Saudi Arabian visa for South African citizens
A visa is REQUIRED for South African passport holders visiting Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia for a short-term tourism purpose. | Visa required | N/A |
| Evisa | Saudi Arabia e-visa for South African citizens | Eligible | |
| Visa on arrival | Saudi Arabia visa on arrival for South African citizens | Eligible | |
Saudi Arabia tourist visa requirements:
- Holding South African passport that is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay in Saudi Arabia.
- Proof of onward travel (departure) from Saudi Arabia.
If you are looking for Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia nearest your place of residence.
- Pretoria: The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Pretoria, South Africa (Working hours: Close now. Open in 3 hours 56 minutes)
Saudi Arabia visa applications & requirements (For reference purposes only, please visit the nearest Saudi Arabia diplomatic mission offices to South Africa for guidance)
Tourism Statistics Chart
The line chart shows the number of visitors from South Africa traveling to Saudi Arabia from 2008 to 2018.
| Year | Number of visitors (South Africa) estimated | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 122,483 | N/A |
| 2009 | 90,445 | -26.16% |
| 2010 | 90,055 | -0.43% |
| 2011 | 117,686 | 30.68% |
| 2012 | 135,556 | 15.18% |
| 2013 | 130,908 | -3.43% |
| 2014 | 151,558 | 15.77% |
| 2015 | 149,350 | -1.46% |
| 2016 | 149,765 | 0.28% |
| 2017 | 133,705 | -10.72% |
| 2018 | 127,272 | -4.81% |
References: UNWTO.org, World Bank and multiple sources. (This data is for informational purposes only. Please see our disclaimer page for more information.)
Saudi Arabia & South Africa comparison
Saudi Arabia's area is approximately 2,149,690 km2 (829,999 sq mi), while the area of South Africa is approximately 1,213,090 km2 (468,376 sq mi). This means South Africa is 77.21% smaller than Saudi Arabia.
As of October 2025, Saudi Arabia's population is ~37.6 million people - 25,522,873 fewer people than the population of South Africa.
We have highlighted Saudi Arabia & South Africa’s relative positions on world's map for your reference.
| Saudi Arabia | South Africa | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (est 2025) | 37,581,573 | 63,104,446 | 25.5 million fewer people live in Saudi Arabia than South Africa |
| Number of diplomatic missions abroad (est) | 114 | 124 | Saudi Arabia has 10 fewer diplomatic representations abroad compared with South Africa. |
| Travel freedom (2025) | 39 | 67 | Saudi Arabia passport holders visit 28 fewer countries and territories without a visa. |
| Number of foreign missions hosted | 127 | 197 | Saudi Arabian hosts 70 fewer foreign missions than South Africa. |
Frequently asked questions, answered
How many visitors from South Africa travel to Saudi Arabia in one year?
The number of visitors from South Africa visiting Saudi Arabia in 2018 was approximately 127,272.
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- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
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- Cayman Islands
- 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
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- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
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- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
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- Kosovo
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- San Marino
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- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
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- Trinidad and Tobago
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- Venezuela
- Vietnam
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Today’s Forecast
| 18.59°C | ||
| Humidity | 52% | |
| Wind | 2.64 km/h | |
| Sunrise | 10:19 AM | |
Useful Information
- Riyadh to Pretoria: 5877.55 km (3652.14 mi)
- Travel time: 12 hours 14 minutes
This page was last updated on: October 2025