Visa requirements for South African citizens depend on where you are going. South African passport holders need a visa in advance for the United Kingdom, the Schengen area, Canada and the United States, and each country sets its own documents and fees. South African visa requirements for visitors to South Africa are covered further down.
No single official list covers every destination, so check the immigration authority of the country you are visiting, and check again shortly before you travel.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
For South African citizens, these destinations require a visa before you travel.
- United Kingdom: South Africa is on the UK visa national list, so you need a visa for a visit.
- Schengen area: South African nationals are listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 and must hold a visa to cross the external borders of Schengen states.
- Canada: Canadian entry requirements list shows that South Africans need a visitor visa. South Africa is not on the eTA exception.
- United States: visitors need a B-1/B-2 visa, applied for through the US Department of State.
For Australia, check the Australian Department of Home Affairs before you plan a trip there. We also found no official list of countries that give South Africans visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry. Rankings published by private companies are not official.
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
Every destination sets its own passport rules. For the UK, your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay. For the US, the State Department says validity must extend beyond your stay, so confirm the exact period on its site.
Confirm passport validity and blank-page rules with the destination’s immigration authority before you book.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
The documents differ per country. As examples from official sources:
- UK Standard Visitor visa: you apply online, then attend a visa application centre for identity checks, fingerprints and a photo. You need your travel dates, accommodation, the cost of your trip, your home address, your income and details of any offences. See GOV.UK.
- US visitor visa: you complete the online DS-160 form, pay the visa application fee and attend an interview. Fees and wait times change, so read the State Department page.
- Canada: a visitor visa, with biometrics possibly required. See IRCC.
- Schengen: apply to the consulate of the Schengen state you are visiting. The Regulation sets who needs a visa but not the document list, so use that state’s own consulate.
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
Fees and timings are set by each government. The UK Standard Visitor visa costs GBP 135, and you can apply up to 3 months before you travel. GOV.UK says it is usually decided within 3 weeks, and the maximum stay is 6 months. Canada’s visitor visa starts from CAD 100 according to IRCC.
Check the State Department site for the current US visa fee and any extra charges that apply to you.
Transit rules can differ from entry rules, so check whether your route needs a transit visa as well.
How to Prepare or Apply
- Pick your destination and read its immigration authority’s page for South African passport holders.
- Check passport validity and book a visa appointment early, since appointment slots can be the slowest part.
- Gather the documents on that country’s checklist.
- Apply no earlier than the destination allows. For the UK that is 3 months before travel.
- Check again shortly before you travel in case rules have changed.
Official starting points: UK: Check if you need a UK visa, Canada: entry requirements by country and US Department of State.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the visa requirements for South African citizens?
It depends on the destination. South Africans need a visa in advance for the UK, the Schengen area, Canada and the United States. Check the destination’s official immigration site for the documents and fee.
How many countries can South Africans visit visa-free?
There is no official single list, so we cannot give a figure. Check the specific destination’s immigration authority.
Do I need a visa for the UK, US or Schengen area?
Yes for all three. The UK lists South Africa as a visa national country, Schengen states require a visa under Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, and the US requires a B-1/B-2 visa for visits.
What are the American visa requirements for South African citizens?
Complete the online DS-160, pay the application fee, attend an interview and hold a passport valid for the period the State Department requires. Read the current steps and fee on the State Department site.
What is an electronic travel authorisation?
It is a pre-travel authorisation that some countries use instead of a visa. For Canada, South Africans need a visitor visa rather than an eTA, according to the Canadian entry requirements list. Check each destination, since the UK treats South Africans as visa nationals.
Do South Africans need a visa to enter South Africa?
No. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says holders of a South African passport need no port of entry visa to enter the country.
What are the South Africa tourist visa requirements for foreigners?
South Africa publishes a schedule of nationalities exempt from port of entry visas, with permitted stays. The DIRCO list is dated December 2024 and is subject to change without notice, so confirm the current version with Home Affairs. If your nationality is not exempt, you apply for a visitor’s visa. For a stay of up to three months the Regulations ask for a statement of purpose and duration, a valid return air ticket or reservation, and proof of sufficient funds in the form of your last three months of bank statements. Stays over three months also need police clearance. See the Immigration Regulations. Confirm the current fee and the VFS process with Home Affairs or VFS.
Confirm requirements for your destination with its official immigration authority, or with the Department of Home Affairs if you are visiting South Africa. See visa requirements and browse all travel and immigration requirements.