Openness rank
#123
Entry openness
Entry & immigration · 65 Immigration briefings
How to enter, apply, and stay
Country profile
Capital
Pretoria
Population
63.1 million
Area
1,219,912 km²
Currency
South African rand ZAR
Languages
English, Zulu, Afrikaans
Time zone
UTC+02:00
Foreign-born
2.6 million · 2024
Migrant share
4.1%
Ethnic groups · 2021
- Black African80.9%
- Colored8.8%
- White7.8%
- Indian/Asian2.6%
Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.
Entry openness
93
F+A+eTA
Visa free
93
passports in
eVisa
27
Visa required 78
Entry with current passport
Visa free90 days
South Africa
ZA · Openness rank #123 · Briefing updated 2026-09
Many passports need a visa in advance; some are visa-free. Critical skills are a separate permit.
Passports that enter without a prior visa
United Arab Emirates#1Visa free
South Korea#2Visa free
Singapore#2Visa free
Japan#4Visa free
Spain#5Visa free
Belgium#6Visa free
Switzerland#6Visa free
Germany#6Visa free
Denmark#6Visa free
Finland#6Visa free
France#6Visa free
Ireland#6Visa free
Italy#6Visa free
Luxembourg#6Visa free
Malaysia#6Visa free
Netherlands#6Visa free
Norway#6Visa free
Sweden#6Visa free
Austria#19Visa free
Greece#19Visa free
Croatia#19Visa free
Hungary#19Visa free
Malta#19Visa free
Poland#19Visa free
Portugal#19Visa free
Slovenia#19Visa free
Slovakia#19Visa free
Bulgaria#28Visa free
Czechia#28Visa free
Estonia#28Visa free
Latvia#28Visa free
New Zealand#28Visa free
Romania#28Visa free
Australia#34Visa free
Lithuania#34Visa free
Cyprus#36Visa free
United Kingdom#36Visa free
Liechtenstein#36Visa free
Canada#39Visa free
Iceland#39Visa free
+53
Policy briefings are compiled from public sources. They are not legal advice. Quotas, salary bars and visa-free lists move — always verify with the destination government and its missions.