South Africa Has Opened Its New Digital Travel Permit to Indian Passport Holders

South Africa has begun rolling out a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system to Indian passport holders, part of a phased digital scheme that started in October 2025 and named India among the first countries, alongside China, Indonesia and Mexico, made eligible to apply. According to industry and legal-sector reporting, Indian applicants became eligible from February 2026, though phased rollouts of this kind can shift, so travellers should confirm current eligibility directly with South African authorities before booking.

How it works

The ETA is applied for entirely online, through an official government portal, without a visit to a visa application centre. The process includes creating an account, uploading a passport, entering personal and travel details, completing a live biometric selfie for identity verification, and paying an online fee. Authorities have said most applications are processed within 24 to 48 hours, and an approved ETA is linked electronically to the traveller's passport rather than issued as a sticker or stamp.

Who it covers

The ETA permits stays of up to 90 days for tourism and certain business or visitor purposes, with multiple entries allowed during its validity; it does not cover employment or longer-term stays. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and hold an ordinary passport with at least 19 months of validity remaining, and must currently enter through one of the airports equipped to process the permit: O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, or Lanseria International Airport.

Why South Africa is pushing this now

South Africa's tourism ministry has framed the ETA rollout as central to a push to grow arrivals from India, with a public target of 100,000 Indian visitors in 2026; tourism minister Patricia de Lille has pointed to the new digital system as a way to remove what she has described as previously cumbersome visa procedures for Indian travellers. The push has run alongside separate efforts to secure more direct air links between the two countries.

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Traveller tips

• This is a developing, phased rollout; confirm current eligibility, required documents and the exact fee directly on South Africa's official ETA portal before applying.
• The ETA currently applies only through the three named airports; travellers entering by another airport or a land border should check separately whether it is accepted there.
• Keep a saved or printed copy of your ETA approval and travel documents, since the permit is linked electronically to your passport rather than shown as a physical stamp.
• Always cross-check visa and entry requirements with South Africa's Department of Home Affairs, or with your airline, before booking travel.