SA passport holders can travel to these 101 countries without a visa
· The South African
Holders of a South African passport can travel to 101 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance, according to the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index compiled by Henley & Partners.
Visit tr-sport.bond for more information.
The updated ranking places South Africa 96th out of 199 passports globally, with a visa-free score of 101.
The index evaluates passports based on the number of countries their holders can enter without needing to obtain a visa before departure.
It covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, making it one of the most widely cited indicators of global mobility.
Where does South Africa rank?
With a visa-free score of 101, South Africa’s passport ranks behind Qatar, which offers access to 112 destinations, and is one ahead of Belize in the global standings.
The ranking means South African travellers can visit 101 destinations with relative ease, although visas or advance authorisations are still required for many countries worldwide.
World’s Most Powerful Passports
According to the index, Asian and European countries continue to dominate global travel access.
- Singapore holds the most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 192 destinations.
- Japan, South Korea and United Arab Emirates follow closely, each offering access to 188 destinations.
- Sweden ranks fifth, with a score of 187.
At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains the lowest-ranked passport, with access to only 22 destinations without a prior visa.
Measuring Global Mobility
The Henley Passport Index is widely used as a benchmark for global mobility.
The rankings reflect a range of factors including diplomatic relations, international agreements, and security considerations, all of which influence visa policies between countries.
Three Types of Visa Access
The 101 destinations available to South African passport holders fall into three main travel categories:
- Visa-Free Access: Travellers can enter the destination simply by presenting their passport at immigration, with no advance application required.
- Visa on Arrival: Visitors can obtain a visa at the airport or border entry point, often after paying a fee.
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): Travellers must complete a short online application before departure but do not need to visit an embassy or consulate.
While the 2026 ranking highlights moderate global mobility for South Africans, it also underscores the gap between South Africa’s travel access and that enjoyed by holders of the world’s most powerful passports.
Countries SA passport holders can visit visa-free per region:
Africa – 31
Americas – 17
Asia – 17
Caribbean – 17
Europe – 2
Middle East – 7
Oceania – 10
The 101 countries SA passport holders can visit visa-free:
NOTE: Visa-free means either no visa is required, or * visa on arrival, or ** electronic travel authority (ETA)
Africa AngolaBeninBotswanaBurundi *Cape Verde Islands *Comoro Islands *Djibouti *Egypt *eSwatiniEthiopia *GabonGhana **Guinea-Bissau *KenyaLesothoMadagascar *MalawiMauritiusMozambiqueNamibiaReunionRwandaSenegalSeychelles **Sierra Leone *TanzaniaThe GambiaTogoTunisiaZambiaZimbabwe Americas ArgentinaBelizeBoliviaBrazilChileCosta RicaEcuadorEl SalvadorGuatemalaGuyanaHondurasNicaraguaPanamaParaguayPeruUruguayVenezuela Asia Cambodia *Hong Kong (SAR China)Indonesia *Kyrgyzstan *Laos *Macao (SAR China)MalaysiaMaldives *Nepal *Palestinian Territory **PhilippinesSingaporeSouth Korea **Sri Lanka **Tajikistan *ThailandTimor-Leste * Caribbean Antigua and BarbudaBarbadosBritish Virgin IslandsCayman IslandsDominicaDominican RepublicGrenadaHaitiJamaicaMontserratSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and Nevis **St. LuciaSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesThe BahamasTrinidad and TobagoTurks and Caicos Europe GeorgiaRussian Federation ** Middle East Armenia *Iran *Israel **Jordan *OmanQatar *Saudi Arabia * Oceania Cook IslandsFijiKiribatiMarshall Islands *MicronesiaNiue *Palau Islands *Samoa *Tuvalu *Vanuatu