Home Affairs rolls out new electronic visa system for South Africa
Farewell to paper visas: South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs officially introduces its new digital visa system.
Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber unveiled South Africa’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) today at the Tourism Business Council of South Africa’s Leadership Conference.
The ETA marks a major milestone in the Department of Home Affairs’ digital transformation initiative to deliver Home Affairs @ Home.
The system uses advanced machine learning to replace outdated paper-based visa processes with a fast, secure, and fully digital platform.
South Africa launches digital ETA system
With the ETA, visa applicants can:
- Apply online.
- Capture and submit biometrics.
- Receive approvals in real time.
The platform connects with the Electronic Movement Control System 2.0 (EMCS 2.0), which uses facial recognition technology at ports of entry.
The system will speed up arrivals at OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports through automated biometric checks, reducing queues while strengthening border security.
User acceptance testing will start at the end of September. In the first phase, launching in mid-October, G20 delegates from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico—four member countries whose citizens require visas to enter South Africa—will be able to apply through the ETA when travelling to OR Tambo or Cape Town International Airport.
The second phase will allow all tourists from these countries to apply through the ETA. Once fully operational, the system will act as the single entry point for all tourist visa applications worldwide.
In the coming years, the ETA will expand to include additional visa categories, with automated entry and exit using facial recognition technology implemented at every port of entry.
A boost for tourism
Minister Schreiber emphasised that the ETA is designed to eliminate long-standing visa bottlenecks while improving security. He highlighted the success of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) pilot, which brought in more than 35 000 additional tourists from China and India in just seven months.
“The ETA is set to eliminate visa barriers that have suppressed South Africa’s tourism potential for many years, while simultaneously revolutionising the security of our immigration processes.” Minister Schreiber said.