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South Africa to launch new digital visa application system ahead of G20 Summit

The Mercury

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September 19, 2025

SOUTH Africa will roll out a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in November, a move government says will remove longstanding visa bottlenecks that have constrained the country's tourism growth.

- SIPHELELE DLUDLA

The announcement comes as BDO South Africa's Tourism Trends Report this week flagged that South Africa's recovery continues to lag behind global and regional peers, despite a 14% rise in international tourist arrivals between January and July 2025, totalling 5.85 million visitors.

Unveiling the system at the Tourism Business Council of South Africa's Leadership Conference on Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the ETA formed part of government's “Home Affairs @ Home” digital transformation agenda. The platform replaces paper-based visas with an online process that allows applicants to capture biometrics and receive approvals within hours.

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