THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
South Africa has officially launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, a major overhaul of the country’s visa and entry system that is intended to make travel faster while strengthening border security.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched the system at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on 12 August 2026, describing the reform as part of the government’s wider programme to remove barriers to tourism, trade and investment and create more opportunities for economic growth and jobs.
“The Electronic Travel Authorisation system will make travel to South Africa easier, faster, and more predictable,” Ramaphosa said at the launch. “It will encourage tourism, support trade, attract investment, and facilitate skills and knowledge exchange.”
He described the reform as “far more than the introduction of a new digital platform,” calling it “a statement about the kind of country we are building” and “another important milestone in South Africa’s journey towards becoming a modern, capable and competitive state.”
The launch follows a successful pilot run during South Africa’s G20 Presidency, which the Department of Home Affairs says processed more than 85,000 applications.
The system is being developed by the Department of Home Affairs as a digital alternative to traditional paper-based visa processes. It allows eligible travellers to apply online before travelling, with biometric checks and automated risk assessment carried out digitally.
Which nationalities are currently eligible?
The ETA currently applies only to nationals of China, India, Indonesia and Mexico — the four countries included in the initial pilot and launch phase.
These are the four G20 countries whose citizens require visas to visit South Africa. They were selected as the pilot because South Africa hosted the G20 during 2025.
The government has also said the ETA programme is intended to eventually extend to travellers from all countries that currently require a visa to enter South Africa, meaning many African nationalities would ultimately be included as the rollout continues.
The best approach is to check the official South African ETA portal (https://eta.dha.gov.za/) before making travel arrangements.
What is the ETA?
The Electronic Travel Authorisation is a digital travel authorisation linked to the traveller’s passport.
Instead of having to visit a South African embassy, consulate or visa application centre for an eligible visitor visa, the applicant can complete the process online.
The system then uses biometric technology, passport verification and automated risk analysis to assess the application. If approved, the ETA is delivered electronically and can be stored on a smartphone.
The South African government says approved applicants should receive an outcome within 24 hours, although travellers should apply well in advance because some applications may require additional assessment.
Which airports can ETA travellers use?
At the official launch, Home Affairs said the system would initially be available to travellers arriving at OR Tambo, Cape Town International and Lanseria International airports, with King Shaka International in Durban also included in the wider rollout.
The government intends to extend the system to land and sea ports in the coming months as biometric and electronic movement-control infrastructure is expanded.
The bigger picture
The ETA is presented by government as the flagship reform in the Department of Home Affairs’ digital transformation programme, and forms part of a broader push to remove administrative obstacles to economic growth.
Officials argue that a faster, more predictable entry system will make South Africa more attractive to tourists, business travellers, investors and skilled workers alike — all identified as priorities in the government’s efforts to boost job creation.
For international travellers, the significance of the 12 August launch of the ETA system is clear: South Africa is moving from a largely paper-based visa process towards a digital immigration system in which applications, biometric checks, risk assessment and border verification are increasingly connected.
Vivian Asamoah
Editor’s Note: To check eligibility and submit an application, visit the official ETA portal (https://eta.dha.gov.za/).
