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

Indian ordinary passport holders need a visa for South Africa. The simplest route for a short tourist visit is the online e-Visa (single entry, up to 30 days); Indian nationals are also now eligible for the newer ETA. There is no visa-on-arrival. As of 30 May 2026, holders of an ordinary Indian passport require a visa to enter South Africa for tourism. South Africa does not grant visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival to Indian citizens. The most convenient pathway for a short visit is the e-Visa, applied for entirely online through the Department of Home Affairs ePermit system: it is a single-entry visitor visa allowing a stay of up to 30 days. Since 12 February 2026, Indian ordinary-passport holders are also eligible for the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), a multiple-entry authorisation permitting stays of up to 90 days per visit, currently usable only when arriving at OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town, or Lanseria airports. Travellers preferring a traditional sticker visa can still apply through a VFS Global centre in India. Short-stay tourist visas are issued gratis (free of government charge) to Indian nationals, though VFS submissions carry a service fee. Plan ahead: standard e-Visa/visa processing runs roughly 5-15 working days, and travellers who arrive without valid authorisation will be refused boarding/entry.