South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation, commonly known as the ETA, is a new digital system that allows eligible travellers to apply online for authorisation to travel to South Africa without following the traditional visitor visa application process.
The South Africa ETA is currently available to eligible citizens of China, India, Indonesia and Mexico who meet the current requirements and enter South Africa through designated airports.
The Department of Home Affairs is progressively expanding the ETA as part of a broader plan to digitise South Africa’s immigration and visa system.
What is the South Africa ETA?
The Electronic Travel Authorisation is a digital travel authorisation linked to the traveller’s passport.
According to the South African Department of Home Affairs, the ETA allows prospective travellers from eligible visa required countries to travel to South Africa for tourism or visitor purposes without obtaining a traditional visitor visa.
The application process takes place online and includes passport capture, questions about the applicant and proposed trip, a live facial image for biometric purposes, payment of the relevant application fee and electronic submission.
The official system states that applicants wait for an instant outcome after submission.
Who can currently apply for a South Africa ETA?
As at 16 August 2026, the live Department of Home Affairs ETA registration system permits citizens of the following countries to proceed with an ETA application:
China
India
Indonesia
Mexico
The current registration requirements also state that the applicant must:
Be 18 years of age or older
Hold a valid ordinary passport that is not expiring within 19 months
Be entering South Africa through an approved airport
Be able to take a selfie and scan the ordinary passport using a smart device.
This is an important distinction. The ETA is operational, but it is not yet available to every visa required nationality.
Which South African airports currently accept ETA travellers?
The live ETA registration portal currently identifies three ports of entry:
OR Tambo International Airport
Cape Town International Airport
Lanseria International Airport
The ETA registration page directs travellers wishing to enter through a different port of entry to follow the standard processes.
The government is, however, expanding the underlying ETA and movement control infrastructure. In July 2026, Cabinet reported that rollout of the ETA and upgraded movement control system was underway at OR Tambo, Lanseria, King Shaka and Cape Town international airports.
Can Indian passport holders apply for a South Africa ETA?
Yes.
Indian citizens are among the four nationalities currently permitted to proceed through the South African ETA registration system, provided they satisfy the other eligibility requirements.
This represents a significant development for Indian travellers to South Africa, who have historically been required to obtain a visa before travelling.
The current ETA route can remove the need for the traditional visitor visa process for eligible travellers.
How does the South Africa ETA application work?
The Department of Home Affairs describes the ETA application process as a digital process consisting of several steps.
The applicant photographs the passport that will be used to travel to South Africa.
The applicant answers questions about themselves and their proposed trip.
A live photograph is taken for biometric purposes.
The applicable fee is paid.
The ETA application is submitted electronically for an outcome.
This represents a substantial departure from the traditional visa process involving physical documents and, in many cases, interaction with an embassy, mission or visa application centre.
Can you travel to South Africa more than once on an ETA?
The Department of Home Affairs states that an ETA is linked to the traveller’s passport and allows eligible holders to travel multiple times during the validity of the ETA.
However, the ETA is not intended for repeated extended stays in South Africa.
It also does not authorise the holder to work in South Africa.
Travellers should therefore ensure that the ETA is appropriate for the actual purpose of their visit.
How did South Africa’s ETA system begin?
The ETA forms part of the Department of Home Affairs’ wider digital transformation programme.
In September 2025, Home Affairs presented the new ETA to the tourism industry and described it as a system designed to digitalise and automate visa processing through online applications, biometric capture and automated processing.
The initial rollout was connected to South Africa’s hosting of the G20 and focused on travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico before progressing further.
By July 2026, Home Affairs confirmed that the ETA was live for short stay visitors from four countries and that further expansion was planned.
What is the difference between the ETA, eVisa and traditional South African visa process?
South Africa is currently in a period of transition between different visa processing systems.
The traditional visa process has historically required visa required travellers to submit applications through the appropriate South African mission or visa application mechanism.
South Africa subsequently introduced an electronic visa system as an earlier step towards digital visa processing.
The ETA represents a considerably broader technological change.
Home Affairs describes the ETA not simply as converting a paper form into an online form, but as replacing the underlying operating model with a modern digital immigration platform.
For travellers, this means it is important to establish which application channel currently applies to their nationality, purpose of travel and intended port of entry.
What are the advantages of the South Africa ETA?
If successfully implemented at scale, the ETA could substantially simplify travel to South Africa.
Potential advantages include online applications, biometric identity verification, faster processing, less reliance on paper documentation and reduced need for physical interaction with visa application centres or South African missions.
There is also a broader economic objective.
Making legitimate travel to South Africa easier can support tourism, business travel and investment while digital identity verification and modern border technology can strengthen immigration control.
What happens to the ETA next?
The current four country implementation is only part of the intended rollout.
In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the government intends to extend the Electronic Travel Authorisation system to all countries whose citizens require visas, with tourist applications being processed digitally within 24 hours.
The President also announced plans to extend the ETA to all international airports and the busiest land ports of entry.
In July 2026, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber went further, explaining that the Department plans to expand the ETA beyond tourist visas into additional visa categories, beginning with categories such as study visas.
The long term objective is therefore considerably larger than an online tourist visa.
The ETA is intended to develop into a comprehensive digital immigration platform through which South Africa increasingly manages immigration services.
Frequently Asked Questions about the South Africa ETA
Is the South Africa ETA currently operational?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs has a live ETA platform and the system is currently available to qualifying travellers from specified countries.
Which nationalities can currently apply for the South Africa ETA?
The live registration system currently identifies citizens of China, India, Indonesia and Mexico.
Can Indian citizens apply for the South Africa ETA?
Yes. Indian citizens are currently included, provided they meet the other ETA requirements.
Can I enter South Africa through Cape Town using an ETA?
Yes. Cape Town International Airport is currently one of the designated airports listed on the ETA registration portal.
Can I work in South Africa on an ETA?
No. The Department of Home Affairs expressly states that work in South Africa is not permitted on an ETA.
Is the ETA replacing South African visas?
The system is being progressively expanded, but it has not yet replaced every South African visa application process. President Ramaphosa has announced plans to extend it to all visa required countries, while Home Affairs has indicated that additional visa categories are intended to migrate onto the platform.
Need help with your South Africa ETA application?
The ETA may be digital, but that does not mean everyone wants to manage the application process themselves.
If you find online applications or technology challenging, would prefer someone experienced to guide you through the process, or simply do not have the time to manage the application yourself, GeMA Visa Services can assist.
Our team can guide you through the ETA application process, help ensure that the application is properly prepared and support you from start to finish.
Contact GeMA Visa Services or message us on WhatsApp on +27 63 670 7106.
About GeMA Visa Services
GeMA Visa Services is a Cape Town based immigration and visa practice assisting individuals, families and businesses with South African immigration and international visa matters.
This article has been reviewed by Gerard Meder, Managing Director of GeMA Visa Services and a former Department of Home Affairs official.
Published: 16 August 2026
Last reviewed: 16 August 2026
This information is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration and ETA requirements can change as the Department of Home Affairs progressively expands the system.
Official South African ETA portal:
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