Tourism Minister announces rollout of Electronic Travel Authorisation visa for G20 delegates

South Africa’s tourism sector is set for a major boost as the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa system is scheduled to be rolled out in time for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille announced on Friday.

In its initial phase, delegates from China, India, Mexico, and Indonesia, the only G20 countries whose citizens require visas to enter South Africa, will be able to apply digitally from home.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the second phase, planned for next year, will extend the ETA to the general public of these countries, before a full rollout to non-G20 nations.

Minister de Lille said the system is expected to significantly increase tourism demand.

“We must now, as the tourism sector, up our marketing in those countries because it is definitely going to drive-up the demand, the demand for more flights coming to our country,” she said.

Research indicates that the ETA could increase international arrivals by up to 1 million per year and create between 80,000 and 100,000 new jobs in South Africa’s tourism sector.

Minister de Lille also praised the efforts behind the project, expressing her gratitude to the Department of Home Affairs and other government bodies.

“I wish to express my appreciation to Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber and the Inter-Ministerial Committee for their commitment and hard work in making the ETA system a reality,” she said.

Developed in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, the State Security Agency, and the Presidency, the ETA system promises efficiency and security.

Applicants can expect outcomes within two hours, while the system’s enhanced security features reduce the human element in processing and strengthen the integrity of South Africa’s borders.

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