South Africa will officially launch its Electronic Travel Authorisation system on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, as the government moves to digitise immigration procedures and speed up the processing of international travellers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to launch the system at OR Tambo International Airport, following a pilot programme that began in October 2025 during South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation, known as ETA, is a digital pre-travel authorisation electronically linked to a traveller’s passport. It incorporates biometric verification and is designed to strengthen border security while reducing processing times at immigration checkpoints. For nationals of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter South Africa, the ETA will become mandatory once their nationality is added to the platform.
The system will operate alongside South Africa’s upgraded Electronic Movement Control System, eMCS 2.0, which is being used to improve the country’s management of passenger movements across its borders. The ETA does not constitute a work permit and does not authorise a traveller to take up employment in South Africa.
Existing Arrangements Remain in Place For Visa Exempt Travellers
For travellers from visa-exempt countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and European Union countries, existing entry arrangements remain in place. Eligible visitors can continue to travel to South Africa for stays of up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.
An ETA is not currently mandatory for visa-exempt travellers. However, travellers who voluntarily obtain one will have access to dedicated immigration lanes intended to facilitate faster processing on arrival.
The ETA is currently supported at OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Lanseria International Airport, with the government expected to extend the system to additional ports of entry.
Applications are made online through the official South African Electronic Travel Authorisation platform and require travellers to provide passport and travel information as well as biometric information, including a live photograph. The system has been free during its pilot phase. However, the government has proposed an application fee of R500, approximately $30, although the fee has not yet been finalised.
The official launch at OR Tambo International Airport will include a demonstration of the system and a guided tour. Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber and Border Management Authority Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato are expected to attend. The introduction of the ETA forms part of the Department of Home Affairs’ wider digital transformation programme aimed at modernising South Africa’s immigration system.
