South Africa entry requirements, by passport
What you need to get into South Africa depends on the passport in your hand. Find yours below: the visa or e-authorisation, how long you can stay, the official fee and the government page to apply on.
24 of 32 passports verified on official pages.
What each passport needs
| Passport | To get in | Stay | Document and fee | Apply | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Canada | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Mexico | Travel authorisation before you fly | up to 90 days per visit | South Africa ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)Official fee: ZAR 500 (plus any reciprocal visa fee)Apply: Apply before travel; outcomes promised within 24-72 hours but apply well ahead | Official page | Likely |
| Brazil | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Ireland | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Germany | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| France | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Italy | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Spain | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Netherlands | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Switzerland | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Russia | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Türkiye | Visa-free | up to 30 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Israel | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| United Arab Emirates | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Saudi Arabia | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| India | Travel authorisation before you fly | up to 90 days per visit | South Africa ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)Official fee: ZAR 500 (plus any reciprocal visa fee)Apply: Apply before travel; outcomes promised within 24-72 hours but apply well ahead | Official page | Likely |
| China (mainland) | Travel authorisation before you fly | up to 90 days per visit | South Africa ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)Official fee: ZAR 500 (plus any reciprocal visa fee)Apply: Apply before travel; outcomes promised within 24-72 hours but apply well ahead | Official page | Likely |
| Hong Kong SAR | Visa-free | up to 30 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Taiwan | Visa needed before you fly | up to 90 days | Visitor visa (section 11(1))Apply: Apply several weeks ahead | Official page | Likely |
| Japan | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| South Korea | Visa-free | up to 30 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Singapore | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Malaysia | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Thailand | Visa-free | up to 30 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Vietnam | Visa needed before you fly | up to 90 days | Visitor visa (section 11(1))Apply: Apply several weeks ahead | Official page | Likely |
| Philippines | e-Visa before you fly | up to 90 days | South Africa eVisa (visitor visa)Apply: Apply well ahead | Official page | Likely |
| Indonesia | Travel authorisation before you fly | up to 90 days per visit | South Africa ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)Official fee: ZAR 500 (plus any reciprocal visa fee)Apply: Apply before travel; outcomes promised within 24-72 hours but apply well ahead | Official page | Likely |
| Australia | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| New Zealand | Visa-free | up to 90 days per visit | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Nigeria | e-Visa before you fly | up to 90 days | South Africa eVisa (visitor visa)Apply: Apply well ahead | Official page | Likely |
| South Africa | Own country |
Verified means NUM read it on a government page on 10–11 Oct 2026. Likely means a reputable source says it and one official page agreed. Not checked yet means NUM could not confirm it: use the official page. Fees are as published on that date and can change.
The rules everyone meets at the border
Passport
Passport must be valid for at least 30 days after the date you intend to leave South Africa. Safe standard: 1 month beyond the day you leave.
Arrival card
SARS Online Traveller Declaration (customs declaration via Traveller Management System / SATMS app). Before travel; SARS guidance reported as no more than 24 hours before departing for South Africa. Applies on entry AND exit, one declaration per person (parents complete for children). Fee: Free (no fee published).
Official form · free on the official site
Border systems for every visitor
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at eta.dha.gov.za, officially launched 12 Aug 2026 (ZAR 500 from 17 Aug 2026). Currently the tourist/business route for ordinary-passport holders of China, India, Indonesia and Mexico; DHA plans to extend it to all visa-required nationalities. Optional for visa-exempt travellers.
Travel insurance
No general travel-insurance entry requirement found on FCDO / US State Dept pages.
Vaccinations
Yellow fever vaccination certificate required if arriving from a country listed by WHO as a yellow fever transmission risk; vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival.
Cash to declare at customs
Declare cash over ZAR 25,000 per person, or foreign currency worth more than USD 10,000 combined. Up to ZAR 25,000 may be taken out; foreign currency taken out should have been declared on entry. Kruger coins restricted.
Medicines, vapes and banned items
Declare anything prohibited, restricted or dutiable on the SARS traveller declaration. Kruger coins: only up to 15 may be exported, with proof of purchase in foreign currency.
Travelling with children
Since the late-2018/2019 relaxation, visa-exempt foreign minors travelling with both parents need only a passport, but carrying an unabridged birth certificate showing both parents is strongly advised. One parent travelling: carry a copy of the child's birth certificate, a copy of the other parent's passport and their contact details (consent letter advised; some airlines demand it). Unaccompanied minors: proof of parental consent, copy of parents' passports, letter and ID copy of the person receiving the child in South Africa. Visa-required minors submit these documents with the visa application. Officers can still ask for documents if parentage is in doubt.
Work, study, working holiday and nomad visas
Every official route NUM found for South Africa. You apply directly with the government.
Work permits
Skilled foreign workers; points system applies to applications from 9 Oct 2024
Stay: Standard validity per visa type (12 months if only SAQA application proof submitted)
100 points needed: occupation on Critical Skills List = 100; NQF 9-10 = 50 / NQF 7-8 = 30; 10+ yrs experience = 30 / 5-10 yrs = 20; official-language proficiency = 10; salary > ZAR 976,194 = 50 / ZAR 650,796-976,194 = 20; Trusted Employer offer = 20
Digital nomad
People employed by a foreign employer, working remotely from South Africa
Gross annual income of at least ZAR 650,976; SARS tax registration rules apply after 183 days for treaty-country tax residents
Tourist
Ordinary-passport holders of China, India, Indonesia, Mexico (more visa nationals to be added); optional for visa-exempt travellers
Stay: Up to 90 days, extendable once online by 90 days
Online application with biometric photo; entry only at designated airports (OR Tambo, Cape Town, Lanseria)
Official fee: ZAR 500 (from 17 Aug 2026)
Visa-required nationals not yet on the ETA, or visa-exempt visitors staying longer than their exemption
Stay: Up to 90 days
Apply at a South African mission/VFS or via eVisa where eligible
What changed, and what is coming
- Later in 2026 · Announced ETA valid at all international airports (King Shaka/Durban first) and busiest land ports (Beitbridge, Lebombo, Kopfontein, Skilpadhek, Maseru Bridge). Source
- 2026-08-17 · In force ZAR 500 ETA electronic processing fee took effect (Government Notice R.7834). Source
- 2026-08-12 · In force President Ramaphosa officially launched the ETA at OR Tambo; DHA said more countries would be added over the coming weeks. Source
- 2026-07-01 · In force SARS online traveller (customs) declaration became mandatory for everyone entering or leaving South Africa. Source
- 2026-02-12 · In force ETA opened to ordinary-passport holders of China, India, Indonesia and Mexico entering via OR Tambo, Cape Town or Lanseria. Source
- 2026 (rolling) · Announced ETA to be extended to all visa-required nationalities for tourism/business, becoming their mandatory short-stay route. Source
- 2025-12-09 · In force DHA reissued its visa-exemption list (adds 2025 exemptions such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia). Source
- 2025-10 · In force ETA pilot began for G20 delegations from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico (OR Tambo and Cape Town; Lanseria added Nov 2025). Source
Your checklist, with the dates it is due
NUM builds it for your passport and your travel dates: the authorisation and when to apply, the arrival card and the day it opens, what to carry at the border, your own country's exit rules, and a calendar file for every deadline.
Every document here is issued by a government, and the official link is the only place to get it. Most arrival cards and many authorisations are free. NUM is not a visa service and cannot apply for anything. Rules change without notice: the official page always has the final word.