Holders of regular South African passports are allowed to enter a number of countries without the need of a visa. Prior application for a visa is required for countries or territories not mentioned below.
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.
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| Countries and Territories | Allowed Stays |
|---|---|
| Benin | 3 months [1] |
| Botswana | 90 days [2][3] |
| Cape Verde | Visa issued upon arrival [4][5] |
| Comoros | Visa issued upon arrival [6] |
| Egypt | Visa issued upon arrival 15 days free of charge provided remaining in South Sinai and not continuing to any other city |
| Ethiopia | 3-month tourist visa issued on arrival at Bole International Airport [7]][8] |
| Gabon | One month |
| Kenya | 30 days [9][10] |
| Lesotho | 14 days [11] |
| Madagascar | 90-day visas can be granted on arrival for MGA140,000.- (or equivalent in Euros or US Dollars) [12] |
| Malawi | 90 days [13] |
| Mauritius | 60 days for touristic visits, 90 days for business visits [14][15] |
| Mozambique | 30 days [16] |
| Namibia | 3 months [17] |
| Rwanda | 90 days [18] |
| Saint Helena | Visitors pass valid for 3 months issued upon arrival for £12.00 [19] |
| Senegal | 3 months [20] |
| Seychelles | 1 month [21] |
| Swaziland | 30 days [22] |
| Tanzania | Visa can be obtained on arrival* [23] |
| Togo | 7-day visa can be obtained on arrival** [24] |
| Tunisia | 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival for TND 35.- [25] |
| Uganda | Visas can be obtained upon arrival if required [26] |
| Zambia | 90 days in a 12 month period (which can be taken at once or in intervals) [27] |
| Zimbabwe | 3-month holiday visa, 30-day business visa, or 3-day transit visa can be issued on arrival free of charge. [28] |
* Visitors from countries where Tanzania has diplomatic or consular representation are strongly advised to obtain a visa from the Tanzanian Mission beforehand [29]
** If a Togolese visa is required on arrival, the traveller's passport will be confiscated, and will need to be collected with the visa the next day at the police station [30]
| Countries and Territories | Allowed Stays |
|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 month [31] |
| Argentina | 3 months [32] |
| Bahamas | 3 months [33] |
| Barbados | 6 months [34] |
| Belize | 1 month [35] |
| Bolivia | 30 day Tourist visa issued upon arrival if in possession of sufficient funds for stay and return ticket |
| Brazil | 90 days [36] |
| British Virgin Islands | 30 days [37] |
| Cayman Islands | 30 days [38] |
| Chile | 90 days [39] |
| Colombia | 90 days [40] |
| Costa Rica | 90 days [41] |
| Dominica | 6 months [42] [43] |
| Dominican Republic | 30 days (Tourist card issued on arrival for US$10) [44] |
| Ecuador | 90 days [45] |
| El Salvador | 3 months [46] |
| Falkland Islands | 90 days |
| Grenada | 3 months [47] |
| Guatemala | 90 days [48] |
| Guyana | 3 months [49] |
| Haiti | 3 months [50] |
| Honduras | 3 months [51] |
| Jamaica | 6 months [52][53] |
| Montserrat | 3 months [54] |
| Nicaragua | 90 days [55] |
| Panama | 180 days [56] |
| Paraguay | 90 days [57] |
| Peru | 90 days [58] [59] |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Visa required, except for travelers continuing their journey to a third country within 14 days [60]. |
| Saint Lucia | 6 weeks [61] [62] |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 month [63] |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 30 days [64] |
| Uruguay | 3 months [65] [66] |
| Venezuela | 90 days with tourist card issued on board scheduled airlines [67] [68] |
| Countries and Territories | Allowed Stays |
|---|---|
| Armenia | 120-day Visa issued upon arrival (15,000 AMD) |
| Bangladesh | 90-day visa can be issued upon arrival for USD50, though it is strongly recommended that the visa be obtained before arrival [69]. |
| Cambodia | 30 days visa issued on arrival |
| Georgia | 360 days [70] |
| Hong Kong | 30 days |
| Indonesia | 7 days or 30 days Visa issued on arrival |
| Laos | 30-days tourist Visa issued upon arrival for US$30 |
| Macau | 30 days |
| Malaysia | 3 months |
| Maldives | 30 days |
| Nepal | 60 days or 120 days Tourist Visa issued upon arrival |
| Philippines | 21 days |
| Singapore | 30 days |
| Sri Lanka | 30-day visa issued upon arrival |
| South Korea | 30-day visa issued upon arrival |
| Thailand | 30 days |
| Timor-Leste | 30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30 |
| Countries and Territories | Allowed Stays |
|---|---|
| Ireland | 3 months |
| Kosovo | 90 days |
| Turkey | One month entry visas can be issued on arrival for gratis [72] [73] |
| Countries and Territories | Allowed Stays |
|---|---|
| Israel | 3 months |
| Jordan | 1 month visa issued free on arrival |
| Oman | One month visa issued on arrival |
| Bahrain | visa is issued at Bahrain airport for a two-week-period |
| Countries and Territories | Allowed Stays |
|---|---|
| Cook Islands | 31 days |
| Fiji | 4 months |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 30 days |
| Nauru | 30 days Tourist Visa can be issued free on arrival |
| New Zealand | 3 months [1] |
| Niue | 30 days |
| Palau | 30 days |
| Samoa | 60 days |
| Tuvalu | One month |
| Vanuatu | 30 days |
Working
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