural, economic and social exchange programmes
• Transit

Temporary residence visas issued by South Africa are:^[21]

• Business visas
• Work visas
• Quota work visas
• General work visas
• Critical skills work visa
• Intra-company Transfer Work visa
• Corporate visas
• Study visas
• Exchange visas
• Retired persons' visa
• Relatives' visa
• Medical Treatment visa

Overstay consequences

It is a departure of a foreigner from South Africa on an expired visa that triggers an overstay.^[22]

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.^[23]

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

• A foreigner who has overstayed less than 30 days the validity of his/her visa will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 1 year.
• A foreigner who has overstayed more than 30 days the validity of his/her visa will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 5 years.
• A foreigner who overstayed twice in a period of 24 months (repeat offenders) will be declared an undesirable person and banned for a period of 2 years.

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:^[24][25]

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

• Tourism in South Africa
• Visa requirements for South African citizens
• List of ports of entry in South Africa
• List of diplomatic missions of South Africa

References

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2. "Department of Home Affairs – Exempt Countries". home-affairs.gov.za. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
3. "eVisa". Department of Home Affairs eVisa. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
4. "South Africa: SA eVisa System Launched in 14 Countries". allAfrica. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
5. "Countries exempt from South African Visas. Department of Home Affairs".
6. "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
7. "Department of Home Affairs - Exempt Countries".
8. "Concórdia". Concordia.itamaraty.gov.br. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
9. "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. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
10. Edwards, Caryn (24 November 2017). "Angola-South Africa entry VISA free exemption a big boost for tourism, trade & investment in the Cape". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
11. "South Africa soon to open visa-free door to Kiwis". 14 June 2023.
12. "Kenya, South Africa to begin mutual visa-free system in January".
13. "Ghana and South Africa agree visa-free entry to both countries".
14. 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). Retrieved 8 March 2018.
15. Gschwind, RIC Media – Enrica Hölzinger, Patrick. "Visa & Consular – South African Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna". suedafrika-botschaft.at. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
16. "DHA revokes visa free travel for New Zealand nationals, but that's just the beginning". 14 December 2016.
17. "Department of Home Affairs - Exempt Countries".
18. "South Africa and Mali sign reciprocal Visa Waiver Agreement - African Daily Voice". Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
19. "South Africa eVisa".
20. "Types of Visas". Department of Home Affairs.
21. "Types of Temporary Residence Visas". Department of Home Affairs.
22. Eisenberg, Gary (June 2018). "Immigration Attorney". Eisenberg & Associates. Eisenberg & Associates. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
23. Department of Home Affairs. "South African Immigration Act" (PDF). DHA: Publications. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
24. "Tourism 2019, pages 11–14" (PDF). Retrieved 15 July 2020.
25. Africa, Statistics South. "Publication – Statistics South Africa". statssa.gov.za. Retrieved 8 March 2018.