South Africa has silently transitioned its long-awaited Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system from a pilot concept to practical reality — and Indian travellers are emerging as the earliest beneficiaries. Although the ETA was initially meant only for G20 delegates from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico ahead of the Johannesburg G20 Summit in November 2025, the system appears to be functioning more broadly, with Indian applicants already receiving approvals within minutes.
The ETA is designed to simplify entry for visitors from select visa-required and visa-exempt countries. Linked digitally to the traveller’s passport, the authorisation enables short stays for tourism or visits, though it does not permit employment or extended stays for other purposes.
How the ETA Works
The system is currently active for travellers arriving by air through OR Tambo, Cape Town or Lanseria airports. Users can create a profile online, upload passport details, submit a selfie, and complete their travel information alongside a digital payment. Early users report that the process is entirely digital and takes under 20 minutes, thanks to AI-powered automated risk assessment — even though the official processing window is listed as 24 hours. During the pilot, the ETA is free of charge.
While the registration page states that the system is only for G20-related travel, the forms currently allow applicants to select “vacation/holiday.” This suggests that the system may be open to a broader pool of Indian travellers, even if not yet officially announced.
Validity and Entry Rules
Initial approvals indicate promising features for future applicants:
Multiple-entry validity of one year
Stay up to 90 days, extendable by another 90 days
Validity begins from the approval date, not the intended travel date
Applicants must hold an ordinary passport valid for at least six months
What’s Next?
South Africa’s Home Affairs has outlined a phased rollout: a pilot for G20 delegates, expanded access for the general public in 2026, and eventual inclusion of more nationalities. However, the early activation of the portal and successful real-world applications suggest the system is already being tested at scale.
For Indian travellers, this could signal a major shift in the ease of travel to South Africa — potentially reducing paperwork, processing time and uncertainty in the months ahead.
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