South Africa Overhauls Visa and Identity Systems in Major Home Affairs Digital Push
South Africa's Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, last week unveiled a sweeping digital transformation programme at a keynote address at Constitution Hill, announcing that the country's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) platform is now live for short-stay visa applications from 53 countries, with processing times cut from several weeks to just 24 hours. The minister also confirmed that Smart ID replacement services are now available at 515 bank branches nationwide, with the network set to exceed 1 000 service points by end of 2026 - a near five-fold expansion on the 214 locations that existed prior to the Government of National Unity.
Among the headline announcements with direct implications for tourism and travel, the Green ID book will cease production on 31 March 2027 and will no longer be recognised as valid identification from 31 March 2028, with a nationwide campaign to support the transition to Smart ID. Work and study visa categories will be added to the ETA platform in early 2027, and a biometrically-secured ePassport is in development, with the government intending to pursue expanded visa-free access for South African travellers once the system is fully operational. Automated border gates linked to ETA biometrics are also planned for all ports of entry, alongside a R12.5 billion public-private partnership to reconstruct South Africa's six busiest land border posts as no-stop facilities.
Source: Government of South Africa
