South Africa passport and entry requirements
Passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended departure.
Last reviewed:
Updated to reflect information on driving at night and addition of the terrorism risk indicator.  Exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping . Advisory summary: Violent crime is common and includes robbery, rape, carjacking and mugging. There are also "smash-and-grab" attacks on vehicles. Violent crime is more common in the downtown
Passport you need
No visa for tourist stays up to 90 days.
Blank pages: Two completely blank facing pages are required and strictly enforced.
Official U.S. Department of State country informationVisa and travel authorizations
U.S. citizens can generally visit for tourism without a visa for short stays, but rules change — always confirm on the official government site before booking.
Before you book
- 1. Open your passport and read the expiration date. If it falls inside the validity window above, renew before you buy tickets.
- 2. Count your blank visa pages. Pages marked "amendments and endorsements" do not count as visa pages.
- 3. File any ETA, e-visa or arrival form on the official site, days before departure rather than at the airport.
- 4. Carry the passport book, not just the card, for any international flight.