South Africa starts Electronic Travel Authorisation for tourists Aug. 12

Travelers using South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation will arrive with a digital permit linked to their passport rather than a traditional visitor visa.

Online applications open Aug. 12

South Africa will officially roll out the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on Aug. 12 after a pilot involving travelers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico. The system covers eligible visa-required nationals visiting for tourism or short business trips.

Applicants submit a passport scan, live selfie and payment online. Many applications may receive an instant decision, though approval isn’t guaranteed immediately. Approved travelers won’t receive a sticker in their passport.

Biometrics replace embassy paperwork

The ETA captures biometrics before departure and is designed to connect with facial-recognition checks at ports of entry. The initial public launch will take place at OR Tambo International Airport, while access through all international airports and five major land crossings is planned later in 2026.

Travelers subject to the ETA should complete the online process before departure and carry the passport used in the application. An authorisation linked to a different or replaced passport may not match at entry.

Visa-exempt travelers can skip it

Passport holders who already receive visa-free entry, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, don’t currently need an ETA. Foreign residents and work permit holders use their existing permits instead.

The ETA doesn’t create remote-work or residence rights. Nomads planning longer stays still need to check South Africa’s residency rules and the conditions attached to the appropriate permit. Eventually, the government plans to make ETA the standard application route for all visa-required tourism and short business travel.