What you need to enter South Africa with a Latvian passport
Latvian citizens do not need a visa to travel to South Africa: a passport is enough, for stays of up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Processing time
- Not applicable: direct entry with your passport.
- Entry cost
- Free
- Minimum passport validity
- 30 days after departure
Last verified: 18 August 2026
Verified practical details
You don't need a visa to enter South Africa, but here are some practical details worth knowing before you travel:
Required documents
- A passport valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended date of departure from South Africa
- At least two completely blank pages for the entry and exit stamps. If you are applying for a transit visa, the requirement rises to three blank pages
Health insurance
Not mandatory for this destination.
When travel insurance is mandatory → Travel insurance policies ↓Transit rules
The Minister of Home Affairs has exempted travellers transiting through certain South African international airports from the transit visa. The important exception is overland: anyone using a land port of entry to transit through the country does have to apply for a port of entry visa. Where a transit visa is needed, it requires an original passport valid for at least thirty days beyond the end of the intended visit, with three completely blank pages.
More South Africa rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the South Africa page:
Official portal: https://www.dha.gov.za. Destination data verified on 18 August 2026. Sources: dha.gov.za and eta.dha.gov.za (Department of Home Affairs: ETA phased rollout, eligible countries, airports, ZAR 500 fee effective 17/08/2026 per the Government Gazette); sars.gov.za, "SC-PA-01-03 Duty Free Allowances for Travellers" document with an effective date of 01/07/2026 (South African Revenue Service: alcohol/tobacco allowances, ZAR 100,000 cash declaration, mandatory online traveller declaration) (checked 18/08/2026).
Travel insurance for South Africa
It isn't listed as mandatory for this entry, but without insurance, medical care during the trip can get expensive.
See IATI's international site →IATI sells its policies according to the country you live in. Where do you live?
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Things to see and do in South Africa
Tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of South Africa need a visa to enter Latvia. See the South Africa → Latvia page.
All 10 passports from Northern Europe that VisaRadar tracks can enter South Africa visa-free. Same result as Latvia: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Lithuania.
With a passport from Latvia, in the rest of Southern Africa you can enter Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Namibia.
A passport from Latvia ranks 24 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 158 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do Latvian citizens need a visa for South Africa?
No. You can enter South Africa with just your passport, for up to 90 days.
How long can I stay in South Africa?
Up to 90 days with no additional paperwork.
What minimum passport validity is required?
A passport valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended date of departure from South Africa
What currency is used in South Africa?
South African Rand (ZAR).
What do Latvian passport holders need for the countries near South Africa?
With a passport from Latvia, in the rest of Southern Africa you can enter Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Namibia.
Related pages
See South Africa requirements for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.