South Africa’s new electronic travel system could soon come with a R500 processing fee for some international travelers.
The Department of Home Affairs has proposed charging R500 for applications made through the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. The proposal was published in the Government Gazette in July and was open for public comment until 11 August.
The important thing to know is that this is not a new R500 visa fee that every person travelling to South Africa will have to pay. The proposed charge applies specifically to the ETA, which is being used to make travel authorisation more convenient and move more of the immigration process online.
South Africa officially launched the ETA on 12 August, with President Cyril Ramaphosa describing it as a major step in modernising the country’s immigration system. The digital platform uses biometric checks and automated risk assessment and is designed to make legitimate travel faster while strengthening border security.
Under the proposed fee structure, travellers from countries that require a visa and are not exempt from the visa fee would pay R500 for the ETA processing, on top of the existing R425 visa fee. That would bring the total to R925.
Travellers who require a visa but are exempt from the visa fee would pay the R500 ETA processing charge. Visa-exempt travellers would not have to pay anything unless they voluntarily choose to use the ETA service.
Home Affairs says the digital system could also save travelers time and money by allowing them to apply from home rather than visiting a South African mission or visa application center.
For now, anyone planning a trip should check the official ETA requirements before travelling, as the proposed fee and immigration rules may still change.
