South Africa entry requirements for Chinese citizens
Short answerChinese citizens need a visa to visit South Africa. Your visa sets how long you can stay.
- How long you can stay
- Your visa sets how long you can stay.
- What you need
- Valid passport
- Completed visitor's visa application (form BI-84)
- Passport-size photos
- Proof of accommodation/travel itinerary
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Return/onward ticket
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from an at-risk country
- Good to know
- On South Africa's official visa-exemption list, only Chinese diplomatic, official and service passport holders get 30-day visa-free entry; ordinary (tourist) Chinese passport holders are explicitly not exempt and must obtain a visa in advance, with visa fees applying. South Africa's Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) lists China-based approved tour operators, offering a facilitated visa process for pre-booked group tourists, but individual travelers still need a standard visitor's visa obtained before arrival.
Source Department of Home Affairs, Republic of South Africa — Visa Exemption ListChecked against the source on 2026-09-03
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South Africa for other passports
- Argentinavisa-free short stay
- Australiavisa-free short stay
- Brazilvisa-free short stay
- Canadavisa-free short stay
- Chilevisa-free short stay
- Francevisa-free short stay
- Germanyvisa-free short stay
- Indiavisa required
- Israelvisa-free short stay
- Italyvisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa-free short stay
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa required
- Netherlandsvisa-free short stay
- New Zealandvisa-free short stay
- Singaporevisa-free short stay
- South Koreavisa-free short stay
- Spainvisa-free short stay
- Ukrainevisa required
- United Kingdomvisa-free short stay
- United Statesvisa-free short stay
Other destinations for Chinese citizens
- Albaniavisa-free short stay
- Argentinavisa required
- Armeniavisa-free short stay
- Australiavisa required
- Bahamasvisa-free short stay
- Bosnia and Herzegovinavisa-free short stay
- Brazilvisa-free short stay
- Canadavisa required
- Chilevisa required
- Colombiavisa required
- Costa Ricavisa required
- Cyprusvisa required
- Dominican Republicvisa required
- Ecuadorvisa required
- Egyptvisa required
- Fijivisa-free short stay
- Georgiavisa required
- Ghanavisa required
- Indiavisa required
- Irelandvisa required
- Israelvisa required
- Jamaicavisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa required
- Jordanvisa on arrival
- Kenyaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Maldivesvisa on arrival
- Mauritiusvisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa required
- Mongoliavisa required
- Montenegrovisa required
- Moroccovisa-free short stay
- New Zealandvisa required
- Peruvisa required
- Philippinesvisa required
- Qatarvisa-free short stay
- Rwandavisa on arrival
- Serbiavisa-free short stay
- Seychelleselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Singaporevisa-free short stay
- South Koreavisa required
- Sri Lankaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Tanzaniavisa on arrival
- Thailandvisa-free short stay
- Turkeyvisa-free short stay
- United Kingdomvisa required
- United Statesvisa required
- Uruguayvisa required
- Zambiavisa-free short stay
- Zimbabwevisa on arrival
Informational only — not legal advice. Entry rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history