South Africa’s passport has dropped 7 places in the latest global passport rankings.
The passport now sits 86th worldwide, compared with 79th in 2025.
Passport Reports published the latest ranking covering 199 countries.
South Africa recorded a Mobility Score of 108 in the 2026 edition.
That figure represents destinations accessible without securing a traditional visa beforehand.
However, the score does not mean travellers can enter every destination visa-free.
Some countries offer visas on arrival, while others require electronic travel authorisation.
Therefore, South Africans should check entry rules before making international travel plans.
South Africa’s passport position around the world
South Africa remains among Africa’s stronger passports despite its global ranking decline.
The country ranks third among the 54 African passports assessed by Passport Reports.
It also occupies fourth place among the 11 BRICS countries.
Within the G20, South Africa ranks 15th among 19 measured countries.
Meanwhile, it ranks 26th among 56 Commonwealth countries.
South Africa sits 38th among the 132 countries belonging to the G77.
The 108-point Mobility Score consists of three different access categories.
South Africans have 59 visa-free destinations available.
They also have access to 42 destinations offering visas upon arrival.
Another seven destinations require an Electronic Travel Authorisation.
Passport Reports calculates rankings by counting destinations offering these forms of easier entry.
However, passport rankings can differ between indexes.
Each organisation can use different methods when assessing entry requirements.
Countries can also change their immigration rules throughout the year.
Where can South Africans travel without a traditional visa?
South African travellers can access destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe and other regions.
Across Africa, South Africans have access to 71.7% of destinations through simplified entry options.
However, travellers must still meet certain conditions in some countries.
For example, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand require arrival cards.
Côte d’Ivoire also requires travellers to complete pre-registration.
Seychelles has a tourist registration requirement for South African visitors.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde uses the EASE electronic pre-registration system.
The permitted stay also depends heavily on the destination.
Georgia allows stays of up to 360 days under the listed arrangements.
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Peru allow stays of up to 180 days.
Many other destinations permit stays of up to 90 days.
Visa-free destinations
Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, eSwatini, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Americas: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Asia: Hong Kong SAR China, Macao SAR China and the Philippines.
Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Helena, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.
Europe: Georgia and the Russian Federation.
Middle East: Palestine.
Oceania: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue and Vanuatu.
Visa-on-arrival destinations
A visa-on-arrival arrangement allows travellers to obtain their visa after reaching their destination.
South Africans can use this option across several regions.
Africa: Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Maldives, Nepal, Tajikistan and Timor-Leste.
Middle East: Armenia, Jordan, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Oceania: Marshall Islands, Palau Islands, Samoa and Tuvalu.
Electronic travel authorisation destinations
Some destinations do not require South Africans to obtain a traditional visa.
Instead, travellers must secure electronic approval before departure.
Africa: Ghana and Seychelles.
Asia: Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand also require arrival cards.
Importantly, an ETA differs from an e-Visa.
An ETA provides electronic travel authorisation without requiring a conventional visa application.
An e-Visa still involves an application and approval before travelling.
Therefore, South African passport holders should verify requirements before booking flights.
Entry rules can change, even when a destination previously allowed easier access.
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