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Canadian passport · South Africa

Do Canadians need a visa for South Africa?

By the Visa Almanac editorial teamChange logUpdated 6 Nov 2026

In brief

No. Canadian passport holders can visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days.

South Africa visa-free stay for Canadians: up to 90 days. Official rule. Source: Department of Home Affairs, South Africa, checked .

South Africa visa fee for Canadians: none for visa-free entry.

The attached Schedule outlines national passport holders from countries who are exempt from port of entry visa requirements, the category of passport holders who are exempt from port of entry visa requirements and the period for which such visa exemption applies.Department of Home Affairs, South Africa

Checked 6 Nov 2026Source: Department of Home Affairs, South AfricaVisas only at eta.dha.gov.zaReport a change

Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.

ContentsIn brief
  1. In brief
  2. At a glance
  3. Do Canadians need a visa?
  4. Apply from Canada
  5. Fee
  6. Processing time
  7. Documents
  8. What changed
  9. FAQ
  10. Sources

At a glance

AccessVisa-free · 90 days
StayUp to 90 days
Validity and entriesNot stated by the official source
Official feeNone for visa-free entry
Official processingA visa application takes 5 working days if all requirements are met, and the mission advises not to buy your air ticket until you have your passport back with the visa.4
Where to applyNothing to apply for to visit visa-freeOfficial site: eta.dha.gov.za
Before arrivalSince 1 July 2026 every traveller entering or leaving South Africa must submit the customs traveller declaration online (SARS website or the SATMS app) before travelling, apart from limited paper-based exceptions.6

Do Canadians need a visa for South Africa?

The Department of Home Affairs, South Africa lists Canada among the countries whose nationals can visit without a visa. Stay: 90 days.

“The attached Schedule outlines national passport holders from countries who are exempt from port of entry visa requirements, the category of passport holders who are exempt from port of entry visa requirements and the period for which such visa exemption applies.”

Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked

Conditions and exceptions

  • Canadians can visit South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days.

    Issued on 09 December 2025 Visa Exemption List COUNTRY NAME/ORGANISATIONS Passport Type Visa Fees Diplomatic Official Service Ordinary Special ... Canada 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days NoDepartment of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked · read from an archived copy of 24 Oct 2026

  • The visa exemption covers only tourism, holidays and business conferences; doing anything else without a visa is unlawful.

    Canadian citizens (only) who wish to visit South Africa for tourism and holiday or business conference purposes only, for the period of 90 days or less are exempted from visa requirements. Engaging in any other activities without a valid visa endorsement will be regarded as unlawful.South African High Commission in Ottawa · checked

  • Your passport must be machine-readable, valid for at least 30 days after you leave South Africa and have two unused blank visa pages, and you need a return or onward ticket; without the blank pages you will be refused entry.

    Two unused blank visa pages are required when a person reports to a port of entry. Non-compliance will result in refusal of admission to South Africa. The passport holder must be in possession of a return air ticket or onward going ticket. The passport must be valid for a period of at least 30 days after the planned departure from South Africa. ... Hand written extensions or handwritten passports will no longer be accepted in South Africa. Only machine-readable passports will be accepted.South African High Commission in Ottawa · checked

How to apply from Canada

To visit visa-free for up to 90 days there is nothing to apply for: check the documents and entry checks below. For a longer stay or another purpose:

  1. Canadians who need a South African visa (for stays over 90 days or other purposes) apply in person, by appointment, at the Consulate General in Toronto (Ontario, Quebec, the Prairies, British Columbia and the territories except Nunavut) or the High Commission in Ottawa (the Atlantic provinces, Nunavut and the Ottawa area).

    South African High Commission in Ottawa · checked

Fee

Visa-free entry costs nothing.

Processing time

  • A visa application takes 5 working days if all requirements are met, and the mission advises not to buy your air ticket until you have your passport back with the visa.

    South African High Commission in Ottawa · checked

Documents and entry checks

What changed

  1. Since 1 July 2026 every traveller entering or leaving South Africa must submit the customs traveller declaration online (SARS website or the SATMS app) before travelling, apart from limited paper-based exceptions. South African Revenue Service (SARS), Customs · checked
  2. South Africa launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on 12 August 2026; it is to become compulsory for visa-required countries, while visa-exempt travellers such as Canadians may use it voluntarily for a faster arrival queue or to extend their stay by up to 90 days. Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked · read from an archived copy of 14 Sep 2026
  3. Checked against the official sources on this page: the rule above still holds.

FAQ

Is South Africa visa-free for Canadians now?

Yes: visa-free for up to 90 days. Checked on 6 Nov 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs, South Africa.

How much does a South Africa visa cost for Canadians?

Visa-free entry costs nothing.

Can I get a South Africa visa in 7 days?

There is nothing to apply for to visit visa-free for up to 90 days. A visa application takes 5 working days if all requirements are met, and the mission advises not to buy your air ticket until you have your passport back with the visa.

Sources

Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.

  1. Department of Home Affairs, South Africa: entry rule and entry conditionsdha.gov.za · checked · read from an archived copy of 24 Oct 2026
  2. South African High Commission in Ottawa (Department of International Relations and Cooperation): entry conditions and how to applysouthafrica-canada.ca · checked
  3. Department of Home Affairs, South Africa (ePermit portal FAQ): documentsehome.dha.gov.za · checked
  4. South African High Commission in Ottawa (Department of International Relations and Cooperation): processing timesouthafrica-canada.ca · checked
  5. Department of Home Affairs, South Africa (Minister of Home Affairs, ETA launch address): changes and documentsdha.gov.za · checked · read from an archived copy of 14 Sep 2026
  6. South African Revenue Service (SARS), Customs: documentssars.gov.za · checked
  7. Department of Home Affairs, South Africa: documentsdha.gov.za · checked · read from an archived copy of 1 Oct 2026
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