South Africa Visa for Emirati Citizens
Yes — Emirati passport holders can enter South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days as of 2026.
Ordinary passport holders only
dirco.gov.za ↗Entering South Africa on an Emirati passport
- → Travel with just your valid Emirati passport. No visa or prior application needed.
- → See the exact document checklist for Emirati applicants, by visa type.
- → Confirm the latest rules on the destination's official government page before you book.
Documents required for Emirati applicants
The exact documents Emirati citizens must submit for South Africa, by visa type, from the official visa application centre.
otherCritical Skills Visa
Travel Medical Insurance Get the peace of mind you need on your travels, with insurance made simple for more click here (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/zaf/travel-insurance) Please click here (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/kppWRftb5vhRHakfhs5E3/80dce36ae19a551522ba283c9b965e04/CRITICAL-SKILLS-WORK-VISA.pdf) to download the checklist for Critical Skills Visa. BI 811(Medial Report Form) (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/4HRbnxEont5crnT5W6nalI/bbe707d0d23822ee095e83e7689deea2/Medical-report-form-Apr-26.pdf) Please find below the map for areas that require the yellow fever vaccination : Africa (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/6Xc2B9VkVdJbFbEBKqN9S/8bc1d8f745ee565db8a344e7a42abcb5/yellow-fever-Africa.pdf) South America (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/1INzSB0eBUH2mSDOP5Bwey/9d32522b213981310082f818abac7b7f/yellow-fever-South-America.pdf)
businessSec 15 Business Visa
Travel Medical Insurance Get the peace of mind you need on your travels, with insurance made simple for more click here (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/zaf/travel-insurance) Please click here (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/4H0tCaCD8BZ7Ga99ZxCcVj/486d4d9d2d99d063b3d2ac462d101588/BUSINESS-VISA-Checklist-SEC-15.pdf) to download the checklist for Sec 15 Business Visa Long Term BI 811(Medial Report Form) (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/4HRbnxEont5crnT5W6nalI/bbe707d0d23822ee095e83e7689deea2/Medical-report-form-Apr-26.pdf) Please find below the map for areas that require the yellow fever vaccination : Africa (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/6Xc2B9VkVdJbFbEBKqN9S/8bc1d8f745ee565db8a344e7a42abcb5/yellow-fever-Africa.pdf) South America (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/1INzSB0eBUH2mSDOP5Bwey/9d32522b213981310082f818abac7b7f/yellow-fever-South-America.pdf)
workRemote Work Visa Category
Travel Medical Insurance Get the peace of mind you need on your travels, with insurance made simple for more click here (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/zaf/travel-insurance) Please click here (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/6M0FDKlD0QsdOQLhzaGM3x/a7dc543d9a4ae328fd379ef9fdbf7563/REMOTE-WORK-VISA-Checklist.pdf) to download the checklist for Remote Work Visa BI 811(Medial Report Form) (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/4HRbnxEont5crnT5W6nalI/bbe707d0d23822ee095e83e7689deea2/Medical-report-form-Apr-26.pdf) Please find below the map for areas that require the yellow fever vaccination : Africa (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/6Xc2B9VkVdJbFbEBKqN9S/8bc1d8f745ee565db8a344e7a42abcb5/yellow-fever-Africa.pdf) South America (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/1INzSB0eBUH2mSDOP5Bwey/9d32522b213981310082f818abac7b7f/yellow-fever-South-America.pdf)
workIntra Company Transfer Work Visa
Travel Medical Insurance Get the peace of mind you need on your travels, with insurance made simple for more click here (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/zaf/travel-insurance) Please click here (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/6PaMaqW5xXT6UY8doRBcJG/b1b732c091b2d7331b85c36659a2540e/INTRA-COMPANY-TRANSFER-VISA-Checklist_updated.pdf)to download the checklist for Intra-Company Work Transfer BI 811(Medial Report Form) (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/4HRbnxEont5crnT5W6nalI/bbe707d0d23822ee095e83e7689deea2/Medical-report-form-Apr-26.pdf) Please find below the map for areas that require the yellow fever vaccination : Africa (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/6Xc2B9VkVdJbFbEBKqN9S/8bc1d8f745ee565db8a344e7a42abcb5/yellow-fever-Africa.pdf) South America (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/1INzSB0eBUH2mSDOP5Bwey/9d32522b213981310082f818abac7b7f/yellow-fever-South-America.pdf)
businessBusiness (For Attending Meetings/Training/Conferences/Interviews in South Africa)
Travel Medical Insurance Get the peace of mind you need on your travels, with insurance made simple for more click here (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/zaf/travel-insurance) Please click here (https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/southafrica/uae/english/pdf/Short-Stay-Checklist_Business-28-07-2025.pdf) to download the Checklist for Attending Business Meetings/Training/Conferences/Interviews in South Africa Please find below the map for areas that require the yellow fever vaccination: Africa (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/6Xc2B9VkVdJbFbEBKqN9S/8bc1d8f745ee565db8a344e7a42abcb5/yellow-fever-Africa.pdf) South America (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/1INzSB0eBUH2mSDOP5Bwey/9d32522b213981310082f818abac7b7f/yellow-fever-South-America.pdf)
retirementRetired Person Visa
Travel Medical Insurance Get the peace of mind you need on your travels, with insurance made simple for more click here (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/zaf/travel-insurance) Please click here (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/4BVoHAmEGlCn5oLGOWCHYp/8b3a84b32d468df6ae6dcd1f20a7aba6/RETIRED-PERSON-VISA-Checklist_updated.pdf) to download the checklist for Retired Person Visa. BI 811(Medial Report Form) Please find below the map for areas that require the yellow fever vaccination : Africa (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/6Xc2B9VkVdJbFbEBKqN9S/8bc1d8f745ee565db8a344e7a42abcb5/yellow-fever-Africa.pdf) South America (https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/1INzSB0eBUH2mSDOP5Bwey/9d32522b213981310082f818abac7b7f/yellow-fever-South-America.pdf)
South Africa visa for United Arab Emirates citizens — FAQ
Do Emirati citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Yes — Emirati passport holders can enter South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days as of 2026.
How long can Emirati citizens stay in South Africa?
Emirati passport holders can stay in South Africa for up to 90 days per entry under the current visa-free arrangement.
What documents do Emirati citizens need for South Africa?
A valid passport plus the South Africa document checklist for your visa type — Earth Visa lists the full required documents per visa category from the official visa application centre.
Related visa requirements
For Emirati citizens