South African passport

South African passport
10 other official names
  • Suid-Afrikaanse paspoort (Afrikaans)
  • iphasiphothi yaseNingizimu Afrika (Zulu)
  • incwadana yokundwendwela yaseMzantsi Afrika (Xhosa)
  • 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 Department of Home Affairs
First issued1 April 2009 (current version)
PurposeTraveling
EligibilitySouth African citizenship
Expiration10 years after acquisition for adults, 5 years for children
CostR600 (32page) / R1200 (48page)

A South African passport (also colloquially referred to as the 'Green Mamba' or the 'Biltong Book' 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. A South African passport is a valid proof of citizenship document according to South African nationality law. As of January 2025, citizens of South Africa enjoyed visa-free access to 103 countries, of which some countries may require pre-travel registration according to the Henley Passport Index.

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