South Africa expands ETA to 53 countries, including India

New Delhi: South Africa has expanded its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system to travellers from 53 countries, including India, allowing eligible visitors to complete the visa application process online without visiting a visa processing centre.

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The digital platform aims to simplify travel preparations for visitors from markets including India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, South African Tourism said in a statement.

Support for family travel

The enhanced system now accepts applications for minors, including biometric capture and enrolment on the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) for children aged seven years and above.

“The continued expansion of South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorization is an important step towards making travel planning simpler for eligible visitors, including families and groups. As we look ahead to the ICC Cricket World Cup, we hope more Indian travellers will take the opportunity to experience South Africa beyond the game," South African Tourism Hub Head MEISEA Neliswa Nkani said.

eVisa transition

The rollout has progressed in phases, with additional countries brought onto the platform during August and September 2026. Its coverage now includes all markets previously served by South Africa’s eVisa programme.

The existing eVisa system will be decommissioned on December 1, 2026, completing the transition to the ETA platform.

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Further expansion will focus on key growth markets ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, as South Africa seeks to attract more international visitors and improve travel accessibility.

Authorities are monitoring the platform’s stability and scalability, while communication and stakeholder onboarding initiatives are underway to familiarise travellers and tourism industry partners with the new process.

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