Visas & Entry Requirements for Southern Africa

Updated 8 October 2026 · Entry rules checked 8 October 2026

Crossing borders is part of the fun of a Southern Africa trip: a week in Cape Town, a drive into the mountains of Lesotho, a few nights at Victoria Falls. Each of the eight countries we cover sets its own entry rules, and several changed in 2025 and 2026. This page brings the official rules together, with the date we checked each one and links to the government sources. Rules can change at short notice, so check the official page for your passport before you book.

What changed recently

  • South Africa: since 1 July 2026, everyone entering or leaving South Africa, including South Africans, must complete an online traveller declaration of goods and currency with SARS before travel (SARS, updated 19 August 2026).
  • Mozambique: UK and many other visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel, paid online only (UK FCDO, updated 20 August 2026).
  • Namibia: UK visitors have needed a visa since 1 April 2025, as an e-visa or on arrival (UK FCDO).
  • Zambia: 53 more nationalities became visa-free from 1 January 2025 (Zambia Department of Immigration, 25 December 2024).

At a glance: UK passport holders

The UK Foreign Office publishes a dated entry page for every country here, so we use it as the common reference. Canadian rules are close and noted where they differ.

Country Visa (UK passport) Stay Passport validity Blank pages
South Africa Not needed Up to 90 days 30 days after departure 2
Lesotho Not needed Up to 90 days 90 days after arrival 4 (you also pass through South Africa)
Eswatini Not needed 30 days 3 months after arrival 2, plus 2 if also visiting South Africa
Botswana Not needed Up to 90 days 6 months after arrival 3
Namibia Required: e-visa or on arrival As requested 6 months after arrival 3
Zimbabwe Required: e-visa or on arrival Usually 30 days 6 months after arrival 3
Zambia Not needed 90 days in any 12 months (business 30) 6 months after arrival 2
Mozambique ETA required before travel Up to 30 days 6 months after arrival 2

UK FCDO entry requirements pages (updated between 10 December 2025 and 7 October 2026). Checked 8 October 2026.

Tip for multi-country trips: Canada’s travel advice asks for 6 months’ validity beyond your departure date for several of these countries, stricter than the UK wording. Travelling with at least 6 months left and plenty of blank pages avoids problems at any border; each crossing between South Africa and Lesotho or Eswatini uses stamps on both sides.

Country by country

South Africa

  • Visa-free for 90 days for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, and for most EU nationals (Department of Home Affairs exempt-countries list, updated 9 December 2025).
  • Need a visa? Nationals who need one can apply through Home Affairs’ online visa portal.
  • Traveller declaration: complete it before you travel on the SARS traveller declaration page or the SARS MobiApp; parents complete it for their children. SARS mentions no fee.
  • Currency: declare more than R25,000 per person, or foreign currency worth more than US$10,000 (SARS, 19 August 2026).
  • Travelling with children: children who are foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries need only a valid passport, though Home Affairs may ask to see supporting documents. South African children, including dual nationals, need a birth certificate showing their parents; if one parent is absent, carry that parent’s consent letter (no older than 6 months) and a copy of their ID. Unaccompanied children need more; see the Home Affairs rules for children (rules in force since 1 December 2018).

Lesotho

  • UK passport holders: no visa needed for up to 90 days. A 90-day temporary permit is available from the Visa Application Centre at the Manthabiseng Convention Centre in Maseru.
  • Other passports: Canada’s own advice differs on stay length, and Lesotho’s online visa service is suspended, so check with a Lesotho embassy before you travel.
  • You enter through South Africa, so South Africa’s rules (including the traveller declaration and the rules for children) apply on the way in and out. Allow 4 blank pages.
  • Driving a hired car from South Africa: carry a letter of authorisation from the rental company. Routes such as Sani Pass need a 4×4 (Canada travel advice, 26 May 2026).
  • See our guide to the Caledonspoort border post for crossing times and paperwork.

Eswatini

  • UK and Canadian passport holders: no visa needed for up to 30 days. The Ministry of Home Affairs can extend this by 30 days; longer stays need a temporary residence permit.
  • Driving in: expect a customs declaration form and a road fund levy of E150 (E80 for motorcycles), payable in rand. Carry the original vehicle registration papers and a warning triangle (UK FCDO, 10 December 2025).
  • If you travel through South Africa, carry the documents South Africa asks for, including for children.

Botswana

  • UK and Canadian passport holders: no visa needed for up to 90 days. Make sure your passport is stamped on entry.
  • Children under 18: carry an original or certified full birth certificate on entry and exit. If a parent is not travelling, bring their consent in an affidavit (UK FCDO, 1 June 2026).
  • Currency: declare cash worth P10,000 or more.

