Do Australia passport holders need a visa to visit South Africa?

No visa needed. Australian ordinary passport holders may enter South Africa visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days. Australia is on South Africa's visa-exemption list (Category A — Schedule). Ordinary Australian passport holders can visit South Africa for tourism or short business visits without a visa for up to 90 days per entry. No application or fee is required; the visitor's visa is granted on arrival as a free entry stamp at the port of entry. South Africa began phasing in an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in late 2025, but as of May 2026 it applies only to a small group of nationalities (initially China, India, Indonesia and Mexico) — it does NOT apply to Australians, who continue to enter visa-free. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after your intended departure and have at least one blank page (two if a visa is ever required). Immigration officers may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds. The 90-day stay is at the discretion of the immigration officer and cannot be reset simply by leaving and re-entering; extensions are applied for in-country through the Department of Home Affairs. Dual Australian–South African nationals must enter and exit on their South African passport.