South Africa: ETA Now Available for 53 Countries – E-Visa to Be Discontinued at the End of 2026

South Africa continues to push forward with the transition to its new digital entry authorization system. According to the South African Tourism Authority, as reported by travel media on November 6, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) has now been significantly expanded: Citizens of 53 countries can now apply for the electronic entry document. At the same time, new features have been introduced to simplify the application process for families and groups, as well as for accompanying children.

In conjunction with this expansion, the authority has confirmed that South Africa’s existing e-visa system will be completely phased out as of December 1, 2026. The new ETA platform will then replace it nationwide. For travelers, this means that as of that date, the ETA will be the only digital alternative to the traditional visa application—anyone who has used or planned to use an e-visa must adapt to the new process in the future.

The ETA was officially introduced on August 12, 2026, by President Cyril Ramaphosa and was initially available only to nationals of four countries: China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico. Over the following weeks, the list of eligible nationalities was gradually expanded until, in early October 2026, South African Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber announced a further significant expansion. With 53 participating countries now, the scope of the program has increased more than tenfold since its launch.

The phased rollout is part of a broader modernization of South Africa’s entry procedures. The goal is to provide tourists and business travelers with faster and more digital access to the country without the need for a traditional visa application involving an embassy appointment. The new features for families and children are also intended to simplify the application process for travel groups traveling to South Africa together.

For travelers planning a trip to South Africa, it is advisable to check early on whether their nationality is already among the 53 eligible countries and which document is appropriate for the planned travel period. In particular, anyone planning a trip after December 1, 2026, should prepare to use the ETA as the standard procedure, as the current e-visa will no longer be available by then. We’ll help you determine the appropriate entry authorization and reliably submit the ETA for South Africa on your behalf.

If you’d like a comprehensive overview of the various entry options, you’ll find all relevant options summarized in our visa overview for South Africa. For all other destinations and visa types, our general overview of all visa types is also available, allowing you to quickly find the appropriate entry requirements for nearly every country.