Full List of Countries Whose Citizens Can Visit South Africa Without Visa in 2026

Full List of Countries Whose Citizens Can Visit South Africa Without Visa in 2026

  • South Africa's Department of Home Affairs published an official list of countries whose citizens can enter the country without a visa
  • Zimbabwe, India, China, and over 100 other nations appeared on the visa-free list for South Africa
  • African Union and United Nations Laissez-Passer holders were also among those granted visa-free access to South Africa

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has published an official list of countries whose citizens are permitted to enter the country without a visa, covering more than 100 nations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond.

The list includes several major African nations such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tanzania, Cape Verde.

African Union passport holders enjoy visa-free access under official exemptions.
South Africa visa-free entry covers over 100 nations across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Photo credit: Rodger Bosch / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

African and International passport holders covered

According to the South African government and VFS Global, holders of the African Union Laissez-Passer and the SADC Laissez-Passer are also granted visa-free entry, alongside United Nations Laissez-Passer holders, extending the exemption beyond individual country passports to recognised supranational travel documents.

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Among the non-African countries on the list are the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Greece, Iceland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Slovak Republic, Malta, Cyprus, and Liechtenstein.

Several Asian and Middle Eastern nations are also included, among them India, China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Jordan, and Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China). South Korea also features on the list with conditions attached.

From the Americas, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Bahamas, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are all included, alongside several British Overseas Territories such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the British Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Conditions apply for select nations, requiring travelers to confirm entry terms.
Global travellers benefit from South Africa’s published list of visa-free countries. Photo credit: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Conditions apply for some countries

Certain countries on the list, including Kenya, Hong Kong, Belize, Benin, Gabon, South Korea, Thailand, and Turkey, are marked with an asterisk, indicating that specific conditions or restrictions apply to their visa-free status. Citizens of these countries are advised to confirm the applicable terms with South African authorities before travelling.

The Russian Federation, Belarus, and several smaller European territories such as Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, and Liechtenstein are also on the list.

Travellers from countries not featured on the published list are required to obtain a visa before entering South Africa.

See the full list below:

90 days visa exemptions

  1. African Union Laissez Passer
  2. Liechtenstein
  3. Andorra
  4. Luxemburg
  5. Argentina
  6. Malta
  7. Australia
  8. Monaco
  9. Austria
  10. Netherlands
  11. Belgium
  12. New Zealand
  13. Botswana
  14. Norway
  15. Brazil
  16. Paraguay
  17. Canada
  18. Portugal
  19. Chile
  20. San Marino
  21. Czech Republic
  22. Singapore
  23. Denmark
  24. Spain
  25. Ecuador
  26. St Vincent & the Grenadines
  27. Finland
  28. Sweden
  29. France
  30. Switzerland
  31. Germany
  32. Tanzania
  33. Greece
  34. United Kingdom of Great Britain
  35. Iceland
  36. Northern Ireland
  37. Ireland
  38. British Islands of Bailiwick
  39. Israel
  40. Italy
  41. Uruguay
  42. Jamaica
  43. Venezuela
  44. Japan
  45. United States of America
  46. Zimbabwe

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30 Days Visa Exemptions

  1. Antigua and Barbuda
  2. Barbados
  3. Belize
  4. Benin
  5. Bolivia
  6. Cape Verde
  7. Costa Rica
  8. Cyprus
  9. Gabon
  10. Guyana
  11. Hong Kong (only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports)
  12. Macau (only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR))
  13. Hungary
  14. Jordan
  15. Lesotho
  16. Malaysia
  17. Malawi
  18. Maldives
  19. Mauritius
  20. Mozambique
  21. Namibia
  22. Peru
  23. Poland
  24. Seychelles
  25. Slovak Republic
  26. South Korea (Republic)
  27. Swaziland
  28. Thailand
  29. Turkey
  30. Zambia

Countries Ghanaians can visit without visa

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Ghanaian passport maintains a respectable level of global mobility, granting its holders access to numerous destinations completely visa-free despite regular border restrictions.

These countries span multiple continents, covering vibrant regions across Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Oceania. This provides an excellent opportunity for holidaymakers, business professionals, and adventurers looking to explore the world without the stress of prior immigration approval.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Basit Jamiu avatar

Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is an AFP-certified journalist. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Nasarawa State University (2023). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022). He is a 2025 CRA Grantee, 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow. Email: basitjamiu1st@gmail.com and basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.

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