South Africa | Proposed immigration online processing fees open for public comment

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs published draft amendments proposing new online processing fees for several immigration services, including Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), visa applications and permanent residence applications.

Key takeaways:

The proposed amendments include a new 500 South African rand (about US$30) processing fee for ETA applications filed and processed online. According to the proposal, ETA is optional for visa-exempt travelers. Visa-exempt travelers who voluntarily use ETA will be required to pay the 500-rand processing fee.

The amendments also propose a new 500-rand processing fee for all visas and permits submitted and processed online, including work visas, business visas, corporate visas, exchange visas and permanent residence permits. The online processing fee is in addition to current visa and permit application fees.

A public comment period for the proposed amendments is open until Aug. 11, 2026.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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