South Africa is moving its visa system firmly into the digital era with the launch of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) designed to simplify entry and attract more visitors.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the initiative this week, saying the new process will remove longstanding barriers for travellers and create a better first impression of the country. ‘Forget queues and endless paperwork,’ he told reporters, according to MyBroadband.
Pilot begins in September
Testing for the ETA will begin at the end of September, with the first phase rolling out in mid-October. Initially, it will apply to G20 delegates from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico arriving at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport. By November, the system is expected to open to all tourists from these four nations.
Schreiber said the ultimate goal is to extend the ETA to all visa-required travellers once the system proves stable. The new service will integrate with an upgraded electronic border control platform featuring facial recognition to speed arrivals, cut queues and strengthen airport security.
Broader visa reforms under way
The ETA is part of a broader effort to modernise South Africa’s entry requirements. The Home Affairs Department has been testing several online visa schemes this year.
The Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) has already attracted an additional 35,000 visitors from China and India, while the Meetings, Exhibitions and Events Travel Support (MEETS) programme is tailored for major conferences, sporting events and exhibitions.
Another initiative, STAGES, targets global entertainment professionals. Schreiber acknowledged that South Africa recently lost a Netflix production worth about R400 mn to Mexico because of visa delays, a setback the STAGES programme is designed to prevent.
Industry support for change
Hospitality leaders have welcomed the reforms. ‘These categories aren’t just paperwork tweaks, they’re real economic game-changers,’ said Rosemary Anderson, national chair of industry body Fedhasa.
Tourism operators believe the streamlined system will help position South Africa as a competitive destination for international travellers and big-budget productions. With the ETA and related schemes, the government signals a clear message: South Africa is open for business.
Credit: Africabriefing
