Russian visa for South African citizens
A visa is NOT required for South African passport holders visiting Russia for a short-term stay: 90 days.
Visa requirements:
| Visa type | Purposes | Visa requirements | Allowed stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | For South African citizens to enter Russia for a short-term tourism purpose. | Not required | 90 days |
| Evisa | Russia e-visa for South African citizens | Not Available | |
| Visa on arrival | Russia visa on arrival for South African citizens | Not Available | |
Russia tourist visa requirements:
- Holding South African passport that is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay in Russia.
- Proof of onward travel (departure) from Russia.
If you are looking for Russia 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 Russia nearest your place of residence.
- Pretoria: The Embassy of Russia in Pretoria, South Africa (Working hours: Close now)
- Cape Town: The Consulate General of Russia in Cape Town, South Africa (Working hours: Close now)
Russia visa applications & requirements (For reference purposes only, please visit the nearest Russia diplomatic mission offices to South Africa for guidance)
Tourism Statistics Chart
The line chart shows the number of visitors from South Africa traveling to Russia from 2008 to 2018.
| Year | Number of visitors (South Africa) estimated | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 196,511 | N/A |
| 2009 | 177,114 | -9.87% |
| 2010 | 184,932 | 4.41% |
| 2011 | 206,936 | 11.90% |
| 2012 | 233,869 | 13.02% |
| 2013 | 255,574 | 9.28% |
| 2014 | 269,094 | 5.29% |
| 2015 | 279,951 | 4.03% |
| 2016 | 203,939 | -27.15% |
| 2017 | 202,437 | -0.74% |
| 2018 | 203,773 | 0.66% |
References: UNWTO.org, World Bank and multiple sources. (This data is for informational purposes only. Please see our disclaimer page for more information.)
Russia & South Africa comparison
Russia's area is approximately 16,376,870 km2 (6,323,142 sq mi), while the area of South Africa is approximately 1,213,090 km2 (468,376 sq mi). This means South Africa is 13.50 times smaller than Russia.
As of October 2025, Russia's population is ~146.2 million people - 83,121,884 more people than the population of South Africa.
We have highlighted Russia & South Africa’s relative positions on world's map for your reference.
| Russia | South Africa | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (est 2025) | 146,226,330 | 63,104,446 | 83.1 million more people live in Russia than South Africa |
| Number of diplomatic missions abroad (est) | 242 | 124 | Russia has 118 more diplomatic representations abroad compared with South Africa. |
| Travel freedom (2025) | 78 | 67 | Russia passport holders can visit 11 more countries and territories without a visa. |
| Number of foreign missions hosted | 242 | 197 | Russian hosts 45 more foreign missions than South Africa. |
Frequently asked questions, answered
How many visitors from South Africa travel to Russia in one year?
The number of visitors from South Africa visiting Russia in 2018 was approximately 203,773.
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- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
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- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
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- Croatia
- Cuba
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- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
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- 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
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- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
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- Jamaica
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- Kosovo
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Today’s Forecast
| 16.71°C | ||
| Humidity | 99% | |
| Wind | 6.4 km/h | |
| Sunrise | 10:19 AM | |
Useful Information
- Moscow to Pretoria: 12355.58 km (7677.40 mi)
- Travel time: 25 hours 44 minutes
This page was last updated on: October 2025