South Africa’s passport has slipped further down the latest global passport rankings, although South Africans can still travel to more than 100 destinations without needing to obtain a traditional visa before departure.
Image used for illustrative purposes/By: Matthew de Lange/iStock/
The South African passport is ranked 86th out of 199 countries in the latest Passport Reports index, down from 79th in 2025. Its Mobility Score has also fallen from 110 to 108.
The figures were reported by BusinessTech, which notes that the Passport Reports ranking measures access to destinations through visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic travel authorisations (ETAs).
What the latest ranking means
According to Passport Reports, South African passport holders currently have:
- 59 visa-free destinations
- 42 destinations offering visas on arrival
- 7 destinations requiring an ETA
- 90 destinations where a visa is required
This gives South Africa a Mobility Score of 108. Passport Reports ranks passports according to the number of destinations accessible without a traditional visa, including destinations offering visa-on-arrival facilities or electronic travel authorisation.
The ranking methodology is different from other major passport indexes, so South Africa’s position can vary depending on which index is used.
BusinessTech notes that South Africa ranks third in Africa and fourth among the 11 BRICS countries in the Passport Reports index.
What counts as visa-free access?
Not all of the 108 destinations offer exactly the same entry conditions.
Visa-free: No visa is required to enter the destination.
Visa on arrival: A visa can be obtained after arriving at the airport or border, rather than being approved before departure.
ETA: An Electronic Travel Authorisation is required before travelling, but a conventional visa application is not.
Some destinations also have additional arrival cards, registration requirements or online entry procedures, so travellers should always check the latest requirements before booking a trip.
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Where South Africans can travel with fewer visa hurdles
The latest Passport Reports data includes destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.
Africa
South Africans have particularly broad access across the continent, including:
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burundi*
- Cabo Verde*
- Comoros*
- Djibouti*
- Ethiopia*
- Eswatini
- Gabon
- Ghana**
- Guinea-Bissau*
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Madagascar*
- Malawi
- Mauritania*
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria*
- Réunion
- Rwanda
- Senegal*
- Seychelles**
- Sierra Leone*
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Tunisia
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The Americas
The options extend well beyond Africa, with South Africans able to travel to destinations including:
- Argentina
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Asia
Asian destinations on the list include:
- Cambodia*
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia*
- Kyrgyzstan*
- Laos*
- Malaysia**
- Maldives*
- Macao
- Nepal*
- Philippines
- Singapore**
- Sri Lanka**
- Tajikistan*
- Thailand**
- Timor-Leste*
- South Korea**
Caribbean
For a tropical getaway, South African passport holders can access destinations including:
- 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
The list is considerably shorter in Europe, with:
- Georgia
- Russia
Middle East
South Africans can also access:
- Armenia*
- Israel**
- Jordan*
- Oman*
- Palestine
- Qatar*
- Saudi Arabia*
Oceania
For travellers dreaming of island escapes, the list includes:
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands*
- Micronesia
- Niue
- Palau*
- Samoa*
- Tuvalu*
- Vanuatu
What to check before you book
Visa and entry requirements can change, and “visa-free” does not necessarily mean there is no paperwork involved.
Passport Reports lists additional requirements for some destinations. For example, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have arrival-card requirements, while Seychelles has a tourist registration process. Cabo Verde uses its EASE online pre-registration system, while the Dominican Republic requires an electronic ticket.
Maximum stays can also differ significantly between destinations. Passport Reports lists stays of up to 360 days in Georgia and 180 days in destinations including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Peru, while many others allow stays of up to 90 days.
The takeaway for South African travellers is that while the passport’s global position has fallen, there are still plenty of options for international travel without going through a conventional visa application before departure.
Source: BusinessTech, reporting on Passport Reports’ latest passport ranking.
Notes: *Visa on arrival. *Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Entry requirements should be confirmed with the relevant destination’s official authorities before travelling.
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