South Africa

Embassies and consulates in South Africa

embassies in Pretoria

Diplomatic missions from 131 countries are based in South Africa, 179 missions in all (134 embassies, 34 consulates, 10 honorary consulates and 1 other office). Most embassies, 131 of 134, are in the capital, Pretoria. Consulates are also found in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

Africa

South Africa

Capital
Pretoria
Population
64,747,319
Currency
South African Rand (ZAR)
Calling code
+27
Languages
Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans
  • 179missions
  • 134embassies
  • 34consulates
  • 10honorary consulates
Visa-free: 60 destinations#97 in the world

Map

All missions in South Africa

Other cities in South Africa

Outside Pretoria, missions are found in Cape Town (22), Johannesburg (12), Durban (10), Port Elizabeth (2) and East London (1); most of them are consulates general, consulates and honorary consulates.

By country

  1. Italy 7
  2. China 4
  3. Germany 4
  4. India 4
  5. United States 4
  6. Angola 3
  7. Chile 3
  8. France 3
Show all 131

Visa rules for South Africa

How the world’s passports enter South Africa198 in total

  • Visa-free93
  • e-Visa27
  • Visa required78

South Africa visa guide · 12 visa types

Visa rules

Of the 198 passports in the visa data, 93 can enter visa-free, 27 need an e-Visa and 78 need a visa from an embassy or consulate for South Africa.

Visa statistics

Schengen visa applications in South Africa

YearApplicationsVisas issuedRefusedRefusal rateMultiple-entry share
2023 204,221192,8889,7114.8% 69.6%
2024 (part of the year) 193,768180,41610,9055.7% 72.2%
2025 195,946183,79810,2035.3% 73.1%

By Schengen state, 2025

CountryApplicationsVisas issuedRefusal rate
Italy 33,53232,5253.0%
France 32,90529,6228.5%
Germany 24,71723,8193.5%
Netherlands 21,62220,6313.0%
Spain 21,45020,5712.3%
Greece 12,73012,4611.8%
Portugal 10,78710,0087.2%
Switzerland 8,2237,22811.0%
Croatia 6,1244,74521.9%
Austria 5,6995,2933.7%
Belgium 4,7824,3726.2%
Norway 3,8293,6105.7%

Schengen consulates in South Africa received 195,946 short-stay visa applications in 2025, the 14th highest number of any country, and issued 183,798 visas. 5.3% of applications were refused (worldwide: 14.6%). That is barely different from 2024 (5.7%). The number of applications was almost unchanged (193,768 in 2024).

Most applications went to Italy (33,532), France (32,905), Germany (24,717) and the Netherlands (21,622).

Among the states with at least 500 applications, the lowest refusal rate was Greece’s (1.8%) and the highest Croatia’s (21.9%). The sharpest rise since 2024 was at the consulates of Croatia (+6 points), the largest fall at those of Poland (−12.9 points).

Bulgaria and Romania began issuing Schengen visas on 31 March 2024, so their 2024 figures cover part of the year. The numbers include every nationality applying in South Africa.

Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made

US visas issued to citizens of South Africa

Visas issuedFY 2024FY 2025
Visitor (B)45,99933,856
Student (F, M)1,4501,221
Exchange (J)3,5322,892
Work and treaty (H, L, O, E…)19,93420,767
Transit and crew (C, D)4,6494,102
Diplomatic and official (A, G)660709
Fiancé(e) (K)16982
Total76,39363,629
B visa refusal rate (adjusted)10.7%11.7%

In fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025) the United States issued 63,629 nonimmigrant visas to citizens of South Africa, the 24th highest number of the 206 nationalities listed. Visitor visas (B1/B2) made up 53%, work and treaty visas 33% and transit and crew visas 6%. That is 17% fewer than in fiscal year 2024 (76,393).

From October 2025 to February 2026, citizens of South Africa received 22,503, 17% fewer than in the same months a year earlier.

For visitor visas (B1/B2) the State Department reports an adjusted refusal rate of 11.7% for citizens of South Africa in fiscal year 2025 (fiscal year 2024: 10.7%).

Source: US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly nonimmigrant visa issuances up to February 2026 and adjusted refusal rates (public domain). US fiscal years run from October to September. How these figures are made

United States visa for citizens of South Africa

South Africa’s own missions abroad

South Africa’s embassies abroad (202)

South Africa itself has 202 missions abroad, in 129 countries. Its largest networks are in Germany (14), the United Kingdom (10), Italy (9), Austria (6) and India (4).

Upcoming closures

Public holidays in South Africa

  • Day of Reconciliation

    Wednesday

  • Christmas Day

    Friday

  • Day of Goodwill

    Saturday

  • New Year's Day

    Friday

Good to know

Where the embassies are

Most embassies, 131 of 134, are in the capital, Pretoria. Italy has the most missions in South Africa, 7, followed by China (4), Germany (4), India (4) and the United States (4).

Travel advice for South Africa

Foreign ministries’ advice on travel to South Africa: the US State Department rates South Africa at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 26 May 2025), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to South Africa (updated 5 November 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for South Africa (updated 28 October 2026). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the most consulates in South Africa?

Italy, with 7 missions, followed by China (4).

Do I need a visa for South Africa?

Of 198 passports, 93 can enter visa-free, 27 need an e-Visa and 78 need a visa from an embassy or consulate for South Africa; the visa rules page for your own passport has the answer for you.

When are embassies in South Africa closed?

On South Africa’s public holidays and on each mission’s own national day; the next public holiday is Day of Reconciliation on Wednesday 16 December 2026.