Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
Amid a groundbreaking change in South Africa's approach to immigration management, the country plans to implement a mandatory digital visa system for all participants. Home Minister Leon Schreiber recently outlined the changes when he presented the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, highlighting that the new system will make Visa a completely digital process. Under the new system, Schreiber has confirmed that he will not be allowed to enter South Africa without first securing a digital visa through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system.
This move towards digitalisation is a critical step in South Africa's immigration policy. The electronic travel approval is scheduled to begin at the end of September 2025 and, in line with a conference of G20 leaders, marks a symbolic moment in South Africa's global involvement. The new system will focus on travelers arriving in the air, initially or at Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. Over time, it is expected to expand to include additional visa categories and other ports of entry, allowing the country to streamline and modernize the entire visa process.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (DHA) has made great strides in immigration reform in recent months. A main example of this is the success of a new online trusted tour operator scheme, which has since February 2025 enabled more than 17,000 tourists from China and India to secure visas online. This shift not only simplified the visa application process, but also had economic consequences. According to a study in Operation Vulindlela, these reforms created around 1,230 new jobs within South Africa. This suggests the potential for South Africa's immigration system to contribute significantly to the economy by facilitating visits for tourists and reducing the burden of bureaucracy on businesses and tourists.
The introduction of ETA marks the beginning of the end of traditional visa procedures, including the use of paper formats and handwritten documents. Schreiber has revealed that old ways of handling visas are unsustainable, plagued by corruption, fraud and illegal immigration. Powered by machine learning and cutting-edge technology, digital systems automate the entire process from application submission to arbitration and communication with applicants. Schreiber emphasized that the new system will not only streamline operations, but will help combat the issues of fraud and corruption that have long been associated with traditional immigration practices.
One of the core goals of the new visa system is to improve management of skilled immigrants. A trusted employer scheme (TES) has already proven effective at attracting skilled workers to South Africa. For example, in one example, the company successfully brought in 246 software engineers under this scheme. Similarly, South Africa's electricity utility Eskom introduced 147 nuclear engineers to help restore the Kemberg nuclear power plant. This plays an important role in stabilizing the country's electricity grid. The success of these programs highlights the value of skilled immigrants in supporting South Africa's growth and development.
The government has also seen an increase in participation in TES. Currently, 71 companies from various sectors are participating in the programme, with interest in leveraging schemes that guide highly qualified professionals. The success of TES, combined with the development of ETA, underscores its commitment to contributing to South Africa's economic and technological advancement in attracting the best talent from around the world.
In addition to skilled immigration, the government is also paying attention to strengthening tourism. Schreiber announced that the trustworthy tour operator scheme has added 45 new companies to its second intake, further strengthening the growth prospects of South Africa's tourism sector. The scheme is part of a broader effort to improve tourism infrastructure, make it easier for tourists to visit South Africa and ensure that it is a competitive destination in the global tourism market.
The ETA system plays a central role in these efforts. By digitizing the visa process, it is expected to remove many barriers that previously prevented tourists from applying for visas. Schreiber emphasized that the government is ready to embrace digital innovation as a way to solve some of the country's most pressing social challenges included in the Immigration and Tourism Bureau. With the fully digital visa system in place, South Africa can remain competitive in the rapidly evolving global landscape, with many countries increasingly turning to digital solutions to manage immigration and border security.
Beyond immigration and tourism, the Home Office also focuses on improving access to services within South Africa. The department has already successfully completed a pilot project to provide smart ID and passport services at 30 bank branches. The pilot has proven popular and effective, and there are currently plans to expand the initiative to 1,000 branches nationwide. This expansion will allow citizens to easily access important Home Affairs services, close to where they live, making them more convenient and efficient. The plans to deploy these services at scale represent the sector's ongoing efforts to modernize and improve the experiences of South African citizens.
The ETA system is not just a change in the way South Africa manages immigration. This reflects the large trend towards digitalization in both government services and private sector operations. By leveraging technology to improve efficiency and reducing the likelihood of fraud, South Africa has established itself as a leader in migrant digital management. The transition to a fully digital visa system not only improves the user experience of international travelers, but also provides South African authorities with better tools to monitor and manage migration flows, ensuring the borders of the country while encouraging people and ideas movements.
The implementation of ETA systems could have a greater impact on other countries' relationships with countries. South Africa is expected to modernize its visa process and promote stronger ties with countries like China and India, which are benefiting from the new, reliable tour operator scheme, to make it easier for tourists, business travelers and skilled workers to enter the country. These countries represent some of South Africa's most important trade and tourism partners, and the new system could make it easier for individuals from these countries to visit South Africa.
Government investment in digital infrastructure is not limited to the immigration process. The promotion of digital innovation is spreading across a wide range of government services, including the deployment of digital ID cards and passports. These efforts to adopt digital solutions are part of a broader strategy to streamline government services, reduce costs and improve service delivery for both citizens and visitors. The digital move is seen as a way to build trust in government agencies, ensuring that the right systems are transparent, efficient and safe.
Schreiber's ETA announcement is just part of a broader vision of modernizing South Africa's approach to immigration, tourism and government services. The implementation of ETAs and the expansion of reliable employer schemes demonstrate the government's commitment to creating a more dynamic and competitive environment for skilled workers and tourists. By adopting digital technology and improving access to services, South Africa has established itself as an attractive destination for both international talent and global tourists.
With the country preparing for the deployment of ETA systems in September 2025, the focus will be on ensuring that the system works smoothly and that travelers are well informed about the new requirements. The government could launch a wide range of public awareness campaigns to help travelers understand the new process and the benefits it offers. Moving to a fully digital visa system may require some adjustment, but there is a promise to make South Africa a more accessible, competitive and safe destination for travelers and immigrants.
In conclusion, South Africa has embarked on a bold new chapter in immigration policy, moving to a complete digital visa system that promises to streamline processes, enhance security and reduce the likelihood of fraud. The implementation of ETAs is a major step in this direction, with the continued expansion of trusted employer schemes and other digital initiatives poised South Africa to become a leader in digital management for immigrants. This shift not only benefits tourists and skilled workers, but also contributes to the country's economic growth and development, providing a blueprint for other countries looking to modernize their immigration system.
Tags: digital visa, electronic travel approval, ETA system, interior affairs, immigration reform, immigration technology, international travel, public services digitalization, skilled immigration, South Africa, South Africa economy, South African immigration, South African travel, tourism, reliable employer scheme, visa change, visa process
