International travel can be a great adventure, but it can also be disastrous if you don’t prepare properly. Seasoned travellers will know that you often need more than a South African passport to go globetrotting – many countries insist on a visa as well.

However, you might be surprised at how many countries around the globe don’t require South Africans to apply for a visa in advance at an embassy or consulate. We found 74 international destinations that will welcome you with open arms if you present your South African passport at international arrivals. Some require no visa at all, while others will issue your visa when you arrive – this may or may not include a fee, so check in advance. We also found another 48 countries that offer e-visas.

We’ll explore these options in the rest of this article, but first take note that countries may change their rules at any time. The information below is correct at the time of publication, but you should always double-check current regulations before making any spur-of-the-moment travel bookings. First, consult the official tourist information website of the country you plan to visit.

Countries that don’t require a visa, or issue visas on arrival

1. South African passport only (plus visa on arrival for some)

To visit these countries, you need only your South African passport – if you do need a visa, it will be issued when you arrive.

Most of these countries allow you to stay for 90 days or longer. However, some of them restrict tourist visits to 30 days while a few place no limits on how long you can stay.

2. Countries that offer an e-visa

Some of these countries offer e-visas as well as visas on arrival. Check the official tourist information website of the country you plan to visit and rather be safe than sorry. If an e-visa option is available online, it’s less hassle than applying in person at an embassy, and it makes the red tape smoother when you get to your destination.

3. Countries that require a physical visa

To visit these countries, you must apply for a visa at an embassy, consulate or diplomatic mission and it must be issued before you travel. Although this list includes most countries in Europe, you can apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa if you plan to visit several countries in the Schengen Area (indicated by * below).

Although Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are independent states that are not part of the Schengen Area, they allow Schengen visa holders free movement across their borders with France and Italy.

Let Nedbank help you see the world

Apart from finding out whether you need a visa, there’s a lot more planning and prep involved if you want your trip abroad to run smoothly. Do you already have a passport – or can Nedbank help you apply for it with no frustrating queues? Do you still need to save for a while before you can afford your trip of a lifetime?

Not only can Nedbank help you with your financial planning, but we can also make sure you don’t go through any stress trying to convert currency as soon as you arrive in a new country. You can open a Nedbank foreign currency account, which enables you to save in a foreign currency for travelling, to invest or hedge your money in 8 international currencies. You can also apply for a Nedbank Travel Card, which can relieve you of the need to carry cash and gives you access to up to 8 foreign currencies on your travels.