{"id":850377,"date":"2026-03-14T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=850377"},"modified":"2026-03-13T16:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T14:44:13","slug":"100-countries-south-africans-can-travel-to-visa-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/850377\/100-countries-south-africans-can-travel-to-visa-free\/","title":{"rendered":"100 countries South Africans can travel to visa-free"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to the latest Passport Index, South African passport holders can now visit 100 countries without a visa, down from 101 in January, ranking the South African passport 47th globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In January 2026, South African passport holders lost visa-free access to five destinations\u2014Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kosovo, and Palestine \u2014ranking 48th globally, between Qatar and Belize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, recent data from The Henley Passport Index indicates that South Africans have lost visa-free access to two additional destinations\u2014Somalia and the Falkland Islands\u2014while gaining it back to Palestine and moving up by one point in its global ranking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singapore is first on the Henley Index, ranked as the most powerful passport in the world. The South-East Asian country grants visa-free access to 192 out of 227 destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan and South Korea’s passports are tied, both ranked second-strongest, granting access to 187 countries out of 227.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweden and the United Arab Emirates are tied for third place, each with visa-free access to 186 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Henley Passport Index is considered the most authoritative global ranking of passport strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It evaluates 199 passports against 227 travel destinations worldwide, measuring the ease with which citizens can cross borders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A destination scores a one if a traveller does not need a visa beforehand, including a visa on arrival, a visitor\u2019s permit, or an electronic travel authorisation issued at entry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a traveller must apply for a visa or secure government approval before departure, that destination scores zero. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The total score of a passport is the number of destinations it can access without a visa. The Henley Passport Index defines the differences between different visa requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visa required: A conventional visa is necessary for entry, with an application to be submitted in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visa-free: No visa is needed for entry into these places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ETA (Electronic Travel Authority): A visa is not required; however, a digital electronic travel document (authority), declaring entry into the country, must be obtained before arrival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

VOA (Visa on Arrival): A visa is necessary for entry, but it can be applied for and received upon arrival at the airport (no pre-departure approval needed). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

e-Visa: A visa is required, but an online application can be submitted. The issued visa is electronic, with pre-departure approval necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Updated visa-free countries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Well-known travel spots like Mauritius, Thailand, and Indonesia still offer visa-free access, making them appealing choices for South African vacationers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since November 2025, Indonesia, which hosts popular tourist hotspots like Bali, has been visa-free for South African passport holders, allowing visa-free stays of up to 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously, South Africans visiting the country were required to obtain a visa upon arrival and demonstrate sufficient funds and accommodations for the duration of the stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, key business and transit centres such as Singapore, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia continue to permit entry for South Africans without a visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The list below includes all the countries where South Africans can enter without a visa, with those lost in the past year highlighted in bold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Country<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Angola<\/td><\/tr>
Benin<\/td><\/tr>
Botswana<\/td><\/tr>
Burundi<\/td><\/tr>
Cape Verde Islands<\/td><\/tr>
Comoro Islands<\/td><\/tr>
Djibouti<\/td><\/tr>
Ethiopia<\/td><\/tr>
eSwatini<\/td><\/tr>
Gabon<\/td><\/tr>
Ghana<\/td><\/tr>
Guinea-Bissau<\/td><\/tr>
Kenya<\/td><\/tr>
Lesotho<\/td><\/tr>
Madagascar<\/td><\/tr>
Malawi<\/td><\/tr>
Mauritania<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Mauritius<\/td><\/tr>
Mozambique<\/td><\/tr>
Namibia<\/td><\/tr>
Nigeria<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Reunion<\/td><\/tr>
Rwanda<\/td><\/tr>
Senegal<\/td><\/tr>
Seychelles<\/td><\/tr>
Sierra Leone<\/td><\/tr>
Somalia<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Tanzania<\/td><\/tr>
The Gambia<\/td><\/tr>
Tunisia<\/td><\/tr>
Zambia<\/td><\/tr>
Zimbabwe<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Americas <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Argentina<\/td><\/tr>
Belize<\/td><\/tr>
Bolivia*<\/td><\/tr>
Brazil<\/td><\/tr>
Chile<\/td><\/tr>
Costa Rica<\/td><\/tr>
Ecuador<\/td><\/tr>
El Salvador<\/td><\/tr>
Falkland Islands<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Guatemala<\/td><\/tr>
Guyana<\/td><\/tr>
Honduras<\/td><\/tr>
Nicaragua<\/td><\/tr>
Panama<\/td><\/tr>
Paraguay<\/td><\/tr>
Peru<\/td><\/tr>
Uruguay<\/td><\/tr>
Venezuela<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Asia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Cambodia*<\/td><\/tr>
Hong Kong (SAR China)<\/td><\/tr>
Indonesia<\/td><\/tr>
Kyrgyzstan*<\/td><\/tr>
Laos*<\/td><\/tr>
Malaysia<\/td><\/tr>
Maldives*<\/td><\/tr>
Macao (SAR China)<\/td><\/tr>
Nepal*<\/td><\/tr>
Pakistan<\/strong>*<\/td><\/tr>
Philippines<\/td><\/tr>
Singapore<\/td><\/tr>
Sri Lanka*<\/td><\/tr>
Tajikistan*<\/td><\/tr>
Thailand<\/td><\/tr>
Timor-Leste*<\/td><\/tr>
South Korea**<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Caribbean<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Antigua and Barbuda<\/td><\/tr>
Bahamas<\/td><\/tr>
Barbados<\/td><\/tr>
British Virgin Islands<\/td><\/tr>
Cayman Islands<\/td><\/tr>
Dominica<\/td><\/tr>
Dominican Republic<\/td><\/tr>
Grenada<\/td><\/tr>
Haiti<\/td><\/tr>
Jamaica<\/td><\/tr>
Montserrat<\/td><\/tr>
St. Helena<\/td><\/tr>
St. Kitts and Nevis<\/td><\/tr>
St. Lucia<\/td><\/tr>
St. Vincent and the Grenadines<\/td><\/tr>
Trinidad and Tobago<\/td><\/tr>
Turks and Caicos<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Europe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Georgia<\/td><\/tr>
Kosovo<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Russian Federation<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Middle East <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Armenia*<\/td><\/tr>
Iran*<\/td><\/tr>
Israel<\/td><\/tr>
Jordan*<\/td><\/tr>
Oman<\/td><\/tr>
Palestine<\/td><\/tr>
Qatar<\/td><\/tr>
Saudi Arabia*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Oceania <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Cook Islands<\/td><\/tr>
Fiji<\/td><\/tr>
Kiribati<\/td><\/tr>
Marshall Islands*<\/td><\/tr>
Micronesia<\/td><\/tr>
Niue<\/td><\/tr>
Palau Islands*<\/td><\/tr>
Samoa*<\/td><\/tr>
Tuvalu*<\/td><\/tr>
Vanuatu<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Note: *visa on arrival; **eTA [electronic travel authorisation]<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

South African passport holders can now visit 100 countries without a visa, down from 101 in January, ranking the South African passport 47th globally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":850781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9876],"tags":[20580,19937],"class_list":["post-850377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-henley-passport-index","tag-south-african-passport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=850377"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":852539,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850377\/revisions\/852539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/850781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=850377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=850377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=850377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}