South AfricaSaint Helena: Visa-free

South AfricaSaint Helena

Do South Africa passport holders need a visa for Saint Helena?

Visa-free

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

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

Source: evisa.sainthelena.gov.sh (checked September 5, 2026).

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-21

Visa-free access to Saint Helena132 of 243 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Saint Helena 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 Saint Helena?

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

What currency is used in Saint Helena?

Pound sterling (GBP).

What is the emergency number in Saint Helena?

999.

How many countries can enter Saint Helena without a visa?

132 of the 243 nationalities this site tracks can enter Saint Helena 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 Saint Helena

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British Overseas Territory located in the South Atlantic and consisting of the island of Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and the archipelago of Tristan da Cunha. Its name was Saint Helena and Dependencies until 1 September 2009, when a new constitution came into force, giving the three islands equal status as three territories, with a grouping under the Crown.

RegionWestern Africa

Area394 km²

CurrencyPound sterling, Saint Helena pound (1 USD ≈ 0.75 GBP)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+290, +247

Drives on theleft

Emergency number999

Climate in Saint Helena

Warmest March, coolest October, driest December, sunniest January. Best time to visit: January, March, May.

Monthly climate normals for Saint Helena, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	19.3°C	18.3°C	18mm	384h
February	20.1°C	18.8°C	30mm	342h
March	20.6°C	19.3°C	20mm	355h
April	20.2°C	18.9°C	34mm	319h
May	19.4°C	18.2°C	19mm	330h
June	18°C	16.6°C	27mm	306h
July	16.9°C	15.7°C	18mm	330h
August	16.1°C	14.8°C	30mm	299h
September	15.4°C	14.4°C	24mm	299h
October	15.3°C	14.4°C	16mm	324h
November	15.7°C	14.8°C	20mm	340h
December	16.6°C	15.6°C	14mm	377h

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

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British overseas territory consisting of the islands of Saint Helena and Ascension, together with the Tristan da Cunha islands group. These are among the world's most isolated islands and separated from each other by many hundreds of miles.

Upcoming public holidays

November 20, 2026King's Birthday

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

December 26, 2026Boxing Day

Full source list on About.