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South Africa → United States

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Africa
To
United States
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
3,180
Change since 2018
+50.6%
Share of all arrivals in the United States, 2023
0.27%
Inflow 20233,180OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from South Africa to the United States

Inflows of nationals of South Africa recorded by the United States; stock of nationals of South Africa living there; and acquisitions of the United States' nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

2,2684,536200020032006200920122015201820212023
2,2684,5362000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20002,824
20014,090
20023,861
20032,210
20043,370
20054,536
20063,201
20072,988
20082,501
20092,908
20102,498
20112,361
20122,403
20132,261
20142,315
20152,202
20162,332
20172,312
20182,112
20192,659
20202,372
20212,386
20223,056
20233,180
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—66,067—
20233,18069,6262,160
20223,05635,4632,646
20212,38627,7042,108
20202,37228,8821,799
20192,65958,1592,647
20182,11246,6462,023
20172,31237,8951,740
20162,33237,9172,010
20152,20226,8842,350
20142,31542,7861,941
20132,26141,8322,157
20122,40340,3922,156
20112,36142,9112,421
20102,49841,3042,419
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in South Africa who live in the United States: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

81k162k19901995200020052010201520202024
81k162k19902000201020202024
Data table
199036,551
199535,154
200068,904
200594,837
201089,542
2015102,856
2020129,545
2024161,507
Estimate, 2024
161,507
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
0.31%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
55
Counted by
country of birth
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

U.S. visas

Visas issued to citizens of South Africa (fiscal years) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B233,531
  2. H2A15,512
  3. C1/D3,976
  4. J12,849
  5. H2B2,265
  6. F11,144
  7. H4943
  8. L1596
  9. L2590
  10. B1231
  11. G2214
  12. A2210

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

41k81k201720182019202020212022202320242025
41k81k20172019202120232025
Data table
201739,208
201868,946
201965,606
202035,595
202113,275
202249,823
202381,058
202476,393
202563,629
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. I5161
  2. EW110
  3. E3102
  4. IR591
  5. IR190
  6. IR289
  7. E283
  8. E143

Certified PERM cases by fiscal year (citizenship published to FY2024)

24849620082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
2484962008201120142017202020232024
Data table
2008206
2009106
2010245
2011150
2012115
201380
2014104
2015133
2016222
2017172
2018308
2019388
2020396
2021422
2022392
2023346
2024496
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards, citizenship and admissions

Green cards and naturalizations of people born in South Africa, and I-94 admissions of citizens of South Africa, by fiscal year (DHS).

Fiscal yearGreen cardsNaturalizationsI-94 admissions
20243,8802,650165,040
20233,8502,660148,550
20223,5403,00093,350
20212,7202,44029,050
20202,7302,08080,680
20193,1702,970167,390
20183,0102,270168,290
20172,9101,900155,700
20163,0202,200150,970
20152,9102,540153,290
I-94 admissions by class of admission, FY2024
  1. B225,460
  2. H2A30,300
  3. C14,160
  4. J9,300
  5. F9,170
  6. L5,810
  7. WT5,060
  8. H2B, H2R4,420
  9. G2,410
  10. O2,140
  11. L2S1,950
  12. H1B1,850
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens1,950
  2. Employment-based preferences1,690
  3. Family-sponsored preferences100
  4. Diversity visa lottery100
  5. Refugees and asylees50
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)15,240
  2. Intracompany transferees (L-1)3,160
  3. Spouses and children2,970
  4. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)2,240
  5. Specialty occupations (H-1B)1,100
  6. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)1,070
  7. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)330
  8. Other temporary workers260
Green cards, FY2024 (born in South Africa)
3,880
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in South Africa)
2,650
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
165,040
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the United States in South Africa, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
Consulate-generalCity of Cape Townza.usembassy.gov
Consulate-generalDurbanza.usembassy.gov
Consulate-generalJohannesburgza.usembassy.gov
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the United States, 2023; South Africa ranks 61.

Inflows to the United States, 2023
  1. Mexico190,560
  2. Cuba88,480
  3. India68,420
  4. Dominican Republic67,700
  5. China57,240
  6. Philippines48,690
  7. Vietnam37,040
  8. Afghanistan35,630
  9. Brazil27,440
  10. El Salvador27,280
  11. Colombia26,150
  12. Jamaica22,120
Other destinations for people from South Africa, 2023
  1. New Zealand8,667
  2. Australia5,217
  3. Netherlands4,201
  4. Germany1,478
  5. South Korea1,468
  6. Portugal773
  7. Japan629
  8. France303
  9. Belgium302
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more