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🇮🇳 Does an Indian need a visa for South Africa 🇿🇦?

What this means for your trip

An ETA (electronic travel authorisation) is not a visa: it is an online pre-screening that airlines check before boarding.

It is normally approved within minutes to a few days; apply before you book non-refundable travel.

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

Your plugs fit: every plug type used in India (C, D, M) works with sockets in South Africa.

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 India:

• High Commission of India, Pretoria · 852 Francis Baard Street · hcipretoria.gov.in

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 Indian passport holders

• 🇦🇴 Angola — Visa-free 30 days
• 🇬🇲 Gambia — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇲🇺 Mauritius — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇷🇼 Rwanda — Visa-free 30 days
• 🇸🇳 Senegal — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇹🇳 Tunisia — Visa-free

The other way round

🇿🇦 South African passport holders visiting India: South African passport holders need a visa for India, and it can be applied for online as an e-Visa before travelling.

The Indian passport at a glance

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

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