
South Africa Passport Ranking – Visa Free Access to 102 Countries
The South Africa passport ranks 53rd globally in 2025, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 102 destinations worldwide. This travel document provides South African citizens with moderate international mobility, particularly for business and tourism purposes across Africa, Southeast Asia, and select countries in Europe and the Americas. While the ranking has fluctuated between 35th and 58th position since 2006, the number of visa-free destinations has steadily increased from 65 to 102, demonstrating improved diplomatic relations and travel agreements. The South African passport remains one of the strongest in Africa, enabling its holders reasonable global travel freedom for work, education, and leisure.
Quick Statistics for South Africa passport
Source: Skyscanner & Official Government Websites.
Visa Requirements by Country
Complete breakdown of visa requirements for South Africa passport holders
✅ Visa-Free
68 countries
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Benin
Botswana
Brazil
Cayman Islands
Chile
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong (SAR China)
Jamaica
Kenya
Kosovo
Lesotho
Macao (SAR China)
Malawi
Malaysia
Mauritius
Micronesia
Montserrat
Mozambique
Namibia
Nicaragua
Oman
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Reunion
Senegal
Singapore
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
eSwatini
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Venezuela
British Virgin Islands
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Rwanda
Ghana
Kiribati
St. Helena
🛬 Visa on Arrival
28 countries
Madagascar
Armenia
Bolivia
Burundi
Cambodia
Cape Verde Islands
Comoro Islands
Ethiopia
Guinea-Bissau
Iran
Jordan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Nepal
Palau Islands
Samoa
Sierra Leone
Tajikistan
Timor-Leste
Tuvalu
Egypt
Indonesia
Djibouti
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Niue
🔐 ETA Required
6 countries
Sri Lanka
South Korea
Seychelles
Israel
St. Kitts and Nevis
Russian Federation
💻 E-Visa
31 countries
Pakistan
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
India
Myanmar
Sao Tome and Principe
Suriname
Türkiye
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Japan
Uganda
Albania
Vietnam
Guinea
Kazakhstan
Cameroon
Equatorial Guinea
Togo
Syria
Cuba
Bangladesh
Burkina Faso
Mauritania
Ukraine
Congo (Dem. Rep.)
Nigeria
Somalia
Bhutan
Cote d'Ivoire
South Sudan
❌ Visa Required
93 countries
Ireland
Afghanistan
Algeria
Andorra
Anguilla
Aruba
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Colombia
Congo (Rep.)
Croatia
Curacao
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Eritrea
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French West Indies
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Guam
Hungary
Iceland
Iraq
Italy
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
North Macedonia
Mali
Malta
Mayotte
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Nauru
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Niger
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Papua New Guinea
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Romania
American Samoa
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Spain
St. Maarten
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
Tonga
Turkmenistan
United Kingdom
United States
Vatican City
US Virgin Islands
Yemen
Australia
Kuwait
Historical Ranking Trend
South Africa's passport ranking progression from 2006 to 2025
Trend: Declined by 16 positions from 2006 to 2025
Official South Africa Passport & Travel Resources
Access official government resources for passport services, travel advisories, and visa information:
Compare South Africa Passport with Other Passports
See how South Africa's passport compares with other AFRICA in the same ranking tier:
| Country | Rank | Visa-Free Destinations | Mobility Score | Global Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #53 | 102 | 58/100 | 47/100 | |
| #63 | 83 | 68/100 | 68/100 |
*Mobility score calculated based on visa-free access and global travel freedom.
*Global score reflects overall passport strength considering various factors.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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View All Passport RankingsSource: IATA Travel Centre, Skyscanner & Official Government Websites.