South Africa: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic

Stay alert

Overall verdict for South Africa: Stay alert. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.

South Africa: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

🎁 Free, no account: Theft & scams, Driving, Jail risk

The 23 topics at a glance

Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed

Get the exact rules for your trip

This page gives you the level. The app gives you the rule, the numbers and the penalties for South Africa, offline, in 23 languages.

South Africa: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

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How South Africa compares

With 4 of 23 topics flagged red, South Africa is more relaxed than 35 of the 41 other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (regional average: 7.3). Worldwide, South Africa ranks #75 of 148 for strictness (tied with 10 other countries).

What sets it apart

Theft & scams: flagged red here, while only 12 of 148 countries are this strict.
Remote work: relaxed here, while 121 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
Medicines: relaxed here, while 119 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.

What to watch most in South Africa

🛡️ Theft & scams · Guides by topic

The friendly stranger who takes you to "a great bar" — you leave with a bill of several hundred euros.
"Your hotel is closed / burned down" from a taxi driver: he is taking you to the one paying him a commission.
The distraction pair: one spills something or asks directions, the other takes your bag.

🚗 Driving · Guides by topic

An International Driving Permit is required or strongly recommended in most non-European countries — get it before leaving, it cannot be issued abroad.
A few countries do not recognise foreign licences at all and require a local one.
Rental insurance excesses are often huge; check what a scratch actually costs you.

South Africa at a glance

CapitalPretoria

CurrencySouth African Rand (ZAR)

LanguageEnglish, Zulu, Afrikaans

Emergency number10111

Driving sideLeft

Mains voltage230 V

Calling code+27

Time zoneUTC+02:00 / UTC+03:00

Plug typesC · D · N

Land borders🇧🇼 Botswana 🇱🇸 Lesotho 🇲🇿 Mozambique 🇳🇦 Namibia 🇸🇿 Eswatini 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

Frequently asked questions

Is South Africa strict with tourists?

Overall verdict: Stay alert. 4 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Theft & scams, Driving, Jail risk, Drones), 9 require caution.

What can get me fined or arrested in South Africa?

The strictest topics for travellers in South Africa are: Theft & scams, Driving, Jail risk, Drones. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.

Where do I find the exact rules for South Africa?

In LawsTravels: open South Africa, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.

What is the emergency number in South Africa?

In South Africa, dial 10111. Capital: Pretoria. Currency: South African Rand (ZAR). Main language: English, Zulu, Afrikaans.

Which side of the road do they drive on in South Africa?

In South Africa, traffic drives on the left. Mains voltage: 230 V. Calling code: +27. Time zone: UTC+02:00 / UTC+03:00. Plug types: C · D · N.

Countries with the closest profile

🇲🇽 Mexico 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇲🇬 Madagascar 🇱🇸 Lesotho 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇦🇷 Argentina

Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.