Unveiled yesterday by South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, the upcoming electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system was presented to the public along with visuals of the online portal.
The materials reveal that the system will apply not only to travelers who currently require a visa to enter South Africa, but also to those who are visa-exempt, making entry into the country more streamlined.
The first stage of the ETA rollout will take place between September and October 2025. Initially, only G20 attendees from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico will be able to use the ETA. Online applications will open in mid-October, just ahead of the leaders’ summit scheduled for November.
If the platform proves stable, it will then be extended in 2026 to the general public in these four countries. As the South African government explained today in a statement: “The second phase will see the ETA extended next year to the general public of these countries.” Tourists from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico will be able to submit and pay for their electronic travel authorisation requests before departure, avoiding traditional visa procedures.
Authorities are planning a full rollout of the system in 2026, covering all visa-required markets.
After an initial launch limited to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo and Cape Town international airports, the ETA will gradually expand to additional entry points, including secondary airports and land border crossings.
South African officials are promising faster processing times for ETA applications. “The first taste of South Africa is when someone applies for a visa. It cannot be queues, inefficiencies and rudeness. With the ETA, outcomes can be delivered within 24 hours,” said Leon Schreiber.
The electronic travel authorisation will be valid for up to 90 days. Travelers will also be able to request a one-time 90-day extension, bringing the maximum authorized stay to 180 days. Specific details, such as application procedures, pricing, and the official portal address, have not yet been released.
South Africa’s ETA: Optional for visa-exempt travelers
According to visuals released yesterday by Minister Leon Schreiber, travelers currently exempt from visas, including citizens of Europe, the US, and Canada, will also have the option to apply for an ETA, though it will not be mandatory.
“Visa-exempt travelers can also apply for an ETA that will facilitate more efficient processing at the border, enhancing the overhall travel experience,” reads the upcoming ETA portal as shown in the minister’s presentation.
Schreiber emphasized, however, that no new requirements will be imposed on these travelers, who will retain their current entry conditions.
“This does not mean that they [Ed. Note: visa-exempt travelers] will have to do this or have an obstacle placed before them so we are going to have to think about how we get biometrics for visa-exempt travellers,” Schreiber said.
The government will need to determine how to efficiently capture biometric data from visa-exempt passengers. The minister called on the tourism sector to propose the “easiest and quickest” solutions to encourage adoption of the ETA system.
Designed as a digital alternative to traditional visas, the ETA aims both to modernize border management and to enhance the traveler experience. For visa-required nationals, it will eventually become mandatory; for visa-exempt travelers, it will serve as an additional option to make entry into South Africa smoother.
