South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has published an official list of countries whose citizens are permitted to enter the country without a visa for 2026, covering more than 100 nations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond. The list includes major African nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Lesotho, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Liberia, Guinea, Benin, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Cape Verde, Comoros, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
African and International Passport Holders Covered
According to the South African government, holders of the African Union Laissez-Passer and the SADC Laissez-Passer are also granted visa-free entry, alongside United Nations Laissez-Passer holders, extending the exemption beyond individual country passports to recognised supranational travel documents. Among the non-African countries on the list are the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Greece, Iceland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Slovak Republic, Malta, Cyprus, and Liechtenstein.
Asian and Middle Eastern Nations Included
Several Asian and Middle Eastern nations are also included, among them India, China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Jordan, and Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China). South Korea also features on the list with conditions attached. From the Americas, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Bahamas, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are all included, alongside several British Overseas Territories such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the British Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Conditions Apply for Some Countries
Certain countries on the list, including Kenya, Hong Kong, Belize, Benin, Gabon, South Korea, Thailand, and Turkey, are marked with an asterisk, indicating that specific conditions or restrictions apply to their visa-free status. Citizens of these countries are advised to confirm the applicable terms with South African authorities before travelling. The Russian Federation, Belarus, and several smaller European territories such as Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, and Liechtenstein are also on the list. Travellers from countries not featured on the published list are required to obtain a visa before entering South Africa.
Full List of Visa-Free Countries
The complete list includes: African Union Laissez Passer, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Island, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Guinea, Guyana, Henderson, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Pitcairn Islands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, SADC laissez-passers, Saint Helena, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Nations Laissez Passer, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, British Islands, and Zambia.
