South Africa
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
South Africa vs Thailand Passport Comparison
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...
Thailand
ASIA
58
Rank
Visa-Free Access78 countries
The Thailand passport currently offers a global travel mobility score of 67, reflecting its standing in the 2026 passport ranking where it holds the 58th position. Tha...
South Africa vs Thailand Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for South Africa vs Thailand. South Africa currently leads this comparison with 100 visa-free destinations, while Thailand has 78. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.
- 24 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 44 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 | South Africa | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 100 | 78 |
| 2026 Ranking | 47 | 58 |
| Global Mobility Score | 47/100 | 67/100 |
| Openness Score | 58/100 | 72/100 |
| Continent | AFRICA | ASIA |
| Schengen Member | No | No |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | Yes |
| Visa on Arrival | 28 | 32 |
| eTA Available | 6 | 5 |
| e-Visa Available | 31 | 36 |
| Visa Required | 93 | 110 |
Visa-Free Destinations
South Africa
100
Thailand
78
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
South Africa
47/100
Thailand
67/100
Openness Score
South Africa
58/100
Thailand
72/100
Continent
South Africa
AFRICA
Thailand
ASIA
Schengen Member
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Thailand
Yes
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
Thailand
110
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.
Residency by Investment
Thailand
Thailand offers a Residency by Investment program for those seeking alternative pathways.
Most Unique Access
South Africa
South Africa provides exclusive visa-free access to 44 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 24 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
24
Shared Destinations
44
Unique to South Africa
19
Unique to Thailand
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
South Africa
44 unique destinations
AngolaAntigua and BarbudaBahamasBelizeBeninBotswanaCayman IslandsCosta RicaEl SalvadorFalkland Islands+34 more
Thailand
19 unique destinations
JapanAlbaniaBruneiCambodiaIndonesiaKazakhstanLaosMongoliaMyanmarNauru+9 more
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (24)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
ArgentinaBarbadosBrazilChileCook IslandsDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorFijiGeorgiaHaitiHong Kong (SAR China)Macao (SAR China)MalaysiaMicronesiaOmanPanamaPeruPhilippinesSenegalSingaporeSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesVanuatuKiribati
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | South Africa Rank | Thailand Rank | South Africa Visa-free | Thailand Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 37 | 67 | 65 | 29 |
| 2007 | 36 | 64 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 35 | 61 | 88 | 52 |
| 2009 | 35 | 61 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 47 | 69 | 88 | 60 |
| 2011 | 47 | 69 | 92 | 63 |
| 2012 | 50 | 69 | 93 | 64 |
| 2013 | 42 | 60 | 94 | 68 |
| 2014 | 41 | 62 | 97 | 69 |
| 2015 | 53 | 73 | 95 | 68 |
| 2016 | 54 | 67 | 97 | 71 |
| 2017 | 55 | 67 | 98 | 71 |
| 2018 | 52 | 68 | 102 | 77 |
| 2019 | 53 | 66 | 100 | 77 |
| 2020 | 52 | 63 | 101 | 79 |
| 2021 | 58 | 72 | 103 | 79 |
| 2022 | 51 | 65 | 104 | 79 |
| 2023 | 53 | 68 | 106 | 78 |
| 2024 | 53 | 63 | 108 | 82 |
| 2025 | 48 | 61 | 106 | 82 |
| 2026 | 47 | 58 | 100 | 78 |
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.
Thailand
- Singaporeup to 30 days
- Japanup to 15 days
- South Koreaup to 90 days
- Malaysiaup to 30 days
- Vietnamup to 30 days
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
South Africa
Thailand
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