South African Passport Gains Visa-Free Access to 14 New Countries
South Africa's diplomatic push has secured visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 14 additional countries, bringing the total to 102 accessible destinations.
South Africans will be able to travel to 14 additional countries without prior visa arrangements following a diplomatic push by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), bringing the total number of accessible destinations to 102.
New Destinations
The newly accessible destinations include Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, as well as the Gulf states of Oman and Bahrain, which have signed new bilateral tourism agreements with South Africa. Several Latin American countries have also agreed to reciprocal visa-free arrangements.
Tourism Context
International tourist arrivals are on track to exceed the pre-COVID record of 10.2 million set in 2019, with the tourism sector contributing R425 billion to GDP in 2025.
Remaining Restrictions
The South African passport still requires visas for the United States, United Kingdom, and the Schengen area. DIRCO said negotiations with these blocs were ongoing, though progress had been slow due to concerns about migration patterns and visa overstay rates.
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