PassportSouth Africa

Yemen: do South Africans need a visa?

Entry to Yemen is restricted for South Africans. Read the details below first.

Not published

Restricted. A visa is required and must be approved from inside Yemen. The Yemeni Embassy in the Netherlands says entry visa requests are on hold, except for foreigners of Yemeni origin, staff of international organisations, journalists and media, and diplomats. Ordinary tourist visas are not being issued, apart from a limited e-visa for organised tour groups.12

Before you travel

Length of stay

Not published by official sources

Purpose of visit

Visas mainly for people of Yemeni origin, international organisation staff, journalists and diplomats. E-visa reportedly for tourist groups of 10 or more through accredited agencies, plus some business and transit cases.256

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Passport validity

Valid more than six months.13

Confirmed on an official government source

How to apply

Approval comes from Yemen's Immigration, Passports and Nationality Authority. Embassy applications need an invitation from that authority, a host letter, a purpose statement, a form, a photo and a medical fitness certificate for infectious diseases. The Netherlands embassy charges EUR 50 and takes about 2 weeks. An e-visa portal (yemenevisa.org, run by the Immigration, Passports and Nationality Authority) launched on 24 June 2025; reported eligibility is limited, and the visa is collected from an embassy or consulate.245

Confirmed on an official government source

Where South Africans apply

Embassy of the Republic of Yemen, 227 Murray Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria 0181. Tel 012 346 0858. Email yemen.embassy.pta@gmail.com.7

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Travel insurance

Not published by official sources

Return or onward ticket

Return ticket reported as required for the e-visa.6

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Proof of funds

Not published by official sources

Accommodation or invitation

Invitation from Yemen's Immigration, Passports and Nationality Authority plus a host letter.2

Confirmed on an official government source

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

Medical fitness certificate for infectious diseases needed for embassy visa applications. Yemen is not a yellow fever risk country, so South Africa does not require a yellow fever certificate when you return directly. US State Department reports cholera, polio and measles outbreaks.28

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

Not published by official sources

Extending your stay and overstaying

Not published by official sources

Transit

Airside transit within 24 hours with a confirmed onward flight, reported.5

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Travelling with children

Notarised parental consent required for minors' visa applications.2

Confirmed on an official government source

What changed

31 July 2026UK FCDO advises against all travel to Yemen. Since July 2026 the Houthis have struck Saudi territory and Red Sea shipping, and regional Iranian strikes raise escalation risk. Flights may be cancelled at short notice.
19 December 2025US State Department: Level 4, Do not travel (terrorism, armed conflict, kidnapping, landmines, disease).
24 June 2025Yemen's Immigration, Passports and Nationality Authority launched an e-visa portal (yemenevisa.org) in Aden with IOM support. Eligibility is limited (tour groups of 10+, some business and transit).

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Embassy of the Republic of Yemen, London yemenembassy.co.uk
  2. 2Embassy of the Republic of Yemen, The Hague yemenembassynl.org
  3. 4Ministry of Interior, Immigration, Passports and Nationality Authority of Yemen (e-visa portal) yemenevisa.org

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 3UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office gov.uk
  2. 7DIRCO (South Africa) dirco.gov.za
  3. 8US Department of State travel.state.gov

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 5Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

Commercial

Visa agencies, law firms and travel companies

  1. 6Buch-dein-Visum.de buch-dein-visum.de

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book.