Photo Credit: GCIS

NNA News - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched the country’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, a digital travel process designed to make entry easier while strengthening border security and supporting tourism, investment and economic growth.

Ramaphosa launched the system on Wednesday at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, the country’s busiest international gateway. He said the ETA would make travelling to South Africa “easier, faster and more predictable”, while improving the country’s ability to manage its borders. The system would make South Africa “more open to opportunity, more welcoming to legitimate travelers, more secure for our citizens and more competitive in the global economy,” Ramaphosa said.

The president said the initiative was expected to support several areas of the economy and strengthen international exchanges. “It will encourage tourism. It will support trade. It will attract investment. It will facilitate skills and knowledge exchange,” he said. Under the digital system, eligible travellers can apply online without having to visit a South African embassy or visa processing centre. Applications are expected to be processed within 24 hours.

The ETA was initially piloted during South Africa’s G20 presidency last year for travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico. More than 200,000 applications were processed during the pilot phase, according to the information released on the system. The pilot was operated free of charge, but the Department of Home Affairs has since introduced a mandatory processing fee of 500 rand, equivalent to about 31 U.S. dollars.

The fee is expected to take effect from Aug. 17. The launch forms part of South Africa’s efforts to modernise its immigration and border management systems while reducing administrative barriers for eligible international travellers.