South African passport

South African passport
10 other official names
  • iphasiphothi yaseNingizimu Afrika (Zulu)
  • incwadana yokundwendwela yaseMzantsi Afrika (Xhosa)
  • Suid-Afrikaanse paspoort (Afrikaans)
  • pasporoto ya Afrika Borwa (Northern Sotho)
  • phaseporoto ya Aforika Borwa (Tswana)
  • phasepoto ya Afrika Borwa (Sotho)
  • phasipoto ya Afrika Dzonga (Tsonga)
  • iphasipoti yaseNingizimu Afrika (Swazi)
  • phasipoto ya Afrika Tshipembe (Venda)
  • ipasipoti yeSewula Afrika (Southern Ndebele)
Front cover of a current issue South African passport.
TypePassport
Issued by South Africa
First issued1 April 2009[1] (current version)
PurposeTraveling
EligibilitySouth African citizenship
Expiration10 years after acquisition for adults, 5 years for children
CostR600 (32page) / R1200 (48page)[2]

A South African passport (also colloquially referred to as the 'Green Mamba'[3] or the 'Biltong Book'[4] by South Africans) is a travel document issued to citizens of South Africa for the purpose of international travel. It allows the bearer to travel in foreign countries in accordance with visa requirements, and facilitates the process of securing assistance from South African consular officials abroad, if necessary.[5] A South African passport is a valid proof of citizenship document according to South African nationality law. As of February 2024, citizens of South Africa enjoyed visa-free access to 108 countries, of which some may require pre-travel registration according to the Visa Restrictions Index.

South African passports are issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs,[6] in terms of the South African Passport and Travel Documents Act (Act 4 of 1994),[7] and the South African Passport and Travel Documents Regulations of 1996.

  1. ^ "Council of the European Union - PRADO - ZAF-AO-02001". www.consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Department of Home Affairs - Tariffs".
  3. ^ Reporter (25 July 2023). "World's most powerful passports: SA's 'green mamba' rises one spot". TimesLIVE. Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  4. ^ Reporter (17 October 2022). "Where can you go on your SA passport?". Getaway. Ramsay Media. Retrieved 3 September 2024. can only imagine what it must be like for holders of the infamous 'Biltong Book'.
  5. ^ "Department of International Relations and Cooperation - South Africa". www.dirco.gov.za. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Header Links.JPG". Archived from the original on 7 March 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  7. ^ "South African Passport and Travel Documents Act (Act 4 of 1994)" (PDF). Retrieved 21 November 2022.