South Africa
Italy
Italy visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
South African citizens need a visa for Italy, obtained before travel.
- Where to apply
- 7 missions
- Visa guide
- Italy visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at ambpretoria.esteri.it
Which Italy visa?
Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
For the tourist visa, Italy’s official sources give a standard fee of €90. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Italian missions in South Africa
- Embassy of Italy in Pretoria
George Avenue 796, Pretoria
-
- Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg
37 1st Avenue (Corner 2nd Street) - Houghton Estate, 2198, Johannesburg
- Consulate of Italy in Cape Town
2 Greys Pass, Gardens - 8001 Cape Town, Cape Town
- Honorary Consulate of Italy in Port Elizabeth
Italian Club, Harold Road, Charlo, Gqeberha, Gqeberha
- Honorary Consulate of Italy in East London
14 BRIAR LANE EXTENSION, BEACON BAY, EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA, 5241, East London
- Honorary Consulate of Italy in Durban
3 Meadway, Drummond, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
All missions of Italy in South Africa
Italy has 7 missions in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria. Consulates: Johannesburg and Cape Town. Honorary consulates, which normally do not take visa applications: Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban.
Italy: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 33,385 | 32,463 | 922 | 2.8% | 99.6% |
| 2024 | 32,070 | 30,943 | 1,126 | 3.5% | 98.9% |
| 2025 | 33,532 | 32,525 | 1,007 | 3.0% | 100.0% |
In 2025, Italy’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria) received 33,532 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 32,525. 3.0% of applications were refused. In 2024 the rate was much the same, 3.5%. Applications rose by 5% compared with 2024 (32,070).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Italy’s consulates worldwide refused 10.8%. Italy was the most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
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
Italian citizens travelling to South Africa
ItalySouth Africa Visa-free, 90 days South Africa visa for citizens of Italy
Travel advice for Italy
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Before travelling from South Africa to Italy, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates Italy at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 9 September 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Italy (updated 3 November 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Italy (updated 23 October 2026). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Italy
How long South African citizens may stay in Italy is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Italian embassy in Pretoria and the consulates in Johannesburg and Cape Town, or to a visa centre acting for Italy; fees, documents and processing times are published by Italy.
Italy and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Italy lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Italy when it is the main destination of the trip.
Italy’s neighbours for South African citizens
Switzerland, the Holy See, Slovenia, San Marino, France and Austria require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Italian citizens travelling to South Africa
Italian citizens do not need a visa for South Africa: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Italy?
South African citizens need a visa for Italy, obtained before travel.
Where is the Italian embassy in South Africa?
The Italian embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria; there are also consulates in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
How much does the Italy tourist visa cost?
Italy’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa.
Do Italian citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Italian citizens do not need a visa for South Africa: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
Can South African citizens enter Italy visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Italy obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.