South Africa to Yemen visa requirements

South African ordinary passport holders need a visa to visit Yemen. There is no visa-free entry or general visa-on-arrival for tourists; you must apply in advance at the Embassy of Yemen in Pretoria. A limited eVisa launched in 2025 covers only specific categories (group travel of 10+, business, transit), not individual tourism. A South African (ZA) ordinary passport holder traveling to Yemen for tourism or a short visit requires a visa obtained before travel. Yemen is not a Schengen/visa-free destination for South Africans, and there is no broad visa-on-arrival facility. The standard route is a sticker visa applied for at the Embassy of Yemen in Pretoria (329 Main Street, Waterkloof). Yemen's Immigration, Passports and Nationality Authority launched an electronic visa (eVisa) system in mid-2025, but eligibility is restricted to defined categories such as organized group travel (10 or more people), business trips, and transit, so it does not replace the consular visa for an individual leisure traveler. Applicants must hold a passport valid at least six months with a blank page, and provide confirmed return flights, accommodation, and supporting documents. Processing typically takes about 3-5 working days. Important: Yemen is the subject of severe travel advisories from South Africa and most governments due to armed conflict, terrorism and kidnapping risk; commercial access and consular services are extremely limited, and the security situation should weigh heavily before any travel. Because reliable no-visa channels cannot be confirmed for tourism, the conservative and correct verdict is visa-required.