Key takeaway: South Africa has launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) platform to digitise short-stay travel authorisations, using passport scanning, facial biometrics and automated risk assessment to improve processing speed and border security. The system is initially available at OR Tambo, Cape Town, King Shaka and Lanseria international airports, with phased expansion planned for additional ports of entry and, ultimately, more complex visa categories such as work, study and spousal visas.
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South Africa has officially launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) platform, marking a major shift towards a faster, more secure and fully digital immigration system.
The new platform, available at eta.dha.gov.za, is being introduced as a key part of the Department of Home Affairs’ broader digital transformation programme. Its purpose is to reduce visa fraud, strengthen border security and make travel to South Africa simpler for legitimate visitors, tourists and investors.
The ETA system allows travellers to create an online profile, verify their mobile number and email address, scan their passport and submit a facial photograph. Biometric technology then compares the passport image to the applicant’s selfie, while automated systems assess the authenticity of the passport and identify potential fraud or risk indicators.
According to Home Affairs, approved applicants should receive their ETA within 24 hours. The authorisation can then be stored in a digital wallet on the traveller’s smartphone.
On arrival in South Africa, travellers using the ETA will undergo facial verification at immigration control. This is intended to confirm that the person arriving at the border is the same individual who received the travel authorisation, reducing reliance on documents that can be forged or manipulated.
The system is currently available at OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, King Shaka International Airport and Lanseria International Airport. Home Affairs intends to extend the technology to land and sea ports of entry in the coming months.
The ETA was initially piloted during South Africa’s G20 Presidency for travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico. During the pilot phase, Home Affairs reported that the platform processed more than 216,000 applications and identified over 6,000 fraudulent applications involving false passports, manipulated documentation and other risk indicators.
A notable feature of the new system is that eligible short-term visitors will be able to apply online to extend their stay in South Africa by up to a further 90 days, where permitted under the Immigration Act. This could make South Africa more attractive to visitors who wish to spend longer periods in the country without navigating the traditional extension process.
Over time, the ETA is expected to become compulsory for short-stay travellers from countries whose nationals require port-of-entry visas to enter South Africa. Visa-exempt travellers may also be able to use the platform voluntarily, giving them access to dedicated ETA processing queues and a more streamlined extension process.
Home Affairs has indicated that the ETA is not intended to remain limited to visitor travel. The long-term objective is to develop it into a central digital immigration platform capable of processing more complex visa categories, including work, study and spousal visas.
For travellers and employers, the key message is that the rollout will happen in phases. Existing visa requirements do not disappear overnight, and applicants should continue to confirm the correct process for their nationality and visa category before making travel arrangements.