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South Africa visa for Bangladeshi citizens
Bangladesh 
South Africa Bangladesh passport holders need to obtain a visa from an embassy, consulate or visa centre before travelling to South Africa.
Yes, a visa is required
- Entry requirement
- Visa required
- Maximum stay
- Set by the visa
- Apply before travel
- Yes
- Last updated
- February 2026
How to apply
Checked November 2026Visitor's visa (section 11(1)(a), up to 90 days) - being moved onto the ETA platform
- Fee
- R425 for visa-required nationals not exempt from visa fees
- Processing
- Set by the issuing mission
At the border
- Passport must be valid for at least 30 days after your planned departure from South Africa.
- Passport needs at least two unused pages for entry and exit stamps; travellers without them can be refused entry.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you have been in or transited a yellow fever endemic area (direct airport transit excepted).
- Visa-exempt visitors do not need an ETA but may apply voluntarily to use faster arrival processing or to extend a 90-day stay by up to another 90 days.
- ETA travellers have their faces verified on departure.
Recent changes
- October-November 2025: ETA piloted during South Africa's G20 Presidency for travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico.
- August 2026: ETA officially launched on 12 August 2026; R500 electronic processing fee gazetted on 17 August 2026.
- Late 2026: ETA being made compulsory country by country for short stays by nationals who need port-of-entry visas; land and sea ports to follow.
Official source: Department of Home Affairs, Republic of South Africa · Not yet confirmed officially: eta.fee: R500 and R425 figures come from gazette text seen in official search snippets; the 17 Aug 2026 gazette PDF could not be text-extracted, and the R925 combined figure came from a pre-launch proposal, eta.validity and processing: taken from the eta.dha.gov.za FAQ as indexed; the FAQ page is script-rendered and could not be read directly, eta.status: which nationalities are already compulsory as of November 2026, consularVisa.processing time, scamWarning: no official warning about look-alike ETA sites found
What Bangladesh passport holders need to do
- Find the embassy, consulate or visa application centre that covers where you live.
- Complete the application form and gather your documents: passport, photos, itinerary, proof of funds and accommodation.
- Book an appointment, pay the fee and give biometrics if they are required.
- Wait for the decision before you book non-refundable travel.
Bangladesh is one of 80 passports in the “visa required” group for South Africa. See the full South Africa visa requirements for every passport.
Easier alternatives in Africa for Bangladesh passport holders
South Africa is one of 113 destinations in the “visa required” group for the Bangladesh passport, which ranks #90 worldwide with a mobility score of 36. Of 54 destinations in Africa, 14 need no visa arranged in advance; the easiest are listed below.
| Destination | Requirement | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
 Gambia | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Rwanda | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Seychelles | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Burundi | Visa on arrival | – |
 Cape Verde | Visa on arrival | – |
 Comoros | Visa on arrival | – |
 Djibouti | Visa on arrival | – |
 Ghana | Visa on arrival | – |
 Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival | – |
 Madagascar | Visa on arrival | – |
 Mauritania | Visa on arrival | – |
 Sierra Leone | Visa on arrival | – |
Frequently asked questions
Do Bangladeshi citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Bangladesh passport holders need to obtain a visa from an embassy, consulate or visa centre before travelling to South Africa.
Can Bangladeshi citizens get a visa on arrival in South Africa?
No. Bangladesh passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling to South Africa.
Do South Africa citizens need a visa for Bangladesh?
South Africa passport holders need to obtain a visa from an embassy, consulate or visa centre before travelling to Bangladesh.
South Africa visa requirements for other passports
Data last updated February 2026. This page covers short visits such as tourism. Rules can change at short notice and differ for work, study or long stays. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of South Africa before you book.