South Africa visa for Indian citizens
e-Visa (apply online)
🇮🇳 Indian passport → 🇿🇦 South Africa: yes — an e-visa, applied for online before travel.
How it works
Apply online before you travel: passport scan, photo, fee. Approval typically takes a few days — apply at least a week ahead, print or save the approval, and carry it.
Heads-up: South Africa commonly asks for proof of onward travel (airline check-in and on arrival).
Before the airport: run the "Will I board?" checklist for this route →
Beyond South Africa: the India passport
The 🇮🇳 India passport ranks #146 of 199 worldwide, entering 58 destinations without a visa arranged in advance (see the world ranking).
Also visa-free on the India passport: 🇬🇲 Gambia (90 days), 🇲🇺 Mauritius (90 days), 🇸🇨 Seychelles (90 days) — all 58 open destinations.
Going the other way? South African citizens visiting India need an e-Visa, applied for online before travel.
Never get caught out
Visa rules change with little notice. Get one email when South Africa changes its entry rules for Indian passports.
Capital Pretoria · Currency South African rand (R) · Dialling +27
Before you travel
Sorting your South Africa trip on the India passport:
See the whole picture
Every destination for the India passport, and everyone who can enter South Africa.
Indian passport: all destinations Who can enter South Africa Plan the trip