r VisaEntry requirements
Visa required
For holders of a passport from
Do I need a visa to visit United Kingdom with a South Africa passport?
Visa required
Key entry notes
- Right of Abode holders with a Certificate of Entitlement in their Commonwealth passport may enter the United Kingdom and remain indefinitely.
- Temporary Visa holders can only enter for 3 months if entering from the Republic of Ireland (Eire).
- The Crown dependencies include the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey as well as the Isle of Man.
Show 8 more source notes
- The same Visa Policy applies mainly to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, therefore a United Kingdom Visa can be used.
- Transit Visa Required unless in possession of an exemption document; Australian, New Zealand and all other Visas with confirmation slips/ electronically granted Visas with a paper print-out as confirmation are not permitted as an exemption document unless endorsed by the airline.
- Note: Schengen Visa type "C" is not an approved exemption document.
- Entry must be refused or denied boarding on vessel.
- Direct Airside or Transit Visa required depending on type of transit.
- Entering the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland) by land, sea or air from the Republic of Ireland is not permitted unless in possession of a valid U.K.
- Visa or Immigration Document.
- UK Land or Transit Visa cannot be used to transit the UK from Ireland or from Ireland to the UK, a Standard Visa is required.
Data refreshed 06 Sep 2026
At a glance
Travel basics
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Capital
- London
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- GBP
- Time zones
- UTC−08:00UTC−05:00UTC−04:00UTC−03:00UTC−02:00UTCUTC+01:00UTC+02:00UTC+06:00
- Borders
- IrelandVisa required
- Area
- 242,900 km2
- Population
- 64,800,000
- Gini index
- 34