South Africa to Afghanistan visa requirements

South African ordinary passport holders need a visa to enter Afghanistan. As of 2026 the recommended route for tourists is the new online e-visa applied for via the official E-Afghans portal (eafghans.com), which issues a single-entry tourist visa for a stay of up to 30 days. A South African (ZA) ordinary passport holder requires a visa for any visit to Afghanistan (AF); there is no visa-free or visa-on-arrival access. In early 2026 the Afghan authorities launched an online e-visa system administered through the official E-Afghans portal (eafghans.com/e-visa). The tourist e-visa is single-entry, permits a stay of up to 30 days, and is valid for entry within 90 days of issue. Total cost is roughly USD 128 (about USD 8 application fee, USD 120 visa fee, plus a small processing fee). Standard processing is generally quoted at 1 to 3 weeks, with an express same-day/one-business-day option offered for an additional fee. Critically, the e-visa is currently accepted for entry ONLY at Kabul (Hamid Karzai) International Airport — it is not yet honoured at land border crossings, though travellers may exit by land. Where the online system is unavailable or not yet confirmed for a nationality, the traditional route is to apply in person at an Afghan embassy or consulate (the most reliable being Dubai, Islamabad and Peshawar) before travel; embassies not aligned with the current Kabul authorities may issue visas that are not recognised on arrival. Afghanistan is NOT part of the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply. Note: South Africa, the United States and most Western governments advise against all travel to Afghanistan owing to the extreme security and kidnapping risk; consular assistance is severely limited or unavailable.