Starting September 2025, South Africa will begin digital travel approval (ETA) to digitize the issuance of tourist visas. For now, this measure does not apply to Visa-exempt Travellers, but questions have already been raised about future expansions.
South Africa recently announced the launch of its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system in September 2025. The purpose of this system is to digitize and streamline the issuance of tourist visas in the first example.
In reality, travelers who require a visa must apply online before departure, reducing current E-VISA processing times and procedures related to the embassy. The system will also enhance border control while encouraging the entry of licensed visitors, South African authorities said.
In a budget speech yesterday before the National Council of State, South Africa's Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber detailed the roadmap for the ETA project and presented the system to President Cyril Ramaphosa, before expressing his confidence that “we will begin this world-class innovation by the end of September at the same time as a meeting of G20 leaders.”
ETA South Africa: No changes to Visa-Exempt Travellers (for now?)
Leon Schreiber said, “We will begin rolling out our digital tourist visa ETA system by the end of September.
The Minister also highlights the evolving nature of the system and suggests its widespread implementation. “Over time, ETAs will expand to more visa categories and deploy with more entry ports.
Emphasizing the purpose of transparency and security, Leon Schreiber added: “This system system eliminates spaces of interference, corruption, or delay by using machine learning to automate applications, arbitration and communications for all visa processes.”
“To ensure that ETAs work best, we must link to all ports of entry so that we cannot enter our country unless biometrics are recorded and do not match the application,” the minister said.
Therefore, these announcements leave uncertainty regarding the expansion of the ETA, particularly in the visas, particularly travelers currently exempt from Europeans, as well as in the future, as well as potentially likely to be affected by this electronic procedure.
Leon Schreiber simply said that the list of exact nationalities that require this approval will only be made public when the ETA is officially launched.
South African tourism experts are cautious and involved
In other countries, ETAs were specifically designed for travelers who are exempt from visas, as in the US, UK, South Korea and Israel, turning the freedom to enter without prior procedures into paid and controlled electronic obligations.
For the time being, the ETA will only apply to travelers who require a visa to visit Rainbow Nation, but this states that the trajectory is concerned…
In South Africa, this possibility is already worrying experts who fear that the system will ultimately apply to all travelers.
David Frost, CEO of SATSA (South African Tourism Services Association), believes that “there is no reason to apply ETA to countries that already have no visas for short stays,” warning the need for a system that has been “consulted, transparent and thoroughly tested.” Govacation Africa CEO Sabine Blehle points out the risk of discouraging “voluntary travel.” She believes that solid educational materials are essential to avoid losing visitors. Onnebetter, the head of the Wild Wings Safari, is on the way further. For him, applying the ETA to Visa-Exempt travelers is equivalent to “introducing a visa process to Visa-exempt Courts.” The lack of details about the categories of travellers involved and how the system works “doesn't work for a smooth, well-communication rollout,” Vegter said.
