South Africa has published an updated list of 22 African countries whose citizens are eligible for visa-free entry for tourism, business and short-term visits, as Pretoria seeks to promote tourism, trade and regional integration across the continent.
Under South Africa’s visa exemption policy, eligible travelers can enter the country without a visa for stays ranging from 30 to 90 days, depending on their nationality and passport type.
The countries covered by the exemption are Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Eswatini, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The permitted length of stay varies by country. Citizens of Botswana, Comoros, Mozambique, Tunisia and Zimbabwe, among others, can stay for up to 90 days, while nationals of several other countries are granted visa-free access for up to 30 days.
Tanzania is subject to a separate arrangement, allowing holders of ordinary passports to stay for up to 90 days, while diplomatic and service passport holders are permitted stays of up to 30 days.
South Africa also grants visa-free entry to holders of the African Union Laissez-Passer and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Laissez-Passer under its exemption policy.
The government noted that visa-free access for some countries, including Kenya, Benin and Gabon, is subject to specific conditions and advised travelers to verify the latest entry requirements before departure.
The updated policy forms part of South Africa’s broader efforts to facilitate travel across Africa, strengthen regional economic integration and support growth in the tourism sector while maintaining border security and immigration controls.
