South Africa will launch its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system in September 2025, aimed at short-term tourists. This AI-based system is designed to eliminate border queues, fraud, and administrative burdens.
Announced last September, South Africa’s ETA is now moving into its implementation phase. Introduced this week to President Cyril Ramaphosa by Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber, the ETA will officially go live in September 2025 for visa-required tourists staying in the country for less than 90 days.
South Africa’s ETA: a presidential promise taking shape
During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the digitalization of South Africa’s immigration processes. “This year, we will launch an Electronic Travel Authorisation system to enable a secure, fully digital visa application process,” the South African president declared.
A few months later, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber presented the new ETA system to the president.
“It was my privilege to demonstrate the digital future of our immigration system to President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday. During SONA in February, the President announced that Home Affairs would build an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to digitalise visa and entry/exit processes at ports of entry,” Schreiber said on June 12.
ETA is an “AI-based system to eliminate fraud and inefficiency — forever”
The ETA, built on advanced artificial intelligence technology, will initially allow for short-stay tourist visa applications of up to 90 days. The system is set to be rolled out at South Africa’s major international airports by the end of September.
Leon Schreiber stated, “I am delighted to announce that, by the end of September, the ETA will go live for tourist visa applications shorter than 90 days and will be rolled out by the BMA at major international airports.”
“Over time, we will expand the ETA so that every type of visa application is processed only through this AI-based system to eliminate fraud and inefficiency – forever,” the Home Affairs Minister explained.
A visa for South Africa in seconds from a smartphone, but what about the existing e-Visa system?
“This is not a mockup. This is a real ETA visa, stored in my real smartphone wallet next to my bank cards and flight tickets,” the minister said, proudly showing his own electronic ETA visa generated via the new system.
“It was issued online within seconds by our new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, based on the latest tech that eliminates fraud and queues for tourist visas. Going live 09/25,” Schreiber added.
However, the new system raises questions about the future of the existing e-Visa portal at ehome.dha.gov.za, currently used by visitors from over 30 countries to apply for an electronic visa to South Africa.
The ministry has not yet commented on whether this platform will be merged with or replaced by the new ETA system. Clarification may be needed to avoid unnecessary complexity for travelers, especially those from countries already eligible for the e-Visa system introduced in 2019.
An ambitious vision for the future of immigration in South Africa
Ultimately, the ETA system is expected to become the sole gateway for all types of visa applications to South Africa. This initiative is part of a broader vision for digital transformation in public services, championed by the Department of Home Affairs.
“Through our vision for digital transformation, Home Affairs is building a tech-driven service delivery revolution that enhances national security and efficiency to grow our economy. We will not stop until we have delivered world-class systems that ensure dignity for all!”, declared Leon Schreiber.
