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South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs announced the full rollout of the country’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, set to launch Aug. 12, 2026.
Key takeaways:
Following a successful ETA pilot program with travelers from select countries, South Africa will officially launch ETA on Aug. 12 for all eligible nationals traveling for business or tourism. The ETA system will implement advanced biometrics and machine learning to make travel to South Africa faster and more secure, according to the announcement. The first phase of the ETA pilot program was introduced in October 2025.
ETA allows travelers to:
As BAL previously reported, the department recently proposed a new 500 South African rand (about US$30) processing fee for ETA applications filed and processed online.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.
Copyright © 2026 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
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.
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.
The Department of Home Affairs of South Africa launched phase two of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), effective July 20, 2026.
TES simplifies the visa application process for employers recruiting skilled workers, primarily senior executives, technical personnel, corporate employees and investors. To qualify, employers must:
According to the July 20 government update, phase two of TES expands eligibility to:
Additionally, phase two introduces a dedicated online application portal, with plans to integrate with South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorization platform.
The application period is open through Sept. 4, 2026. Employers interested in TES can learn more and express their interest on the Home Affairs website.
The Minister of Home Affairs announced the Cabinet’s approval of the revised white paper on citizenship, immigration and refugee protection, which outlines policy priorities for fundamental reform of South Africa’s citizenship, immigration and refugee protection frameworks.
Goal: The goal of the revised white paper is to reduce fraud and abuse, enhance national security, improve service delivery through digital transformation and promote economic development.
Next steps: The Department of Home Affairs will begin drafting and tabling the requisite legislative amendments to implement the revised white paper.
Key reforms include:
The Department of Home Affairs announced the new Meetings, Exhibits, Events and Tourism Scheme (MEETS), providing secure, accelerated visa processing for high-volume, time-sensitive group visa applications for international events hosted in South Africa.
The Minister of Home Affairs explained the intention of MEETS, stating, “South Africa already possesses the infrastructure, venues and global appeal required to host premier international events. Through MEETS, we are ensuring that our visa system becomes a competitive advantage that helps attract even more conferences, exhibitions, sporting tournaments and cultural events that create jobs and stimulate economic growth.”
South African event organizers can submit expressions of interest to join the MEETS visa scheme, subject to qualifying criteria. Accredited organizers will enter into a formal Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs to regulate participation and governance of the scheme.
The Department of Home Affairs announced a new Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme (STAGES) visa to accelerate visa application processing for international film and creative production companies to film in South Africa.
Key Points:
Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs extended temporary concessions until March 31, 2026, for processing waiver and appeal applications in an effort to address ongoing backlogs.
Additional Information: South Africa said it has eliminated its visa and permit regime backlogs, which were included in previous temporary concessions.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has launched the Business Visa Recommendation System (VRS) to streamline the process for business visa recommendation applications, making it more efficient and user-friendly.
Additional Information: The VRS aligns with South Africa’s e-governance initiatives to improve access to government services. This system aims to reduce red tape and simplify the ease of doing business in South Africa.
The South African Department of Home Affairs has extended visa concessions for certain foreign nationals until Sept. 30, 2025, due to ongoing delays in processing applications.
South Africa’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced the validity of the Lesotho Exemption Permits (LEP) has been granted an automatic extension to Nov. 28, 2025.
Background: The ZEP program began when the South African government granted “special dispensation” for Zimbabweans who were in the country illegally, many of them having had fled violence and instability in Zimbabwe. The South African government replaced Special Dispensation for Zimbabweans with Zimbabwean Special Permits in 2014 and again in 2017 with the introduction of the ZEP. A similar exemption was granted to nationals of Lesotho to provide them relief and to ease the burden on the asylum system. The exemption affects approximately 54,653 nationals of Lesotho.