News

On 15 October, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Audra Plepytė, met with the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Lithuania, Zenani Nosizwe Dlamini, who resides in Sweden. During the meeting, the Vice-Minister emphasized the importance of South Africa's decision to include Lithuania in the list of visa-free countries for the further development and deepening of bilateral relations.

"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," said Vice-Minister Plepytė.

As of 7 October 2025, citizens of the Republic of Lithuania can travel to South Africa without a visa, provided their stay does not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period.

This decision was made by the South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, granting Lithuanian passport holders the opportunity to visit the country for short-term trips.

Visa-free travel is an important step toward strengthening people-to-people connections and promoting closer cooperation in a wide range of areas.
It also opens up new opportunities for Lithuanian businesses looking for partners or markets on the African continent, especially in areas such as renewable energy, agricultural technology, or digital services.

The meeting also discussed current issues on the international agenda. The Vice-Minister underlined the importance of respecting international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, especially in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. She expressed Lithuania's expectations for a more active contribution of the Republic of South Africa to international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Lithuania and the Republic of South Africa established diplomatic relations on 20 November 1991.