China
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
China vs South Africa Passport Comparison
China
ASIA
56
Rank
Visa-Free Access82 countries
The China passport currently offers a visa-free or visa-on-arrival count of 82 destinations, reflecting a significant upward trend in travel mobility over the last two...
South Africa
AFRICA
47
Rank
Visa-Free Access100 countries
The South Africa passport currently offers a significant level of travel mobility for its holders, providing access to 100 destinations through visa-free or visa-on-ar...
China vs South Africa Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for China vs South Africa. South Africa currently leads this comparison with 100 visa-free destinations, while China has 82. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.
- 26 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 42 destination(s) unique to one passport in this comparison.
- Ranking and access figures are rendered from country ranking history with a 2026-first year preference.
Detailed Passport Metrics
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | China | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 82 | 100 |
| 2026 Ranking | 56 | 47 |
| Global Mobility Score | 32/100 | 47/100 |
| Openness Score | 72/100 | 58/100 |
| Continent | ASIA | AFRICA |
| Schengen Member | No | No |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | No |
| Visa on Arrival | 30 | 28 |
| eTA Available | 5 | 6 |
| e-Visa Available | 29 | 31 |
| Visa Required | 115 | 93 |
Visa-Free Destinations
China
82
South Africa
100
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
China
32/100
South Africa
47/100
Openness Score
China
72/100
South Africa
58/100
Continent
China
ASIA
South Africa
AFRICA
Schengen Member
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
China
115
Summary Insights
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
South Africa
With 100 visa-free destinations, South Africa offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.
Most Unique Access
South Africa
South Africa provides exclusive visa-free access to 42 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 26 common destinations
- • The strongest passport offers 100 visa-free destinations
- • Consider your travel priorities: business, leisure, or specific regions when choosing a passport
- • Visa requirements can change - always verify current entry requirements before traveling
Visa Access Breakdown
Visa Access Analysis
Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides
26
Shared Destinations
21
Unique to China
42
Unique to South Africa
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
China
21 unique destinations
BelarusBosnia and HerzegovinaComoro IslandsEgyptGuineaIraqMoroccoNorthern Mariana IslandsSerbiaSuriname+11 more
South Africa
42 unique destinations
ArgentinaBelizeBotswanaBrazilCayman IslandsChileCosta RicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl Salvador+32 more
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (26)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
Antigua and BarbudaBahamasBarbadosBeninCook IslandsDominicaFijiGrenadaHaitiJamaicaMauritiusMicronesiaOmanSt. LuciaTunisiaTurks and Caicos IslandsVanuatuBritish Virgin IslandsThailandZambiaAngolaMalaysiaSingaporeMalawiGeorgiaKiribati
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | China Rank | South Africa Rank | China Visa-free | South Africa Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 78 | 37 | 18 | 65 |
| 2007 | 78 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 79 | 35 | 33 | 88 |
| 2009 | 79 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 88 | 47 | 38 | 88 |
| 2011 | 90 | 47 | 40 | 92 |
| 2012 | 92 | 50 | 41 | 93 |
| 2013 | 82 | 42 | 44 | 94 |
| 2014 | 83 | 41 | 45 | 97 |
| 2015 | 94 | 53 | 45 | 95 |
| 2016 | 87 | 54 | 50 | 97 |
| 2017 | 85 | 55 | 51 | 98 |
| 2018 | 71 | 52 | 74 | 102 |
| 2019 | 72 | 53 | 71 | 100 |
| 2020 | 67 | 52 | 75 | 101 |
| 2021 | 72 | 58 | 79 | 103 |
| 2022 | 64 | 51 | 80 | 104 |
| 2023 | 66 | 53 | 80 | 106 |
| 2024 | 62 | 53 | 85 | 108 |
| 2025 | 60 | 48 | 85 | 106 |
| 2026 | 56 | 47 | 82 | 100 |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.
Destinations
Notable Visa-Free Destinations
Representative destinations that highlight each passport's strongest visa-free access profile.
South Africa
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
China
South Africa
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