Know before you fly

Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

Required for every foreign traveller. Complete it within 3 days before you arrive.

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

Complete within 3 days of arrival — the day you submit it counts towards that window.

SG Arrival Card + Electronic Health Declaration

Submit within 3 days before arrival, including your arrival day. It's free.

eTravel Registration

Required for all arriving foreign passengers. Free on the official system.

Cambodia e-Arrival, plus the applicable eVisa

Submit e-Arrival online within 7 days before arrival — needed even if you already hold a visa.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Get your ETA before you travel. South Africa isn't among the nationalities currently offered the free ETA concession.

Indian eVisa, where eligible

Arrange your visa before travel — the category depends on whether you're travelling for tourism, business, etc.

Japan eVisa

South Africans residing in SA can apply online for a single-entry tourism visa, valid up to 90 days.

IMUGA Traveller Declaration

Complete within 96 hours before arrival. Free — every traveller needs one, children included.

Seychelles Travel Authorisation

Complete through the Seychelles Electronic Border System before you travel. Have your accommodation and flight details ready.

All-in-One Travel Form + Health Declaration

Mauritius requires this to be completed before boarding.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)

Complete before travel. You'll normally need your passport, a photo, itinerary and accommodation details.

Mandatory inbound travel insurance

Arrange your Zanzibar insurance certificate through the official inbound insurance system where it applies.

Visitor Visa — Subclass 600

SA passport holders generally apply online through an ImmiAccount before travelling.

Visitor Visa + New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD)

South Africa isn't on NZ's visa-waiver list, so you'll need the visa and the NZTD before arrival.

Standard Visitor Visa

Required for SA ordinary passport holders. Don't apply for a UK ETA instead — it doesn't replace the visa.

Schengen Visa

Covers France, Italy, Spain, Greece and other Schengen states — SA passport holders remain visa-required.

Not applicable to ordinary SA passport holders

ETIAS is for visa-exempt travellers and is due to start in late 2026. Since South Africans need a Schengen visa, ETIAS doesn't replace it.

US Visitor Visa (B1/B2)

SA passport holders don't qualify for ESTA or Visa Waiver travel — a visa is required.

Canadian Visitor Visa

South Africa isn't currently eligible to substitute an eTA under Canada's special scheme.

Visa on arrival, for qualifying SA tourists

Currently a free 90-day, non-extendable visa on arrival — subject to a return ticket, accommodation and approved health insurance.

Check the applicable UAE entry visa

Rules changed in June 2026, widening online entry-visa eligibility for South Africans — worth checking fresh for every trip.