The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has launched South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) platform, which was designed to modernise and digitally transform South Africa’s visa and immigration system.
The ETA improves mobility and migration management in South Africa and unlocks economic growth through tourism, investment and legitimate travel, while combating visa fraud and illegal immigration.
“The ETA's features are live. We initially piloted the ETA during South Africa’s G20 Presidency [in 2025] for travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico,” Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber noted at a launch event on August 12.
Since that small-scale pilot began, the ETA has already processed 216 204 applications.
It also provides vastly enhanced security features, with 6 126 fraudulent applications identified and rejected, including cases involving fraudulent passports, manipulated documents and other indicators of fraud.
