SA's new digital tourist visas is a game-changer for travel to Cape Town

Time Out

25-06-2025

Visa applications! If you've ever had to deal with this onerous, often paper-centric process before your trip, pull up a chair.
Travellers to our shores from the Middle East, Nigeria, India and China in particular know what we mean. Long forms, consulate queues, and the awkward limbo of 'pending approval' have long been part of the package for visiting South Africa.
However, we're optimistic that this is all about to change.
This September, South Africa will officially launch a fully digital Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system - a slick, AI-powered visa alternative that promises to shake up how the world gets into the country.
And if all goes according to plan, it might just spark a new wave of travel to Cape Town and beyond.
So, what is the ETA?
Think of it as the visa equivalent of tapping your phone to board a flight. The ETA is a smartphone-based authorisation for short-term stays (under 90 days), processed online with advanced AI risk screening and biometric verification (yes, even a selfie might be involved).
It's paperless, painless, and promises approval in hours - not weeks.
The ETA will first apply to travellers arriving at South Africa's major international airports, according to Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber. This would include Cape Town International, OR Tambo International in Johannesburg and King Shaka Airport in Durban.
'The ETA will include world-class cybersecurity systems and live monitoring by AI-powered risk engines,' according to Schreiber.
We're still waiting for the official list of eligible nationalities (to be announced at launch), but travel and tourism bodies are already calling it a potential 'game-changer.'
'By removing one of the primary obstacles to inbound travel, we're sending a clear message that South Africa is open for business and ready to welcome the world," states Rosemary Anderson, National Chairperson of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA).
How does the ETA work?
The new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be a fully digital system designed to make short-term tourist visas (under 90 days) faster, smarter and easier.
Here's what you need to know:
Apply online: No embassy queues. Travellers submit their applications digitally via a web portal or mobile app.
AI does the vetting: An AI-powered system screens your details in real time using secure, risk-based profiling.
Snap a selfie: Advanced biometric validation – including facial recognition tech – helps verify your identity.
Get approved fast: Decisions are expected within hours instead of weeks.
Travel with your phone: Once approved, your ETA is stored on your smartphone and scanned at automated passport control when you land.
Why now?
South Africa is hosting the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg this November, and the country is under the global spotlight.
From elevating underrated township experiences to AI innovation, the world is watching to see how we plan to position ourselves as leaders in inclusive, sustainable travel.
This visa shift is just one way it's stepping up.
According to Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille, being the first African country to chair the G20 Summit is a momentous task.
As Chair of the G20 Tourism Working Group, the priorities are clear, with a sharp focus on digitisation:
People-centred AI and digital innovation with a strong focus on empowering small and medium enterprises
Tourism financing and investment aimed at unlocking inclusive growth and expanding opportunities for women and youth.
Air connectivity, which is key to seamless, affordable and sustainable travel across the globe – and especially within Africa
Building resilience for sustainable tourism by embedding climate-smart policies, local ownership and community-led models
'These are not abstract ideals. They are grounded in the lived realities of our sector. They reflect the challenges our operators face - from limited digital access to poor route integration. They reflect our values - that tourism must uplift, not exclude, and empower, not exploit,' states De Lille.
What it means for Cape Town
For the Mother City, this couldn't come at a better time. After years of slow visa processing and missed tourism targets, the ETA system could boost Cape Town's visibility in major travel markets.
The eased entry set the scene for:
New air routes opened from Asia, the Middle East and West Africa.
Greater access for group travel, digital nomads and solo explorers.
Shorter lead times between trip planning and arrival (because you won't have to wait 4–6 weeks for a visa).
A surge in repeat travellers who've been held back by red tape - until now.
Whether you're flying in for the beaches, the Cape Winelands, the food or all three - this new digital visa means you might be able to book it sooner, land easier, and stay longer.
Let the countdown begin!