South African passport holders can travel to 101 countries without a visa, according to the 2026 Henley & Partners Passport Index, which ranks global passports based on their visa-free access.
The index assesses 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, scoring each passport on the number of countries its holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance.
South Africa’s Global Ranking
South Africa placed 96th out of 199 countries, with a visa-free score of 101. This puts the South African passport behind Qatar, which scored 111, and just ahead of Belize, which recorded a score of 99.
The ranking means South Africans can travel visa-free to 101 destinations worldwide, while visas or prior approvals are required for the remaining countries.
Most Powerful Passports
The index shows that Asian and European passports continue to dominate global travel access.
- Singapore ranked as the world’s most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 192 destinations
- Japan and South Korea followed closely, each with access to 188 destinations
- Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland shared fourth place, each with a score of 186
At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan ranked last, with passport holders able to access only 24 destinations visa-free.
Travel Power Indicator
The Passport Index is widely used as a measure of global mobility, reflecting diplomatic relations, security considerations and international agreements. Rankings can shift annually based on changes in visa policies and geopolitical developments.
For South Africans, the 2026 ranking highlights moderate global access, with opportunities for visa-free travel, but also significant limitations compared to the world’s most powerful passports.
Three visa categories
These 101 destinations fall into three main categories, each offering different visa levels of convenience:
Visa-Free Access: The golden ticket for travellers. Simply show your South African passport at immigration and you’re in. No applications, no waiting periods, no extra fees.
Visa on Arrival: Nearly as convenient, these destinations allow you to obtain your visa at the airport or port of entry. While there may be a fee involved, it eliminates the need for advance planning and embassy visits.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Required: A middle ground that requires online registration before travel, but without the complexity of a full visa application. Think of it as a digital screening process that typically takes minutes to complete.
Of those 101 countries that South Africans can visit, 30 are in Africa.
They are: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Reunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
All of the above-mentioned countries offer visa-free access. apart from Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar and Sierra Leone which all require a visa on arrival, while Seychelles has an ETA requirement.
Countries SA passport holders can visit visa-free per region:
Africa – 30
Americas – 18
Asia – 16
Caribbean – 17
Europe – 2
Middle East – 8
Oceania – 10
The 101 countries SA passport holders can visit visa-free:
* visa on arrival, ** electronic travel authority (ETA)
Africa
| Angola |
| Benin |
| Botswana |
| Burundi * |
| Cape Verde Islands * |
| Comoro Islands * |
| Djibouti * |
| Egypt * |
| eSwatini |
| Ethiopia * |
| Gabon |
| Ghana |
| Guinea-Bissau * |
| Kenya |
| Lesotho |
| Madagascar * |
| Malawi |
| Mauritius |
| Mozambique |
| Namibia |
| Reunion |
| Rwanda |
| Senegal |
| Seychelles ** |
| Sierra Leone * |
| Tanzania |
| The Gambia |
| Tunisia |
| Zambia |
| Zimbabwe |
Americas
| Argentina |
| Belize |
| Bolivia * |
| Brazil |
| Chile |
| Costa Rica |
| Ecuador |
| El Salvador |
| Falkland Islands |
| Guatemala |
| Guyana |
| Honduras |
| Nicaragua |
| Panama |
| Paraguay |
| Peru |
| Uruguay |
| Venezuela |
Asia
| Cambodia * |
| Hong Kong (SAR China) |
| Indonesia |
| Kyrgyzstan * |
| Laos * |
| Malaysia |
| Maldives * |
| Macao (SAR China) |
| Nepal * |
| Philippines |
| Singapore |
| Sri Lanka * |
| Tajikistan * |
| Thailand |
| Timor-Leste * |
| South Korea ** |
Caribbean
| Antigua and Barbuda |
| Bahamas |
| Barbados |
| British Virgin Islands |
| Cayman Islands |
| Dominica |
| Dominican Republic |
| Grenada |
| Haiti |
| Jamaica |
| Montserrat |
| St. Helena |
| St. Kitts and Nevis |
| St. Lucia |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Trinidad and Tobago |
| Turks and Caicos |
Europe
| Georgia |
| Russian Federation |
Middle East
| Armenia * |
| Iran * |
| Israel |
| Jordan * |
| Oman |
| Palestinian Territory ** |
| Qatar |
| Saudi Arabia * |
Oceania
| Cook Islands |
| Fiji |
| Kiribati |
| Marshall Islands * |
| Micronesia |
| Niue |
| Palau Islands * |
| Samoa * |
| Tuvalu * |
| Vanuatu |
