South Africa Unveils New ETA Digital Travel System: Key Details You Need to Know

The South African government unveiled its long-awaited Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system this morning, designed to digitise entry procedures for short-term tourism stays. The initiative was announced by Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber and will launch on 25 September 2025, with a phased rollout targeting visa-required G20 travelers, followed by broader eligibility in the weeks after.

South Africa is set to host the G20 summit from 22–23 November, marking a historic first for the continent.

How the ETA system works

Replacing traditional paper visas, the ETA enables travelers to:

• apply online via a dedicated portal (URL to be announced at launch);

• submit biometric data (live selfie photograph);

• upload a passport scan;

• complete a simplified travel form; and

• receive near-instant approval through automated AI validation.

According to officials, applications can be lodged before departure, with decisions and digital documents returned within minutes after "nearly 40 different checks." Approved ETAs appear as QR codes in mobile wallets—such as Google Wallet or Apple Wallet—for seamless arrival verification and mobility, as demonstrated by the minister on X:

https://twitter.com/Leon_Schreib/status/1933177449032171834

Phased rollout schedule

• 25 September 2025: User Acceptance Testing begins.

• Mid-October 2025: First phase launch for delegation arrivals from four G20 countries requiring visas (China, India, Indonesia, Mexico) at OR Tambo (Johannesburg) and Cape Town airports.

• Late November 2025: After the G20 leaders' meeting, the second phase extends ETA eligibility to all tourists from the same four countries.

• Subsequent phases (following years): Gradual expansion to all visa-required countries and other visa categories, with automated facial-recognition checks at every port of entry.

Stay rules and ports of entry

The ETA permits multiple entries for up to 90 days, renewable once for an additional 90 days. Extensions beyond this window, work permits, and student visas remain unavailable under the ETA scheme.

Initially, only passengers arriving at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport and Cape Town International Airport can use the system. Full lists of affected nationalities will be published at launch; foreign nationals currently exempt from visa requirements (e.g., Western passports) are not within scope in the short or medium term.

The Minister has occasionally referred to the system as an "ETA Visa," though the two instruments serve different purposes.

https://twitter.com/Leon_Schreib/status/1968591492336746953

Digital integration and enhanced controls

Beyond downloadable PDFs, ETAs can be stored in mobile wallets (e.g., Google Wallet, Apple Wallet). Applicants must also complete a customs declaration through the South African Revenue Service (SARS) before travel.

Modernisation efforts include the rollout of facial-recognition technology and automated checks at all ports of entry to curb fraud and enforce short-term stay limits. At present, the government has not announced the ETA fee or official application URL. Typical short-stay visa fees in South Africa average around 36 USD, but exact costs are pending official publication.

Stay up to date: recent visa-exemption agreements with Romania, Croatia, Latvia, and Estonia (announced September 2025) expand the roster of visa-free visitors.

South Africa’s ETA can be stored directly on a mobile wallet.