The updated Henley & Partners Passport Index for 2023 has been released, detailing the travel privileges of South African passport holders. It reveals the number of countries they can visit without the need for a visa.

An Overview of the Passport Index

The Henley & Partners Passport Index includes data from 199 different passports and assesses 227 travel destinations.

These passports are ranked quarterly based on their travel power, specifically the number of destinations that the passport holder can access visa-free.

South Africa’s Passport Ranking

South Africa is ranked 95th out of 199 countries in the Passport Index, boasting a visa-free score of 107. This means that South African passport holders can travel to 107 countries around the world without requiring a visa.

Global Passport Power Rankings

The Passport Index highlights that the Singaporean passport is currently the most powerful, with a visa-free score of 193.

Following closely are Japan with a score of 191, and Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and Sweden, all tied at third place with a score of 190. In contrast, Afghanistan sits at the bottom of the list with a score of 27.

Caribbean Destinations for South African Passport Holders

Of the 107 countries that South African passport holders can visit visa-free, 16 are located in the Caribbean. These include destinations such as Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, and more.

Regional Breakdown of Visa-Free Travel

Here’s a breakdown of the regions South African passport holders can visit visa-free:

Africa: 35 countries
Americas: 18 countries
Asia: 17 countries
Caribbean: 16 countries
Europe: 4 countries
Middle East: 8 countries
Oceania: 9 countries

Complete List of 107 Visa-Free Countries

The list of countries that South African passport holders can visit without a visa includes a variety of destinations spanning the globe.

These countries offer different entry requirements, including visa on arrival and electronic travel authority (ETA) in some cases.