Passport Atlas

Entering South Africa

South Africa playbook updated 2026-09. Openness first, then how to apply and how to stay.

Openness rank

#123

Entry openness

93

Visa free

93

Visa required

78

South Africa digital nomad visaRemote Work Visa · R 1,000,000/yr (≈ US$4,583/mo)

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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.

Travel notes

Plug

Type M / Type N

Mains

230 V · 50 Hz

Driving

Left

Emergency

Police 10111 · Ambulance 10177

Dialing code

+27

Airports

JNB · CPT · DUR · MQP

Highlights

Table Mountain
Kruger
Robben Island
Garden Route

South Africa Passport Visa site Immigration site

How to get a visa

Visitor visa
Visit / tourism · Often 30–90 days
- File funds, itinerary and invitation at a mission or visa centre.

Immigration routes

Critical skills work visa
Skilled work
Occupations on the critical-skills list can apply, then PR.
Leads to PR：Critical-skills holders may apply for PR.

PR & citizenship

Permanent residence

Time to PR：Faster on critical skills; ordinary work about 5 years

Clean record, means, health.

Citizenship often 5 years after PR. Dual nationality needs permission to keep the other nationality.

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