South AfricaZimbabwe
South African passport ยท policy checked 17 Jul 2026
Visa-free
Nothing to arrange. Category A - no visa required.
Varies
by visa type
0
visa fee
free entry
1
document
your valid passport
0
forms
no application, no appointment
Policy note
Listed on official Zimbabwe eVisa portal FAQ page under 'Entry without Visa'.
Entering Zimbabwe on a South African passport
- Travel with your valid South African passport - no visa, no application.
Zimbabwe visa types
Spouse Residence PermitFamily
~$500online
For foreign nationals who are spouses of Zimbabwean citizens or permanent residents, allowing lawful residence in Zimbabwe.
The visa application centre publishes no document checklist for this type.
For foreign spouses of Zimbabwean citizens or residents. Statutory non-refundable fee USD 500 plus USD 300 per dependant; extension USD 300 (+USD 300/dependant); permanent-residence track USD 500 (+USD 300/dependant) (confirmed on zimimmigration.gov.zw/?page_id=6980 Permits page and requirements page ?p=7343, re-verified July 2026). Requires an application letter to the Chief Director of Immigration, support letter from the local spouse, marriage certificate, guarantor's proof of accommodation and funds, police clearance (max 6 months old), and radiological certificate. Applications via epermits.zimimmigration.gov.zw.
Official page โScholars PermitStudent
~$100online
For foreign nationals attending school (primary or secondary level) at an institution in Zimbabwe.
Covers pre-tertiary (primary/secondary) school attendance and is listed separately from the Student Permit. Statutory non-refundable fee USD 100; extension USD 100 (confirmed on zimimmigration.gov.zw/?page_id=6980 Permits page and requirements page ?p=7272, re-verified July 2026). Requires acceptance from the school, Ministry of Education clearance, and (for minors) a local guardian affidavit. Applications via epermits.zimimmigration.gov.zw.
Official page โStudent PermitStudent
~$200online
For foreign nationals enrolled at an accredited educational institution in Zimbabwe for formal study.
For students accepted into a higher/tertiary programme at a Zimbabwean institution. Statutory non-refundable fee USD 200 plus USD 300 per dependant; extension same (confirmed on zimimmigration.gov.zw/?page_id=6980 Permits page and requirements page ?p=7277, re-verified July 2026). Requires completed I.F.5 form, acceptance letter from the institution, Ministry of Education clearance, passport bio-data page, police clearance, and radiological certificate. Applications via epermits.zimimmigration.gov.zw.
Official page โMissionary Permit (Religious Worker Permit)Work
online
For foreign nationals coming to work full-time as a Minister of Religion or church worker for a local congregation in Zimbabwe.
Religious-worker permit for foreign nationals employed full-time as a Minister of Religion or church worker at the request of the leadership of a local congregation. Applicant must have worked at least one year as a religious worker OR have been ordained as a Minister of Religion following ministerial training; the sponsoring church organisation must take full responsibility for the maintenance of the worker and dependants (and their return to country of domicile) without recourse to public funds. A dedicated requirements page existed on the former Department of Immigration site (zimimmigration.gov.zw/index.php/permits/missionary-permit) which now returns HTTP 404 following the site's migration to WordPress; the current Permits overview page (?page_id=6980) lists five permit types and does not separately itemise this one. The permit remains a recognised category applied for via the e-permits portal. Fee not confirmed on a current official page.
Official page โTemporary Employment PermitWork
~$500online
Allows skilled foreign nationals to work in Zimbabwe for a specific employer where no suitable local candidate is available.
Non-refundable application fee of USD 500; USD 300 per dependent. Requires 15 documents including IF5 form, employment contract, notarised academic and professional certificates, police clearance (max 6 months old), medical radiological certificate, company incorporation documents, and proof that the role was advertised locally. Renewals require a letter to the Chief Director of Immigration. Applied for via the e-permits portal at epermits.zimimmigration.gov.zw.
Official page โZimbabwe Exemption PermitOtherdocuments
Application Category:
- Work - Letter of employment from employer on the company letterhead (if applicable) and certified true by a Commissioner of Oaths (Police Station, Bank, Post Office)
- Own Business - Business Registration Document or Municipal Registration Document
- Study - Institution of Learning Admission Letter, on the Institution letterhead with a stamp. Supporting Documents required
- Duly completed and signed ZEP online form.
- Original Passport valid for 90 calendar days.
- Photocopies of the valid passport
- Photo Copy of the Valid ZEP permit
- Original Bank payment receipt for each applicant (if a cash deposit prepayment is done in our Standard Bank account
Conferencing VisaOther
30 dayssingle entry5-7d processing~$30valid 30donline
For foreign nationals attending conferences, seminars, workshops, or professional events in Zimbabwe.
Conferencing visa is specifically for attendance at official events. Holder may not take up employment. Available via e-visa portal or on arrival depending on nationality category.
Official page โInvestor Residence PermitInvestment
~$500valid 365donline
For foreign nationals who invest in Zimbabwe's economy, granting lawful residence tied to their ongoing investment.
Issued for 12 months, renewable annually. Non-refundable application fee of USD 500; USD 300 per dependent. Required documents include IF5 form, project proposal, police clearance (max 6 months old), medical radiological certificate, banking history, and proof of funds. The minimum investment threshold is not stated on the official page at time of research - previously cited figures (USD 100,000 or USD 1,000,000) could not be confirmed from the official source. Applications via epermits.zimimmigration.gov.zw.
Official page โKaza UnivisaOther
30 daysmultiple entry5-7d processing~$50valid 30donline
A joint visa permitting entry into both Zimbabwe and Zambia (and day visits to Botswana via the Kazungula border post) within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
KAZA UNIVISA is jointly issued by Zimbabwe and Zambia. It allows multiple entries across the KAZA conservation area. Fee is USD 50 (not listed on the zimimmigration fees page; fee retained from previous evisa.gov.zw source). Available as e-visa via evisa.gov.zw or on arrival at designated border posts. Only available to eligible nationalities (not all nationalities qualify for KAZA).
Official page โPermanent Residence PermitResidence
multiple entry~$500online
For foreign nationals who have satisfied the residency requirements and wish to permanently reside in Zimbabwe.
Fee confirmed on the official Department of Immigration fee schedule (zimimmigration.gov.zw/?page_id=6958, re-verified 2026-07-17): USD 500 for non-investor applicants; USD 1,000 for investor-track applicants (permanent residence following the investor route). Previously the fee shown was unconfirmed/null; the fee page is now explicit on this two-tier structure. Eligibility criteria and minimum qualifying residency period are still not published on the accessible official pages. Applications via epermits.zimimmigration.gov.zw. Category corrected from 'other' to 'residence' for more accurate classification.
Official page โvia VFS Global โZimbabwe visa policy, fees & entry rules in full โ
Zimbabwe visa for South African citizens - FAQ
Do South African citizens need a visa for Zimbabwe?
No visa is required.
What documents do South African citizens need for Zimbabwe?
A valid passport is all South African citizens need for a short visa-free visit. If you apply for a longer-stay visa, Earth Visa lists the full required documents per visa category from the official visa application centre.
Check entry with visas you already hold โWhat โvisa-freeโ means โ