How many countries can South African passport holders visit without a visa?

South African passport holders can visit 59 countries visa-free, plus 66 countries with e-visa or visa on arrival, as of August 2026.

Which countries are visa-free for South African passport holders?

South African passport holders can travel visa-free to Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, and 51 more countries.

South African Passport: Visa-Free Countries

As of August 2026, South African passport holders can visit 59 countries visa-free, plus 66 with e-visa or visa on arrival.

The South African passport grants access to 59 countries without a visa. Additionally, it allows for 56 visas and 10 visas upon arrival. However, a visa is required for travel to 68 countries.

South Africa, a country in the southernmost part of Africa, has a diverse population. The current population stands at approximately 60 million people, making it the 24th most populous country in the world.

The South African passport ranks at 53rd place, according to the Henley Passport Index. This ranking is based on the number of countries that grant visa-free access to South African passport holders.

Visa-free map

Nearby countries

The nearest visa free countries to visit for South African passport holders are Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Visa free countries

So, where can South Africans travel without a visa? We have listed all the countries where South Africa citizens can travel visa-free, eliminating the hassle of visa paperwork.

Africa

🇦🇴 Angola (90 days)
🇧🇯 Benin (90 days)
🇧🇼 Botswana (90 days)
🇸🇿 Eswatini (30 days)
🇬🇦 Gabon (30 days.)
🇬🇲 Gambia (90 days)
🇬🇭 Ghana (90 days)
🇰🇪 Kenya (90 days)
🇱🇸 Lesotho (90 days)
🇲🇼 Malawi (90 days)
🇲🇺 Mauritius (180 days)
🇲🇿 Mozambique (3 months)
🇳🇦 Namibia (3 months)
🇷🇼 Rwanda (30 days)
🇹🇿 Tanzania (90 days)
🇹🇳 Tunisia (3 months)
🇿🇲 Zambia (90 days)
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe (3 months)

Americas

🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda (6 months)
🇦🇷 Argentina (90 days)
🇧🇸 Bahamas (3 months)
🇧🇧 Barbados (6 months)
🇧🇿 Belize (N/A)
🇧🇴 Bolivia (90 days)
🇧🇷 Brazil (90 days)
🇨🇱 Chile (90 days)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica (90 days)
🇩🇲 Dominica (6 months)
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic (90 days)
🇪🇨 Ecuador (90 days)
🇸🇻 El Salvador (90 days)
🇬🇩 Grenada (3 months)
🇬🇹 Guatemala (90 days)
🇬🇾 Guyana (3 months)
🇭🇹 Haiti (3 months)
🇭🇳 Honduras (90 days)
🇯🇲 Jamaica (N/A)
🇳🇮 Nicaragua (90 days)
🇵🇦 Panama (90 days)
🇵🇾 Paraguay (90 days)
🇵🇪 Peru (90 days)
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia (6 weeks)
🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (3 months)
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago (90 days)
🇺🇾 Uruguay (90 days)
🇻🇪 Venezuela (90 days)

Oceania

🇫🇯 Fiji (4 months)
🇰🇮 Kiribati (90 days)
🇫🇲 Micronesia (30 days)
🇻🇺 Vanuatu (120 days)

Asia

🇬🇪 Georgia (1 year)
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (N/A)
🇲🇾 Malaysia (90 days)
🇴🇲 Oman (14 days / 30 days)
🇵🇭 Philippines (30 days)
🇶🇦 Qatar (30 days)
🇸🇬 Singapore (30 days)
🇹🇭 Thailand (60 days)