South Africa Passport Ranking #85

The percentage of countries that holders of this passport can enter visa-free or through simplified entry procedures is 46.5%.
Passport Summary The passport’s global ranking position is 85. The number of visa-free countries is 59, the number of countries offering visa on arrival is 26, the number requiring an electronic travel authorization is 7, and the number requiring a visa is 106.Global Passport Ranking
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How Do We Rank It?

Passport Reports ranks passports by their Mobility Score. The Mobility Score represents the total number of countries that can be entered visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an electronic travel authorization. If Mobility Scores are equal, the number of countries accessible without a visa is considered first. If that number is also equal, the number of countries accessible with an electronic travel authorization is considered. If the tie remains, the number of countries accessible with a visa on arrival is considered. If all values are equal, the countries share the same rank. Why are rankings not the same across different indexes? Review the algorithm used in our methodology.

South Africa: This country’s passport is ranked No. 85 globally.Last check:Last update:
Mobility Score92
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Passport Travel Access Map

Explore the countries that citizens of this country can travel to with or without a visa.

Passport Mobility Over Time

Annual Mobility Score and global ranking history for this passport.

Mobility History Table
YearMobility ScoreGlobal Rank
2020 (COVID-19 Impact)
2020
COVID-19 Impact
8156
20219084
202210885
202311284
202411081
202511079
20269285

South Africa: Country Facts

Population
65,453,084(2026 est.)
Official language
Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu, South African Sign language
Government type
Parliamentary republic
Continent
Africa
Capital
Pretoria / Cape Town / Bloemfontein
Currency
South African rand
Area
1,221,037 km²
Phone code
+27

South Africa: Other Rankings

This section shows where the country ranks across continents, regions, groups and categories. Each ranking applies only to the relevant context and is separate from the country’s overall global passport ranking. As a result, a country’s global rank may differ from its rank within a specific continent, region, group or category.

Passport Ranking of African CountriesPassport ranking among countries in this continent
3rd out of 54 countries
Welcoming CountriesRanking of countries by the ease of entry they offer foreign passport holders
75th out of 199 countries
EnglishPassport ranking among countries where this language is an official language
29th out of 60 countries
NdebelePassport ranking among countries where this language is an official language
1st out of 2 countries
SwaziPassport ranking among countries where this language is an official language
1st out of 2 countries
Parliamentary RepublicPassport ranking among countries with this form of government
30th out of 40 countries
South African RandPassport ranking among countries using this currency
1st out of 4 countries
WTO Member CountriesPassport ranking among WTO member countries
82nd out of 159 countries
G20 CountriesPassport ranking among G20 countries
15th out of 19 countries
African Union CountriesPassport ranking among African Union member countries
3rd out of 54 countries
BRICS CountriesPassport ranking among BRICS countries
4th out of 11 countries
Commonwealth CountriesPassport ranking among Commonwealth member countries
26th out of 56 countries
G77 CountriesPassport ranking among G77 countries
38th out of 132 countries

Key Destination Access

USAVisa Required

A valid visa is required before travel.

United KingdomVisa Required

A valid visa is required before travel.

CanadaVisa Required

A valid visa is required before travel.

Schengen AreaVisa Required

A valid visa is required before travel.

Update History

  1. Ranking Change

    Passport ranking rose from 86th to 85th.

  2. South AfricaPapua New Guinea

    Visa on arrival is no longer available; a visa is now required before travel.

  3. Ranking Change

    Passport ranking rose from 87th to 86th.

  4. South AfricaLaos

    The requirement to obtain a visa before travel has been removed; a visa can now be obtained on arrival.

  5. Ranking Change

    Passport ranking fell from 86th to 87th.

  6. South AfricaLaos

    Visa on arrival is no longer available; a visa is now required before travel.