The South African passport has moved up in the latest Henley Passport Index, now ranked as the 48th strongest passport in the world.
South African passport re-enters Top 50 in Henley Index after 11 years
This marks the first time since 2014 that South Africa has been listed in the top 50, giving South African travellers greater global access without needing to apply for a visa beforehand.
The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking that shows how powerful each country’s passport is. It does this by counting how many countries a person can enter without needing to get a visa before they travel.
A visa is an official document that gives someone permission to enter a different country. The fewer visas you need, the more powerful your passport is considered to be.
According to the 2025 edition, the South African passport allows holders to travel to 103 destinations without needing a visa in advance.
This includes countries where South Africans can enter completely visa-free, and those where a visa can be obtained upon arrival or online.
Data behind the ranking
The Henley Passport Index is put together using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
This organisation manages the world’s largest travel information database. Henley & Partners, the company that publishes the index, then adds extra research to complete the list.
The 2025 list includes 199 passports and ranks them based on access to 227 different destinations.
While South Africa is now in 48th place, the top positions in the Henley Passport Index are held by countries like Singapore, Japan, and Germany. These countries have passport holders who can travel to over 190 destinations without needing a visa.
In comparison, South Africa’s 103 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations still indicates strong mobility, especially within Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia and South America.
Being ranked higher in the passport index means less paperwork, fewer travel restrictions, and more spontaneous travel opportunities. It also reflects positively on a country’s international relations and global standing.