South Africa launches ETA portal – phased rollout starts with G20 delegates
South Africa’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) portal has gone live as the first step in a phased rollout to all visa‑requiring markets. The launch initially covers G20 delegates from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico entering via OR Tambo and Cape Town international airports, with access to be extended to all travellers from those four countries if systems remain stable, and to all visa‑requiring nationalities from 2026.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, 85% of applications are processed automatically using AI‑powered risk assessment, with a target turnaround of 24 hours for eligible categories. The system includes biometric enrolment and verification, real‑time status sharing with airlines and border control, end‑to‑end encryption and POPIA compliance, and the department is exploring options to capture biometrics from visa‑exempt travellers. The move signals a step towards faster, more predictable entry processing for key source markets and the wider trade.
Source: Tourism Update
