The Department of Home Affairs is rolling out a R500 processing fee for South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system as it moves to make the digital platform financially sustainable after nine months of free operation.
The fee, published in draft regulations in Government Gazette No. 55072 on 27 July, is open for public comment until 11 August and could come into effect on 17 August.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the ETA platform has been operating as a fully subsidised service since its launch in October 2025, which is financially unsustainable.
“At the time of the implementation of the first phase of the ETA, visa fees for the onboarding countries were temporarily waived because the ETA platform did not yet include an integrated online payment capability. Consequently, neither visa fees nor a dedicated ETA processing fee have been charged to date, despite the need to invest in operational maintenance of the system,” Schreiber said.
The minister said the department is now ready to roll out an integrated online payment system to collect application fees.
How the new fee structure will work
The proposed fee will apply differently depending on a traveller’s country of origin and visa requirements.
Travellers from countries that require a visa to enter South Africa will pay R500 as an ETA processing fee, plus the existing R425 visa fee, bringing the total cost to R925 per application. This represents a significant reduction from the current cost of R1 975 for those using outsourced visa service providers such as VFS Global.
For travellers from visa-required countries that are exempt from visa fees, only the R500 processing fee will apply.
Travellers from visa-exempt countries will not be required to use the ETA system, but the platform will be available to them voluntarily. Those who choose to use it for a more streamlined travel experience will pay the R500 fee.
What the ETA system offers
The ETA is an online platform that allows travellers to apply for travel authorisation and visas digitally, eliminating the need to visit South African missions or VFS application centres abroad.
The system uses artificial intelligence-powered risk assessment and facial recognition technology to verify passports and documentation. Since October 2025, it has processed more than 203 000 applications and rejected over 5 700 fraudulent submissions involving manipulated documents.
The department reports an 85% automation rate for visa applications, with processing times of under 60 seconds at dedicated airport lanes for approved travellers.
Travellers already in South Africa can also use the digital extension module to apply online for an additional 90-day stay, removing the need to visit Home Affairs offices.
Phased rollout continues
The ETA system was initially piloted with four countries: China, India, Indonesia and Mexico. The department has indicated it will expand the platform to all visa-required countries in subsequent phases.
Schreiber said the department anticipates rapid uptake of the system by visa-exempt travellers despite its optional status, given the improvements in efficiency and security it delivers.
The official ETA portal at eta.dha.gov.za is the primary platform for applications and updates.
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