Passport Power

South African Passport Power Ranking 2026

The South African passport ranks 48th in the world on the Henley Passport Index 2026, granting holders access to 101 destinations without needing to obtain a visa in advance. This includes visa-free entry, visa on arrival, and electronic travel authority destinations.

SA Passport at a Glance

48th

Global Ranking

101

Destinations Access

53

Visa-Free

48

Visa on Arrival / eTA

The Henley Passport Index is the authoritative ranking of all the world's passports, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Rankings are updated quarterly.

How SA Compares Globally

RankCountryDestinations
1Singapore192
2Japan191
3Germany, Italy, Spain190
4France, Finland, South Korea189
5Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, UK188
6Austria, Ireland, Norway187
7Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland186
8Greece, Poland185
9Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, New Zealand184
10Hungary, USA183
48South Africa101

Source: Henley Passport Index 2026. Destinations include visa-free, visa on arrival, and electronic travel authority access.

African Passport Comparison

Among African nations, the South African passport is one of the strongest. Here is how it compares to other major African passports:

African RankCountryGlobal RankDestinations
1Seychelles25156
2Mauritius29148
3Botswana5987
4South Africa48101
5Namibia6283
6Lesotho6480
7Kenya6675
8Tanzania6774
9Tunisia6873
10Ghana7368
11Nigeria9047
12Zimbabwe7664

South Africa has the 4th strongest passport in Africa after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Botswana by destination count, though it ranks higher globally due to methodology differences.

Year-Over-Year Changes

YearRankDestinationsChange
202648101-5 destinations
202648106+3 destinations
202449103+1 destination
202350102+2 destinations
202252100+2 destinations
20215498-2 destinations (COVID)
202053100--

In 2026, South Africa lost visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 5 destinations compared to the previous year. Despite this, the global ranking has held steady at 48th. The long-term trend over the past decade shows a gradual improvement in passport power.

Access Breakdown by Type

Visa-Free

53

No visa needed at all. Simply arrive with your passport.

Visa on Arrival

28

Visa issued at the airport/border on arrival.

eVisa / eTA

20

Apply online before travel. Quick approval.

Access by Region

RegionVisa-FreeVisa on ArrivaleVisaVisa RequiredDetails
Africa2091312View list
Asia612127View list
Europe20440+View list
Americas22034View list
Caribbean100010View list
Oceania7521View list

Frequently Asked Questions

The South African passport ranks 48th globally on the Henley Passport Index 2026, providing access to 101 destinations without needing to apply for a visa in advance. It is the 4th strongest passport in Africa after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Botswana. While it does not offer visa-free access to the EU/Schengen area or the United States, it provides excellent coverage across Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia.

Currently, South African passport holders require a visa for most European countries, including all Schengen Area nations (26 countries) and the United Kingdom. The only European countries accessible visa-free are Georgia and Russia. Turkey, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine are available with an e-visa. South Africa has been lobbying for Schengen visa-free access, but this has not yet been achieved.

Seychelles holds the most powerful passport in Africa, ranked 25th globally with access to 156 destinations. Mauritius follows at 29th (148 destinations). South Africa is 4th in Africa at 48th globally (101 destinations), ahead of Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Yes, the long-term trend is positive. In 2020, the SA passport was ranked 53rd with access to 100 destinations. By 2026, it has improved to 48th with 101 destinations. However, 2026 saw a loss of 5 destinations compared to the previous year, when SA had access to 106 destinations.
Quick Stats
  • Global Rank: 48th
  • Total Access: 101 destinations
  • Visa-Free: 53 countries
  • Visa on Arrival: 28 countries
  • eVisa/eTA: 20 countries
  • Africa Rank: 4th strongest
Visa-Free by Region