The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania has announced that, effective 07 October 2025, Lithuanian citizens can now travel to South Africa without a visa. Under the new policy introduced by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, Lithuanian passport holders may enter the country for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, making it easier than ever to explore one of Africa’s most diverse travel destinations.
According to Audra Plepyt, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, “this long-awaited decision opens up new opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties, promote tourism, cultural exchanges, academic cooperation, and business contacts between Lithuania and the Republic of South Africa.”
The new visa exemption for Lithuanian travellers to South Africa is expected to boost visitor arrivals, encourage investment, and foster closer cooperation between the two nations. South Africa now joins the growing list of non-EU countries granting visa-free access to Lithuanian citizens.
However, the agreement is not reciprocal. South African passport holders are still required to apply for a Schengen visa when travelling to Lithuania or other countries in the Schengen Area.
While South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has not yet updated its official “Visa Exempt Countries” list to reflect the newest changes, a formal government circular dated 03 September 2025 confirms that Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Latvia, Estonia, and Croatia have also been added to South Africa's visa-free list for holders of ordinary passports. The update has been communicated through South African diplomatic missions in Europe, and several embassies have already published the exemption details on their official websites. Although the change may not yet appear on the Department’s public listings, it is considered official and effective, marking another step in South Africa's ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with EU member states and boost tourism for European travellers.
South Africa opens visa-free entry for Estonian travellers! [update] >>
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