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🇨🇳 Does a Chinese need a visa for South Africa 🇿🇦?

What this means for your trip

An e-Visa is applied for on the destination's official government website. You upload your passport scan and photo, pay online and receive an approval letter by email.

Apply well before departure and print the approval; use only the official portal, as many look-alike sites charge extra.

Your passport should normally be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date and have blank pages for stamps; many countries apply this rule.

South Africa at a glance

Capital: Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town · Currency: South African rand (ZAR, R) · Official languages: Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu · Calling code: +27

U.S. State Department travel advisory for South Africa: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (updated 27 May 2025). It is written for U.S. citizens; read the advisory before you book.

Plugs and voltage

Some of your plugs fit (C); for type A, I plugs bring a travel adapter for South Africa's sockets (C, D, M, N). Mains voltage differs (South Africa: 230 V; China: 220 V): most phone and laptop chargers accept 100–240 V, but single-voltage devices such as some hair dryers need a converter.

More about entering South Africa →

Your embassy in South Africa

If your passport is lost or stolen, or you need help in an emergency in South Africa, contact the embassy of China:

• Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Pretoria · 927 Pretorius Street · za.china-embassy.gov.cn
• Consulate General of China, Cape Town · capetown.china-consulate.gov.cn
• Consulate General of China, Johannesburg · johannesburg.china-consulate.gov.cn

Missions from Wikidata (CC0), checked 2026-09-26. Addresses and opening hours change: check the mission's website before you go.

Easier destinations near South Africa for Chinese passport holders

• 🇦🇴 Angola — Visa-free 30 days
• 🇧🇯 Benin — Visa-free 30 days
• 🇲🇺 Mauritius — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇲🇦 Morocco — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇸🇨 Seychelles — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇹🇳 Tunisia — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇿🇲 Zambia — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇰🇪 Kenya — ETA required

The other way round

🇿🇦 South African passport holders visiting China: South African passport holders need a visa for China, applied for at an embassy or consulate of China before travelling.

The Chinese passport at a glance

All destinations for China passport holders → · Who needs a visa for South Africa →

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