South Africa Visa and ETA Requirements

Last checked 15 October 2026.

Many visitors can enter South Africa without a visa. For others, South Africa is moving to a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), launched in August 2026 and being rolled out country by country.

Travelling to more than one country? Use our visa checker to see what your passport needs for every stop on your journey.

Visa-free for up to 90 days

This includes holders of Emirati, Saudi, Qatari, Israeli, British, American, Canadian, Australian, Japanese and Singaporean passports, most Western European passports, and ordinary passports from Kenya and Ghana. Visa-exempt travellers may use the ETA voluntarily for faster arrival lanes, but do not need it.

Visa-free for up to 30 days

This includes holders of Jordanian passports and some other nationalities.

If you need a visa

This applies to holders of ordinary passports from countries including India, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Lebanon.

The new ETA at eta.dha.gov.za launched on 12 August 2026 for India, China, Indonesia and Mexico, and more countries are being added gradually. Check the portal to see whether your passport is included.
Everyone else who needs a visa applies through the South African embassy or its appointed visa centre. Allow several weeks.

Other entry rules

Passport: valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure, with at least two blank pages for stamps.
Children travelling with one parent or without their parents may be asked for supporting documents. Please ask us before travelling.
Online traveller declaration: some arrivals are asked to complete an online declaration before travel. We will confirm whether it applies to you.

Before you go

Yellow fever: a certificate is required if you arrive from a country with risk of yellow fever, or after more than 12 hours in transit there. Travellers flying on from a Kenyan or Ugandan safari will normally be asked for it.

For yellow fever, tipping and everything else to arrange before you travel, see Before You Travel. Every Oloi Shorua journey includes a check of the entry requirements for your passport and route. If you are planning a journey, we would be pleased to begin with a conversation.

Sources

Visa decisions rest with each government, and rules can change at short notice. Please confirm with the official source before you travel.

This page is for general information only. Entry rules change often, so please recheck visa, health and passport requirements with the official embassy or government source before you travel. Final responsibility for confirming them rests with the traveller.