Namibia

  • UK passport holders: a visa has been required since 1 April 2025, either as an e-visa through the Ministry of Home Affairs portal or on arrival. The fee is N$1,600 (age 12 and over), N$800 (ages 6 to 11) and free for under-6s (UK FCDO, 10 December 2025).
  • Canadian passport holders: a tourist visa is available online or on arrival at designated ports, including Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek.
  • Children: carry a full (unabridged) birth certificate showing both parents, original or certified; abridged copies are refused. If travelling with one parent, bring an affidavit of consent from the other.
  • Driving: get an International Driving Permit before you arrive; it cannot be issued in Namibia (Canada travel advice, 26 May 2026).

Zimbabwe

  • No visa: nationals of the seven other countries on this page (Zimbabwe Department of Immigration, Category A).
  • Visa on arrival or e-visa: UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders and several EU nationalities, including Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Ireland (Category B). The UK says a visa on arrival is usually granted for 30 days, paid in small US dollar notes. Apply ahead on the official Zimbabwe e-visa site.
  • Zimbabwe asks visitors to complete its Entry Declaration Form before travelling.
  • Currency: declare US$10,000 or more. Leaving with more than US$2,000 in cash is illegal (UK FCDO, 15 July 2026).

Zambia

  • Visa-free: UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, EU nationals including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Ireland, and nationals of the seven other countries here (Zambia Department of Immigration). Arriving by air you need a return ticket; by land, enough funds for your stay.
  • Stay: up to 90 days in any 12 months for UK visitors (30 days for business). Canada notes that officers may grant less, so check your entry stamp.
  • Visas for other nationalities go through the Zambia e-services portal.
  • Departure tax: US$25 on international flights and US$3 on domestic flights (UK FCDO, 1 June 2026).

Mozambique

  • ETA before travel: UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders and many EU nationals (including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland) need an Electronic Travel Authorisation for stays of up to 30 days, applied for and paid on the official Mozambique e-visa portal. The UK puts the total at about US$47 (a US$37 fee plus 650 MZN processing), payable online only, not at the border.
  • Apply early: the UK advises applying at least 5 working days ahead; Canada says at least 48 hours. Carry a printed copy and proof of payment, and be ready to show accommodation, onward travel and funds.
  • No ETA needed: nationals of the seven other countries on this page are visa-exempt (Mozambique e-visa portal).
  • Children: carry an unabridged birth certificate listing both parents. If travelling with one parent, bring a notarised consent affidavit from the other, no older than 3 months (UK FCDO); Canada advises a Portuguese translation.
  • Currency: declare 10,000 MZN or more in cash, or foreign cash or cheques worth US$5,000 or more.
  • Driving: carry third-party insurance, an International Driving Permit, two reflective triangles and a reflective vest (Canada travel advice, 13 July 2026).

KAZA UNIVISA for Victoria Falls

The KAZA UNIVISA costs US$50 and covers multiple visits to Zambia and Zimbabwe for up to 30 days in any 12 months, plus day trips into Botswana through the Kazungula crossing. It suits travellers who want to see Victoria Falls from both sides. On the Zambian side it is issued at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone, and the Victoria Falls and Kazungula borders, and it is also available online (Zambia Department of Immigration; UK FCDO). Checked 8 October 2026.

Yellow fever certificates

None of the eight countries is on the UK’s list of countries with yellow fever risk. You need a vaccination certificate only if you arrive from, or have transited through, a country with yellow fever risk, such as Kenya, Uganda, Angola or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our Health & Safety guide covers vaccines and malaria. Checked 8 October 2026.

Driving across borders

Ask your rental company for cross-border authorisation before you set off; Lesotho asks for a rental-company authorisation letter, and Canada’s advice says foreigners driving a rental car out of South Africa need a permit from the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency. Each country also has its own equipment rules (above). Our border guides cover individual crossings.

Frequently asked questions

Do UK citizens need a visa for South Africa?

No. UK passport holders can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. You need a passport valid for at least 30 days after departure with 2 blank pages, and you must complete the SARS online traveller declaration before you travel (checked 8 October 2026).

Do I need a visa for Lesotho?

UK passport holders do not need a visa for up to 90 days. Other nationalities should check with a Lesotho embassy, as the online visa service is suspended (checked 8 October 2026).

Do I need a visa for Mozambique?

Most visitors from outside Southern Africa, including UK, US and EU travellers, need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travel, for stays of up to 30 days. Nationals of South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are exempt (checked 8 October 2026).

Do UK citizens need a visa for Namibia?

Yes, since 1 April 2025. Get an e-visa online or a visa on arrival; the fee is N$1,600 for adults (UK FCDO, checked 8 October 2026).

What is the KAZA UNIVISA?

A US$50 visa for Zambia and Zimbabwe, valid for up to 30 days in any 12 months, with day trips to Botswana through Kazungula. It suits visitors to Victoria Falls (checked 8 October 2026).

How many blank passport pages do I need?

It varies from 2 to 4 by country: 2 for South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique, 3 for Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, and 4 for Lesotho because you also pass through South Africa. For a multi-country trip, add up the countries on your route (UK FCDO, checked 8 October 2026).

Sources

Last checked 8 October 2026.

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