South Africa's ETA Draws Industry Scrutiny Over Fees and Consultation
South Africa's Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has launched the country's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system at OR Tambo International Airport, positioning it as a streamlined, fully digital entry platform for both visa-required and visa-exempt travellers. Schreiber says the system offers faster immigration processing through pre-verification and facial recognition, removing the need for physical stamps, and will eventually consolidate all visa categories - including eVisas and the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme - into a single platform.
However, industry stakeholders are raising concerns over the proposed R500 processing fee and what they describe as insufficient consultation ahead of the system's broader rollout. Candice Magen, Founder and Director of Abroadscope and Visas Abroad, warned that travellers and trade partners remain unclear on what the fee delivers in practical terms - whether that is priority processing, pre-departure confirmation of entry requirements, or reduced airport wait times. Magen cautioned that confusion at the point of entry ultimately damages South Africa's reputation as a destination, adding that the industry supports modernising immigration processes but needs to be meaningfully included in the conversation. Schreiber noted the system has processed 216,000 applications since October, rejecting 6,100 fraudulent or non-qualifying submissions, and expressed confidence in a phased rollout approach to manage any teething issues.
Source: Tourism Update
