San Marino: do South Africans need a visa?
South Africans need to apply for a visa before travel to San Marino. You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
San Marino has no border controls and can only be reached through Italy, so in practice a valid Schengen visa (normally Italian) is required. San Marino is not formally a Schengen member.910
Before you travel
Purpose of visit
Passport validity
Passport must be valid at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area and issued within the previous 10 years; at least two blank pages are commonly required by application centres.2
Confirmed on an official government source
How to apply
Schengen short-stay (C) visa. Fee EUR 90 adults, EUR 45 children 6-11, free under 6 (charged in ZAR at the current rate), plus the provider's service fee. Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 calendar days before travel; decision normally within 15 calendar days, up to 45 days if further checks are needed. Apply to the state of main destination (longest stay), or the first state entered if stays are equal. Biometrics (10 fingerprints, photo) taken in person; fingerprints are reused for 59 months. Multiple-entry visas of 1, 2 and up to 5 years can be issued under the Visa Code cascade to applicants with a good visa history. Apply for a Schengen visa for Italy (or your main destination).1211
Confirmed by other governments' official advice
Where South Africans apply
No San Marino visa service in SA. Apply for a Schengen visa via Italy's VFS centres (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Bloemfontein; Cape Town consulate for the Cape provinces).11
Confirmed by other governments' official advice
Travel insurance
Return or onward ticket
Applicants must show they have means to return to South Africa or travel onward; a return/onward flight reservation is standard on application-centre checklists. Border guards may ask to see it again on arrival.2
Confirmed by other governments' official advice
Proof of funds
No San Marino amount found; Italy's Schengen reference amounts apply at the external border. Applicants generally show 3 months of bank statements on application.6
Confirmed on an official government source
Accommodation or invitation
Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa
Not published by official sources
Arrival forms
Extending your stay and overstaying
Schengen visas are extended only in exceptional cases (force majeure, humanitarian or serious personal reasons) by the authorities of the state where the traveller is. Overstaying the 90/180 limit can lead to fines, removal and an entry ban; EES now records entries and exits electronically, so overstays are detected automatically.23
Not yet confirmed by an official source
Transit
South Africa is not on the EU or national airport transit visa lists, so no airport transit visa is needed when staying airside in an international transit area. Leaving the airport (or changing airports) requires a Schengen visa.7
Confirmed on an official government source
Travelling with children
Visa fee EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12; free under 6. Minors need the application signed by the person(s) with parental authority; South Africa's own exit rules for travelling minors also apply.1
Not yet confirmed by an official source
What changed
Sources
Official
The destination's own government
- 1European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- 2EUR-Lex: Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (EU Visa Code), consolidated 2020-02-02 eur-lex.europa.eu
- 3European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- 6European Commission: Reference amounts required for the crossing of the external border (table dated 08/06/2026) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- 7European Commission: airport transit visa requirements list home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
Other government
Official advice from other governments
- 11Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg consjohannesburg.esteri.it
Reference
Used to find official sources, never the final word
- 9Wikipedia: Visa policy of San Marino en.wikipedia.org
- 10Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book. Spotted something out of date? Report a change.