South AfricaMalaysia: Visa-free

South AfricaMalaysia

Do South Africa passport holders need a visa for Malaysia?

Visa-free

No. South Africa passport holders do not need a visa to visit Malaysia for tourism.

No visa is required for a short tourist stay. Travel on a valid passport alone.

Source: imi.gov.my (checked July 18, 2026).

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-21

Distance8,517 km, straight line (~10h 31m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Malaysia86 of 242 nationalities tracked

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

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 Malaysia?

No. South Africa passport holders do not need a visa to visit Malaysia for tourism.

How far is Malaysia from South Africa?

About 8,517 km in a straight line, roughly ~10h 31m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Malaysia?

Malaysian ringgit (MYR).

What is the emergency number in Malaysia?

999.

What time zone is Malaysia in?

Kuala Lumpur (UTC+8).

What is the nearest airport to Kuala Lumpur?

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport (SZB), about 15 km away.

How many countries can enter Malaysia without a visa?

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

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 ≈ 16.48 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 Malaysia

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. A federal constitutional monarchy, it consists of 13 states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia on Mainland Southeast Asia and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Peninsular Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Thailand, as well as maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia; East Malaysia shares land borders with Brunei and Indonesia, and maritime borders with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the country's national capital, largest city, and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government, while Putrajaya is the federal administrative capital, representing the seat of both the executive branch and the judicial branch of the federal government. With a population of over 34 million, it is the world's 43rd-most populous country.

CapitalKuala Lumpur

RegionSouth-Eastern Asia

Population36M

Area330,803 km²

CurrencyMalaysian ringgit (1 USD ≈ 4.08 MYR)

LanguagesEnglish, Malay

Calling code+60

Drives on theleft

TimezoneKuala Lumpur (UTC+8)

Nearest airportSultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport (SZB), 15 km

Emergency number999

UNESCO sites6

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$13,125 (2025)

Tourist arrivals4.3M (2020)

Climate in Kuala Lumpur

Warmest March, coolest December, driest January, sunniest January. Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, June, August, October.

Monthly climate normals for Kuala Lumpur, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	31.5°C	24.1°C	102mm	314h
February	31.6°C	24.1°C	116mm	297h
March	31.8°C	24.6°C	195mm	312h
April	31.4°C	24.7°C	213mm	282h
May	31°C	25.1°C	226mm	228h
June	30.3°C	24.4°C	210mm	253h
July	30.1°C	23.9°C	336mm	251h
August	30.9°C	24.1°C	133mm	299h
September	30.2°C	23.9°C	302mm	247h
October	30.4°C	24.2°C	186mm	248h
November	29.5°C	23.9°C	389mm	213h
December	29.4°C	23.7°C	227mm	244h

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

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia, on the Malay Peninsula, as well as on northern Borneo. The country is one of Asia's tiger economies, having seen great economic and human development during the last several decades. While the capital Kuala Lumpur is a cosmopolitan city, deep jungles cover vast swaths of the land, and the offshore islands are home to pristine beaches and some of the world's best scuba diving sites. Malaysia is also a foodie's paradise, with its diverse ethnic groups contributing to an incredibly rich culinary heritage.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley
Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor
Gunung Mulu National Park
Kinabalu Park
Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca
Niah National Park

Full source list on About.