South AfricaLatvia: Visa required

South AfricaLatvia

Do South Africa passport holders need a visa for Latvia?

Visa required

Yes. South Africa passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to Latvia.

A visa must be obtained in advance, typically from an embassy or consulate, before travel.

Source: eur-lex.europa.eu (checked September 3, 2026).

RequirementVisa required

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-19

Distance9,203 km, straight line (~11h 20m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Latvia138 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Latvia passport holders visiting South Africa: Visa-free.

Latvia drives on the right, the opposite side to South Africa. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

Visa-free alternatives near Latvia

South Africa passport holders can visit these nearby destinations without a visa in advance:

Russia

Other visa-free destinations for South Africa passport holders

See all South Africa destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do South Africa passport holders need a visa for Latvia?

Yes. South Africa passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to Latvia.

How far is Latvia from South Africa?

About 9,203 km in a straight line, roughly ~11h 20m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Latvia?

Euro (EUR).

What is the emergency number in Latvia?

110 / 112 / 113.

Does Latvia drive on the same side of the road as South Africa?

Latvia drives on the right, the opposite side to South Africa. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

What time zone is Latvia in?

Riga (UTC+3).

What is the nearest airport to Riga?

Riga International Airport (RIX), about 9 km away.

How many countries can enter Latvia without a visa?

138 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Latvia visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

What nearby countries can South Africa passport holders visit without a visa instead of Latvia?

Russia.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About South Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. The country consists of nine provinces, and is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. South Africa also encloses Lesotho. Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres, the country has a population of over 63 million people, making it the sixth-most populated country in Africa, and 24th-most in the world.

CapitalPretoria

RegionSouthern Africa

Population64.7M

Area1,221,037 km²

CurrencySouth African rand (1 USD ≈ 16.43 ZAR)

LanguagesAfrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Calling code+27

Drives on theleft

TimezoneJohannesburg (UTC+2)

Nearest airportLanseria International Airport (HLA), 34 km

Emergency number112

UNESCO sites12

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$6,598 (2025)

Tourist arrivals3.9M (2020)

Climate in Pretoria

Warmest January, coolest June, driest May, sunniest January. Best time to visit: January, March, September.

Monthly climate normals for Pretoria, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.3°C	16.6°C	75mm	360h
February	27.4°C	16°C	89mm	331h
March	26°C	14.3°C	37mm	321h
April	22.2°C	12°C	111mm	267h
May	21.5°C	8.4°C	0mm	318h
June	18.1°C	4.7°C	4mm	294h
July	19.2°C	4.9°C	0mm	321h
August	21.9°C	7°C	3mm	323h
September	26°C	10.6°C	11mm	332h
October	27°C	14.3°C	78mm	316h
November	26.8°C	15.3°C	142mm	322h
December	26.6°C	16.5°C	107mm	332h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

South Africa is rich in culture, fauna, flora and history. Africa's southernmost country is a large country with widely varying landscapes, 12 official languages, and an equally diverse population and is often known as the "Rainbow Nation".

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cape Floristic Kingdom
Cradle of Humankind
Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites
Khomani Cultural Landscape
Makhonjwa Mountains
Maloti-Drakensberg Park
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
Richtersveld
Robben Island
The Emergence of Modern Humans: The Pleistocene occupation sites of South Africa

Upcoming public holidays

November 4, 2026Election Day

December 16, 2026Day of Reconciliation

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

Full source list on About.

About Latvia

Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to the southeast and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia covers an area of 64,573 km2 (24,932 sq mi), with a population of 1.83 million. The country has a temperate seasonal climate. Its capital and largest city is Riga. Latvians, who are the titular nation and comprise 65.5% of the country's population, belong to the ethnolinguistic group of the Balts and speak Latvian. Russians are the most prominent minority in the country, at almost a quarter of the population; 37.7% of the population speak Russian as their native tongue.

CapitalRiga

RegionNorthern Europe

Population1.8M

Area64,559 km²

CurrencyEuro (1 USD ≈ 0.89 EUR)

LanguagesLatvian

Calling code+371

Drives on theright

TimezoneRiga (UTC+3)

Nearest airportRiga International Airport (RIX), 9 km

Emergency number110 / 112 / 113

UNESCO sites3

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$26,312 (2025)

Tourist arrivals3.2M (2020)

Climate in Riga

Warmest June, coolest December, driest April, sunniest July.

Monthly climate normals for Riga, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	5°C	1.5°C	30mm	80h
February	5°C	-0.2°C	50mm	139h
March	7°C	-0.6°C	46mm	239h
April	9.8°C	2°C	25mm	320h
May	13.8°C	5.3°C	42mm	390h
June	23.4°C	13.8°C	113mm	380h
July	20.6°C	12.3°C	105mm	420h
August	21.8°C	12.8°C	64mm	339h
September	19°C	11.8°C	70mm	278h
October	12.9°C	7.6°C	85mm	178h
November	7.7°C	3.7°C	41mm	89h
December	2°C	-1°C	31mm	40h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Latvia is one of the three Baltic states in Europe. The biggest travel destination in the country is the capital Riga, whose Old Town is a World Heritage Site. There are many other great places to see, both urban and rural. Latvia's unspoilt sea coast is a 500-km-long unique biome, mainly consisting of empty beaches, white soft sand, and dunes covered with pine trees. Forests cover approximately half of Latvia's territory and are home to many nature trails, nature parks and wildlife preserves. The city of Liepāja with its magnificent beach and the unique formerly secret military neighbourhood of Karosta, Kuldīga, recognised in 2023 as a UNESCO world heritage site, with Europe's widest waterfall, and Cēsis with its medieval castle ruins are just some of the various sights.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Old town of Kuldīga
Struve Geodetic Arc
Vecrīga

Upcoming public holidays

November 18, 2026Latvijas Republikas Proklamēšanas diena

December 24, 2026Ziemassvētku vakars

December 25, 2026Pirmie Ziemassvētki

Full source list on About.