South Africa will launch a new electronic travel approval (ETA) system in September 2025 targeting short-term tourists. This AI-based system is designed to eliminate perimeter queues, fraud, and management burdens.
The South African ETA, which was announced last September, is currently in the implementation phase. Introducing this week to President Cyril Ramaphosa by Home Minister Leon Schreiber, the ETA officially lives in September 2025 for tourists who require a visa who are officially staying in the country for less than 90 days.
South Africa's ETA: Specific Presidential Promise
During the National Speech (SONA) in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the digitalization of the immigration process in South Africa. “This year we will launch an electronic travel approval system that will enable a safe and fully digital visa application process,” the South African president declared.
A few months later, Home Minister Leon Schreiber presented the president with a new ETA system.
“Yesterday it was my privilege to demonstrate the digital future of the immigration system to President Cyril Ramaphosa. During SONA in February, Home Affairs announced that it would be building an electronic travel approval (ETA) to digitize visas and admission/exit processes at ports of entry.
ETA is an “AI-based system to eliminate fraud and inefficiency.”
Built on advanced artificial intelligence technology, ETA initially allows short-term tourist visa applications up to 90 days. The system is set to be deployed at major South African international airports by the end of September.
Leon Schreiber said: “We are pleased to announce that by the end of September, ETA will be made public for shorter tourist visa applications than 90 days and will be deployed by the BMA at major international airports.”
“Over time, we will be expanding ETA to allow all kinds of visa applications to be handled only through this AI-based system, eliminating fraud and inefficiency forever,” the Home Minister explained.
A South African visa in just a few seconds from your smartphone, what about the existing e-Visa system?
“This is not a mockup. This is a real ETA visa stored in my real smartphone wallet next to my bank card and flight ticket,” the minister proudly shows his own e-ETA visa generated through the new system.
“It was issued online within seconds by a new electronic travel approval (ETA) system based on the latest technology to eliminate tourist visa fraud and queues.
However, this new system raises questions about the future of the existing e-Visa portal at ehome.dha.gov.za. It is currently used by visitors from over 30 countries to apply for e-visa in South Africa.
The ministry has not yet commented whether the platform will be integrated or replaced with the new ETA system. Clarification may be necessary to avoid unnecessary complexity from travelers, particularly countries qualifying for the e-Visa system introduced in 2019.
An ambitious vision for the future of immigrants in South Africa
Ultimately, the ETA system is expected to become the only gateway for all kinds of visa applications to South Africa. The initiative is part of the broader vision of digital transformation in public services, advocated by the Home Office.
“Through our vision of digital transformation, Home Affairs is building a technology-driven service delivery revolution to increase national security and efficiency. We will not stop until we provide a world-class system that ensures dignity for everyone!”
