Canadian visa for South African citizens
A visa is REQUIRED for South African passport holders visiting Canada for tourism and business purposes. See detailed requirements below:
Visa requirements:
| Visa type | Purposes | Visa requirements | Allowed stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | For South African citizens to enter Canada for a short-term tourism purpose. | Visa required | N/A |
| Evisa | Canada e-visa for South African citizens | Not Available | |
| Visa on arrival | Canada visa on arrival for South African citizens | Not Available | |
Canada tourist visa requirements:
- Holding South African passport that is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay in Canada.
- Proof of onward travel (departure) from Canada.
If you are looking for Canada visa information, such as available types of visas, or how to apply from South Africa, we recommend you visit or contact the embassy or consulate of Canada nearest your place of residence.
- Johannesburg: The High Commission of Canada in Johannesburg, South Africa (Working hours: Close now)
- Pretoria: The High Commission of Canada in Pretoria, South Africa (Working hours: Close now)
- Cape Town: The Consulate General of Canada in Cape Town, South Africa (Working hours: Close now)
Canada visa applications & requirements (For reference purposes only, please visit the nearest Canada diplomatic mission offices to South Africa for guidance)
Tourism Statistics Chart
The line chart shows the number of visitors from South Africa traveling to Canada from 2008 to 2018.
| Year | Number of visitors (South Africa) estimated | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 142,279 | N/A |
| 2009 | 130,617 | -8.20% |
| 2010 | 134,618 | 3.06% |
| 2011 | 132,916 | -1.26% |
| 2012 | 135,655 | 2.06% |
| 2013 | 133,290 | -1.74% |
| 2014 | 137,257 | 2.98% |
| 2015 | 149,159 | 8.67% |
| 2016 | 165,759 | 11.13% |
| 2017 | 173,329 | 4.57% |
| 2018 | 175,412 | 1.20% |
References: UNWTO.org, World Bank and multiple sources. (This data is for informational purposes only. Please see our disclaimer page for more information.)
Canada & South Africa comparison
Canada's area is approximately 9,093,510 km2 (3,511,022 sq mi), while the area of South Africa is approximately 1,213,090 km2 (468,376 sq mi). This means South Africa is 7.50 times smaller than Canada.
As of October 2025, Canada's population is ~39.4 million people - 23,682,767 fewer people than the population of South Africa.
We have highlighted Canada & South Africa’s relative positions on world's map for your reference.
| Canada | South Africa | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (est 2025) | 39,421,679 | 63,104,446 | 23.7 million fewer people live in Canada than South Africa |
| Number of diplomatic missions abroad (est) | 144 | 124 | Canada has 20 more diplomatic representations abroad compared with South Africa. |
| Travel freedom (2025) | 129 | 67 | Canada passport holders can visit 62 more countries and territories without a visa. |
| Number of foreign missions hosted | 469 | 197 | Canadian hosts 272 more foreign missions than South Africa. |
Frequently asked questions, answered
How many visitors from South Africa travel to Canada in one year?
The number of visitors from South Africa visiting Canada in 2018 was approximately 175,412.
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- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
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- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
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- Malta
- Marshall Islands
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- Namibia
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- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Scotland
- Senegal
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- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Sint Maarten
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- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
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- Venezuela
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| Humidity | 60% | |
| Wind | 5.05 km/h | |
| Sunrise | 10:19 AM | |
Useful Information
- Ottawa to Pretoria: 15565.85 km (9672.16 mi)
- Travel time: 32 hours 25 minutes
This page was last updated on: October 2025