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South Africa visa for Canadian passport holders

Entry requirements for a typical one-week tourist stay. Plan your trip with your exact dates for a personalised result.

Checklist for a tourist trip

• Passport valid 30 days after departure, with 2 blank pages

  to prepareDoneVerified on Oct 28, 2026

  Your passport must have at least two blank pages and be valid for at least 30 days after the date you plan to leave South Africa. Without this you will be refused entry on arrival. According to Afrique du Sud (ministère des Relations internationales — DIRCO, ambassade à Stockholm): "A valid passport (machine readable only) with at least two (2) empty pages, valid for no less than 30 days after departure from South Africa. Travel documents without nationality (alien passport) can’t be accepted."

  Details

  Your passport must have at least two blank pages and be valid for at least 30 days after the date you plan to leave South Africa. Without this you will be refused entry on arrival. According to Afrique du Sud (ministère des Relations internationales — DIRCO, ambassade à Stockholm): "A valid passport (machine readable only) with at least two (2) empty pages, valid for no less than 30 days after departure from South Africa. Travel documents without nationality (alien passport) can’t be accepted."

  Why this result?

  This requirement is based on the rule “Passport valid 30 days after departure, with 2 blank pages”. Verified on Oct 28, 2026

  4 sources

  • Afrique du Sud (ministère des Relations internationales — DIRCO, ambassade à Stockholm)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • France (ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Canada (Affaires mondiales)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026

  Report an error

• Yellow fever and travelling with children

  to prepareDoneVerified on Oct 27, 2026

  A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you arrive from a country at risk (or transited there for more than twelve hours), vaccinated at least 10 days before entry. Travelling with children aged 17 and under, or letting them travel alone, is subject to special requirements: check with the South African Department of Home Affairs before you leave. Keep a copy of your passport.

  Details

  A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you arrive from a country at risk (or transited there for more than twelve hours), vaccinated at least 10 days before entry. Travelling with children aged 17 and under, or letting them travel alone, is subject to special requirements: check with the South African Department of Home Affairs before you leave. Keep a copy of your passport.

  Why this result?

  This requirement is based on the rule “Yellow fever and travelling with children”. Verified on Oct 27, 2026

  3 sources

  • France (ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Canada (Affaires mondiales)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026

  Report an error

• Yellow fever vaccination certificate if you come from a risk country

  to prepareDoneVerified on Oct 28, 2026

  South Africa requires a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate from anyone over one year old who comes from a yellow fever risk country, or who has been in transit for more than 12 hours through the airport of such a country. If your journey does not pass through any risk country, the certificate is not requested.

  Details

  Vaccination

  South Africa requires a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate from anyone over one year old who comes from a yellow fever risk country, or who has been in transit for more than 12 hours through the airport of such a country. If your journey does not pass through any risk country, the certificate is not requested.

  Why this result?

  This requirement is based on the rule “Yellow fever vaccination certificate if you come from a risk country”. Verified on Oct 28, 2026

  1 source

  • Département des Relations internationales d'Afrique du Sud (DIRCO)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 28, 2026

  Report an error

• No visa for stays of up to 90 days

  informationDoneVerified on Oct 27, 2026

  The official South African list exempts your nationality from a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Your stay permit is issued at the border: check the expiry date written on your entry stamp, as the full 90 days are not always granted. Leaving after that date can lead to a ban of 1 to 5 years. For an internship, volunteering or work, the appropriate visa must be requested before you leave. According to Afrique du Sud (ministère des Relations internationales — DIRCO): "The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit:" According to Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO): "You can visit South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for business or tourism."

  Details

  The official South African list exempts your nationality from a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Your stay permit is issued at the border: check the expiry date written on your entry stamp, as the full 90 days are not always granted. Leaving after that date can lead to a ban of 1 to 5 years. For an internship, volunteering or work, the appropriate visa must be requested before you leave. According to Afrique du Sud (ministère des Relations internationales — DIRCO): "The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a port of entry visa may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit:" According to Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO): "You can visit South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for business or tourism."

  Why this result?

  This requirement is based on the rule “No visa for stays of up to 90 days”. Verified on Oct 27, 2026

  4 sources

  • Afrique du Sud (ministère des Relations internationales — DIRCO)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • France (ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni (FCDO)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026
  • Gouvernement du Canada (Affaires mondiales)(opens in a new tab) · checked on Oct 27, 2026

  Report an error

Guidance based on the cited official sources; only the competent authorities are authoritative.