South Africa to Introduce ZAR 500 ETA Fee for International Travellers 2026

Indian passport holders travelling to South Africa for tourism or business can currently apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), and that process may soon carry a flat ZAR 500 fee (roughly ₹2,500).

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has published draft regulations introducing this charge. The public can submit comments until August 11, 2026, and if the proposal is approved, the fee would kick in from August 17, 2026.

What Indian Travellers Need to Know

Indian citizens with ordinary passports have been able to apply for either an ETA or an eVisa for short tourism and business trips since February 2026. One rule is non-negotiable: travellers who need an ETA or eVisa but arrive without one will be denied entry, since South Africa does not offer visas or ETAs on arrival.

Why the ETA Matters

The ETA is part of a phased digital border system South Africa rolled out starting October 2025. Travellers who are approved can pass through automated immigration gates by scanning a QR code, either on their phone or printed out. Each approved ETA allows:

• Multiple entries
• Stays of up to 90 days per visit
• One online extension for an additional 90 days

Indian travellers can currently use the ETA at three entry points:

• OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
• Cape Town International Airport
• Lanseria International Airport

South Africa intends to extend ETA acceptance to all international airports and a number of major land borders later this year.

ETA Preferred Over eVisa for Urgent Trips

South African officials have acknowledged that the country’s eVisa system has faced technical glitches and processing slowdowns during recent updates. As a result, Indian travellers with time-sensitive plans are being encouraged to use the ETA portal instead of the eVisa system whenever they qualify for it.

Digital travel authorisation is becoming standard practice worldwide, but system reliability is proving just as important as processing speed; countries with stable platforms are easing travel, while glitches can still trip up even well-designed digital systems.

Proposed Fee Could Expand Beyond Visa Nationals

The draft rules extend beyond just adding a ZAR 500 charge. They also propose letting travellers from visa-exempt countries opt into the ETA system once it becomes available to them by paying the same fee. If finalized, this would mark a further expansion of South Africa’s digital border programme, continuing its shift away from conventional visa processing.