South Africa passport → San Marino

San Marino visa for South African citizens

Visa required

Visa required

South African citizens need a visa for San Marino, arranged before the trip. San Marino can only be reached through Italy and has no border controls; Schengen rules apply: 90 days in any 180 across all Schengen countries, with fingerprints and a photo at your first Schengen entry under EES; ETIAS has not started yet.

Official details are shown in English.

Status
Visa required
Max stay
Not fixed in our data
Last checked
30 October 2026

What it means in practice

Apply well before the trip: visa processing for San Marino depends on the embassy or consulate handling your application. The length of stay is the one printed on your visa.

How San Marino counts your stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together; the days of entry and exit both count. Visa holders are also limited to the dates and number of days on the visa. EES counts the days automatically and flags overstays.

Before you go

Official details are shown in English.

  • Schengen visa (Italy / San Marino) — Cost: €90; children 6–11: €45; under 6: free; Processing: Usually up to 15 calendar days, up to 45 in some cases; Validity: As stated on the visa; single or multiple entry; Stay: Up to 90 days in any 180, within the days shown on the visa. Apply on the official site
  • Schengen short-stay visa (type C) — No earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before the trip; €90; children 6–11: €45; under 6: free (visa centre service fee extra). San Marino has no visa of its own for short stays: apply for an Italian Schengen visa (vistoperitalia.esteri.it) or at the mission of the Schengen country of your main destination. Apply to the Schengen country where you will spend the most time (or enter first if the time is equal). Typical documents: application form, photo, passport issued within the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, travel medical insurance (€30,000), bookings, accommodation and proof of funds. A decision usually takes up to 15 calendar days and can take up to 45. Official site
  • Travel medical insurance (min. €30,000) — Before applying for the visa / before departure; Depends on insurer. Must cover emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation and medical repatriation, be valid in all Schengen countries and cover the whole stay. Official site

At the border

Official details are shown in English.

  • Passport issued within the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen area
  • No border control on the way in from Italy; you are checked (and registered in EES) when entering the Schengen area, e.g. at an Italian airport
  • You may be asked about the purpose of the trip, accommodation, a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds
  • Visa holders: carry the travel medical insurance policy
  • Customs rules are the same as Italy's

How to avoid overstaying

  • Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
  • Extend before you run out. If you stay more than 30 days or plan to work, register with the Gendarmerie and get a permit of stay.
  • What overstaying costs. EES counts the days automatically and flags overstays.

Good to know

Official details are shown in English.

  • Holders of a residence permit or long-stay (D) visa issued by a Schengen country can travel in other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180 without a separate visa.

Questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for San Marino?

South African citizens need a visa for San Marino, arranged before the trip.

Can I extend my stay in San Marino?

If you stay more than 30 days or plan to work, register with the Gendarmerie and get a permit of stay.

What do I need at the border in San Marino?

Passport issued within the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen area; No border control on the way in from Italy; you are checked (and registered in EES) when entering the Schengen area, e.g. at an Italian airport; You may be asked about the purpose of the trip, accommodation, a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds.

When was this checked?

Bordr last checked the entry rules for San Marino against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.

Sources and last check

Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.

Includes visa data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 1 November 2026; Bordr's official-source checks take precedence.

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