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Passport Holders Exempt From South African Visas

Subject to change without notice

Countries exempt from South African Visas

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the foreign countries / territories / international organisations listed below are not required to hold a visa when reporting to an immigration officer for an examination at a South African port of entry, subject to the terms and conditions set out in this list, including inter alia the intended period of stay in the Republic.

The holder of a national South African passport, travel document and document for travel purposes.

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit:

Australian Diplomatic passport holders who are due for accreditation in South Africa are required to apply for a port of entry visa prior to travel.

African Union Laissez Passer
African Development Bank Laissez Passers
Andorra
Angola (ordinary passports 90 days per annum visits not to exceed 30 days)
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Botswana
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Finland
France
Germany (Federal Republic of) (Except diplomatic passport holders who are due to assume duty at the Embassy & Consulates of Germany in South Africa require a visa for accreditation purposes)
Ghana (ordinary passport holders 90 days per annum)
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya (ordinary passport holders 90 days per annum)
Liechtenstein
Luxemburg
Madagascar (ordinary passport holders 90 days per annum)
Malaysia (diplomatic/official/service/ordinary passport holders)
Malta
Monaco
Namibia (only ordinary passport holders 90 days per annum)
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Palestine (state of)
Panama
Paraguay
Portugal (Republic of)
Qatar
Russian Federation
SADC Laissez-passers
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles (ordinary passport holders 90 days per annum)
Sierra Leone (diplomatic/official/service passport holders - 90 days per annum)
Singapore (Republic of)
Spain (Kingdom of)
St Vincent & the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Tanzania (90 days per year)
Trinidad and Tobago (only ordinary passport holders)
Tunisia
British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man

British Overseas Territories namely:

Anguilla
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Montserrat
St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha)
Pitcairn
Henderson
Ducie and Oeno Islands
Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands

United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
United Nations Laissez-passer
United States of America (Except diplomatic passport holders who are due to assume duty at the Embassy & Consulates of the USA in South Africa require a visa for accreditation purposes)
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia (90 days per annum)
Zimbabwe

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa to be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) (accredited in SA) for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit:

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas (only ordinary passport holders)
Barbados
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Cape Verde
Costa Rica
Cyprus (only ordinary passport holders)
Gabon
Guyana
Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)
Hungary (only ordinary passport holders)
Jordan
Kingdom of Eswatini
Lesotho
Macau (only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports [MSAR])
Malawi
Maldives
Mauritius
Mozambique
Peru
Poland (only ordinary passport holders)
Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Thailand (only ordinary passport holders)
Turkey (Diplomatic, Service, Official & Ordinary passport holders)

Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passport holders.

Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of the following countries do not require visas in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for the period indicated and transit:

Albania (120 days)
Algeria (30 days)
Angola (90 days)
Belarus (90 days)
Benelux states (90 days)
Bulgaria (90 days)
China (PROC) (30 days)
Cyprus (90 days)
Comoros (90 days)
Croatia (90 days)
Cuba (90 days)
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (90 days Official visits only)
Egypt (30 days)
Ethiopia (90 days, diplomatic and official/service passports)
Ghana (90 days)
Guinea (90 days)
Hungary (120 days)
India (90 days)
Indonesia(30 days)
Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) (30 days)
Kenya (90 days, including civil servants holding ordinary passports travelling for official government business)
Liberia (90 days)
Mexico (90 days)
Madagascar (30 days)
Mali (90 days)
Morocco (30 days)
Mozambique (90 days)
Namibia (30 days)
Nigeria (90 days)
Niger (90 days, diplomatic and official passports)
Paraguay (120 days)
Poland (90 days)
Romania (90 days)
Rwanda (30 days)
Senegal (90 days)
Seychelles (30 days)
Slovak Republic (90 days)
Thailand (90 days)
Tunisia (90 days, also special passports)
Uganda (90 days)
Vietnam (90 days)

Notwithstanding this Schedule, a foreigner whose visa exemption has been withdrawn shall comply with the visa requirements until notified by the Department that his or her visa exemption has been re-instated by the Department on petition or of its own accord.

General Work Visas are not required by commercial heavy duty vehicle drivers who are employed by South African companies and originate from countries which enjoy visa free movement into South Africa, on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment on entry. In accordance with a High Court ruling by the North Gauteng High Court on 31 March 2011, foreign commercial heavy duty vehicle drivers may be issued with visitor's visas in terms of section 11(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, with authorisation to conduct work in terms of section 11(2) of the said Act for the period of their visa exemption, which period may not exceed 90 days at a time.

Port of entry visas are not required by foreign employed commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers from Lesotho, Kingdom of Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi who are entering the Republic, provided their visits do not exceed the period of their visa exemption and on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment with a transport company abroad on entry. Visitor's visas in terms of section 11(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, with authorisation to conduct work in terms of section 11(2) of the said Act for the period of their visa exemption, which period may not exceed 90 days at a time.

Staff members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who travel on SADC laissez-passers are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide official business visits up to 90 days and transit.

The following categories of the UN as well as their spouses, dependent relatives and other members of the households are exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Republic for periods not exceeding 90 days for purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued, and for official business purposes and transits and when accredited for placement at a UN mission in the Republic for the duration of their accreditation, provided they are in possession of the relevant letters or identification documents to identify themselves at ports of entry as personnel of an UN agency:

Holders of United Nations Laissez-passers
Volunteers attached to the UN
Persons involved in any United Nations agency
Persons performing services on behalf of the UN

Members of military forces attending any military related matters with the South African National Defence Force are exempt from visa and study visa requirements, irrespective of their duration of stay provided they are in possession of letters of invitation from the SANDF as well as letters of consent from the military force of which they are members.

With effect from 18th December 2015 travellers, with the exception of deportees, who transit through OR Tambo International Airport; Cape Town International Airport; King Shaka International Airport and Lanseria International Airport do not require transit visas as contemplated in section 10B(4)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002) However, transiting passengers will be subjected to biometric capturing. Deportees transiting at any port of entry are required to be in possession of a transit visa at all times and must be escorted.

Updated: 2024-03-11