Ireland recently removed South Africa from its visa-free travel list, causing the South African passport to drop in the global rankings on the Henley Passport Index.

Back in April 2024, it was reported that Ireland was considering ending visa-free travel for South Africans. The move was part of a strategy to curb asylum applications, with the Irish Department of Justice noting an influx of International Protection applications from Zimbabweans and people from the Democratic Republic of Congo using South African passports.

Unfortunately, Ireland has decided to move forward with this plan, and as of July 10, 2024, all South African citizens now need a visa to travel to Ireland. The Dublin Visa Office will establish a dedicated ‘South Africa desk’ to process applications from South African nationals. For single-entry visas, the cost is R1,200, while multi-entry visas are priced at R2,000. No refunds will be issued if an application is rejected.

With this change, the number of countries South Africans can visit without a visa has dropped to 107 from the previous 108. Consequently, the South African passport’s strength, as outlined by the Henley Passport Index, has weakened.

According to the 2024 index, four EU members—France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—are now joined by Japan and Singapore in having the strongest passports worldwide. Citizens from these countries can travel to 194 out of 227 destinations without requiring a visa. The Henley Passport Index bases its rankings on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), known for its extensive and accurate travel information database.

As of now, South Africa ranks 53rd on the index, just below Qatar, after losing visa-free access to Ireland. Over the years, South Africa’s ranking has seen a significant decline—from a high of 35th place in 2009 to a low of 58th in 2021.

Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, expressed concern about the growing global mobility gap. He highlighted that the average number of visa-free destinations has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, he also pointed out that the gap between the top and bottom-ranked passports is larger than ever. For instance, travelers from top-ranked countries can access 166 more destinations without a visa compared to those holding Afghanistan’s passport, which allows entry to just 28 countries without a visa.

FAQs

1. How does Ireland’s decision affect South African passport holders?
As of July 10, 2024, South African passport holders now require a visa to enter Ireland, which was previously visa-free.

2. What is the Henley Passport Index?
The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking system that ranks countries based on the travel freedom their passports offer, using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

3. Which countries have the strongest passports in 2024?
In 2024, the strongest passports belong to Japan, Singapore, and four EU countries: France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, all allowing visa-free travel to 194 destinations.

Below is a list of the 107 countries South Africans can still travel to without a visa. This list includes countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Oceania, though major emigration destinations like the UK, Australia, and the USA still require visas.

Ireland was one of only four European countries offering visa-free travel to South Africans, a number that now drops to three: Georgia, Kosovo, and the Russian Federation.

The 107 Visa-Free Countries

Africa:

• Angola
• Benin
• Botswana
• Burundi*
• Cape Verde Islands*
• Comoro Islands*
• Djibouti*
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia*
• Gabon
• Ghana*
• Guinea-Bissau*
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Madagascar*
• Malawi
• Mauritania*
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nigeria*
• Reunion
• Rwanda*
• Senegal
• Seychelles*
• Sierra Leone*
• Somalia*
• St. Helena*
• Tanzania
• The Gambia
• Togo*
• Tunisia
• Uganda*
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Americas:

• Belize
• Argentina
• Bolivia*
• Brazil
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Falkland Islands
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

Asia:

• Cambodia*
• Hong Kong (SAR China)
• Indonesia
• Kyrgyzstan*
• Laos*
• Macao (SAR China)
• Malaysia
• Maldives*
• Nepal*
• Pakistan*
• Philippines
• Singapore
• South Korea**
• Sri Lanka*
• Tajikistan*
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste*

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Grenada
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Montserrat
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos

Europe:

• Georgia
• Kosovo
• Russian Federation

Middle East:

• Armenia*
• Iran*
• Israel
• Jordan*
• Oman
• Palestinian Territories
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia*

Oceania:

• Cook Islands
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands*
• Micronesia
• Niue
• Palau Islands*
• Samoa*
• Tuvalu*
• Vanuatu

Source: Henley Passport Index