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Visa policy of South Africa

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South African visa South Africa Visa.jpg
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]

Contents

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 policy of South Africa .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} South Africa Visa not required - 90 days Visa not required - 30 days Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) - 90 days eVisa - 90 days Visa required Visa policy of South Africa.svg
Visa policy of South Africa
  South Africa
  Visa not required - 90 days
  Visa not required - 30 days
  Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) - 90 days
  eVisa - 90 days
  Visa required

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.

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)

South African eVisa Grant Notice South African eVisa Grant Notice.jpg
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: [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]

Country201920182017201620152014
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe 2,258,7942,208,9302,039,9322,028,8811,900,7912,143,716
Flag of Lesotho.svg Lesotho 1,563,4481,739,1881,747,2111,757,0581,394,9131,501,642
Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique 1,333,1951,360,8961,339,2451,268,2581,200,3351,283,016
Flag of Eswatini.svg Eswatini 917,631883,735876,992893,618835,006918,490
Flag of Botswana.svg Botswana 668,315688,566681,379679,828593,514555,590
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 436,559430,708447,901447,840407,486401,914
Flag of the United States.svg United States 373,694376,892370,747345,013297,226309,255
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 322,720343,229349,211311,832256,646274,571
Flag of Malawi.svg Malawi 199,079197,317175,014154,017135,260166,964
Flag of Namibia.svg Namibia 184,431200,367208,747214,664212,514211,453
Total10,228,59310,472,10510,285,19710,044,1638,903,7739,549,236

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New visa rules will hurt tourism: DA – IOL News" . Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  2. ↑ "Department of Home Affairs – Exempt Countries". home-affairs.gov.za. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. 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. ↑ VisasNews (18 September 2025). "South Africa unveils its new ETA system". VisasNews. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  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. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "Minister Leon Schreiber presents new Electronic Travel Authorisation to tourism industry | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Department of Home Affairs - Exempt Countries".
  10. ↑ "Concórdia". Concordia.itamaraty.gov.br. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  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. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  12. ↑ 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.
  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). Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  17. ↑ Gschwind, RIC Media – Enrica Hölzinger, Patrick. "Visa & Consular – South African Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna". suedafrika-botschaft.at. Retrieved 8 March 2018.{{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. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  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. Retrieved 8 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. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  28. ↑ Department of Home Affairs. "South African Immigration Act" (PDF). DHA: Publications. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  29. ↑ "Tourism 2019, pages 11–14" (PDF). Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  30. ↑ Africa, Statistics South. "Publication – Statistics South Africa". statssa.gov.za. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
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