Travel Visa FAQs

Where can South African passport holders travel VISA FREE for tourism purposes?

Africa

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, St. Helena Island, Swaziland, Tanzania (includes Zanzibar), Togo, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Americas

Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Caribbean

Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos.

Europe/ Middle East

Georgia, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo, Russian Federation and Qatar.

Far East

Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

Indian Ocean

Maldives, Mauritius, Réunion and Seychelles.

Oceania 

Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue and Vanuatu.

I have a valid visitor visa for the USA; do I need a visa to enter Canada ?

Yes, you would need a separate visa to enter Canada. This Canada visitor visa must be obtained in South Africa prior to your departure. Visa Box can help you with your visitor visa for Canada.

What is the validity of the USA visitor visa?

This is at the discretion of the USA immigration officer. They could either grant you your exact stay or they could give you a maximum of up to 10 years.

For most visitors, they can lawfully stay in the United States for a period of up to six months.

I am a South African passport holder; do I need a transit visa for Dubai?

No, South African passport holders can stay within the Dubai International Airport terminal for up to 24 hours visa free.

However, passengers who wish to leave the Dubai International Airport require a visa which must be issued in South Africa prior to departure.

Visa validity options:

  • Visa is valid for up to 48 hours only
  • Visa is valid for up to 96 hours only
  • Visa is valid for up to 30 days only
  • Visa is valid for up to 90 days only

I am a South African passport holder; do I need a visa for Thailand?

No, South African passport holders can stay within Thailand visa free for up to 30 days provided that their main purpose of travel is tourism.

If you are going to Thailand for a business visit for example, you would need to get a visa through the Thai Embassy in Pretoria. Visa Box is able to help you with your business visit application.

I am a South African passport holder; do I need a visa for New Zealand?

Yes, from 21 November 2016 South African passport holders now need to apply for a visitor visa here in South Africa to enter New Zealand.

I am a South African passport holder; do I need a visa for the Republic of Ireland?

Yes, as of 27 January 2021 South African passport holders will now need to apply for an Irish visitor visa prior to arrival.
 
Be sure not to be confused with Northern Ireland which is part of the UK. South Africans require a UK visitor visa to visit Northern Ireland.
If flying via the UK en route to the Rep. of Ireland then you would require a UK visitor visa and not a transit visa because there is no transit agreement between the UK and the Rep. of Ireland.

I am a South African passport holder and I will transit through Australia on my way to New Zealand; do I need a transit visa for Australia?

No, some travellers do not need a transit visa if they;

  • depart Australia by air within 8 hours of the scheduled time of their arrival
  • hold confirmed onward booking and documentation necessary to enter the country of their destination
  • remain in the transit lounge at an airport

Note

Travellers changing airlines in Australia are advised to verify with their airlines whether they will need to personally re-check their luggage as part of the transiting process. If so, a transit visa will be required to retrieve and re-check their luggage before departure.

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