The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs has published the official list of countries whose citizens can transit Australia without a visa (TWOV) for 2026. Among all African nations, only South Africa qualifies for this exemption.
Conditions for Transit Without Visa
To be eligible for TWOV, travellers must arrive in Australia by aircraft and hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. They must depart by aircraft within eight hours of arrival. Additionally, they must carry a valid travel document accepted by their destination country and remain within the airport transit lounge throughout their stopover.
Anyone who needs to clear immigration—for example, to collect checked baggage or board a connecting flight from a different terminal—must obtain an Australian visa regardless of nationality. The list includes countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and several Pacific Island nations.
South Africa: The Only African Country on the List
South Africa is the sole African country whose citizens appear on Australia's TWOV eligibility list. South African passport holders who meet all conditions—arriving by air, transiting within eight hours, and remaining airside—may pass through Australia without a visa. Citizens of all other African nations are not listed and must apply for an appropriate Australian visa before transiting.
The guidance also makes special provisions for residents of Hong Kong holding HKSAR or British National Overseas passports, residents of Taiwan holding Taiwanese-issued passports, and holders of Indian official passports issued to government officials.
Diplomatic Passport Holders Face Exclusions
While diplomatic passport holders from most countries are eligible for TWOV, Australia specifically excludes diplomatic passports issued by several countries. African nations on the exclusion list include Algeria, Angola, Comoros, Egypt, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe, among others. Passport holders from these countries must obtain a visa before transiting Australia, even with a diplomatic passport.
The TWOV facility does not apply to stateless persons or refugees. In related news, Australia has named 13 countries whose citizens can pay less for a specialist skills visa, and the government has introduced new restrictions affecting families of foreign students. The Department of Home Affairs says these measures are needed to manage population growth, protect workers, and strengthen visa system integrity. The changes target several visa categories and will be rolled out progressively over the next 12 months.
