21 Nov ETA Phase 1 Open for G20 Visitors to South Africa
South Africa has officially launched Phase 1 of its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, specifically for G20 delegates. The ETA is a new online system that lets certain travellers apply to visit South Africa without the need to go through the traditional visa process.
Instead of following the traditional method of paperwork and embassy visits, you simply fill out a form online and get your travel approval digitally. This marks a significant step towards digitising and streamlining the visa process for international visitors. South Africa is hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and this opportunity will be used to make it easier for people from certain G20 countries to attend, while testing out the new ETA system. The G20 is a group of 19 countries and the European Union that work together on global economic issues. This is an intentional step to how e-visas are streamlining South African Travel.
The rollout is happening in phases, with Phase 1 currently open for G20 delegates. In the first phase, only official visitors for the G20 summit from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico can use the ETA system to apply for travel permission online, and these are the G20 countries whose citizens usually require a visa to visit South Africa. Eligible delegates can enter South Africa via the country’s two largest airports, which are OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport.
The ETA system allows eligible travellers from these countries to apply for short-term travel authorisation online, and this eliminates the need for the traditional visa process by replacing it with a digital process designed to be more efficient and faster for both travellers and authorities. This is crucial to ensure faster and easier travel and gives delegates the opportunity to apply from home, and if this system works well, it will boost tourism and could, in the future, be expanded for use by tourists from more countries.
After the successful testing of Phase 1, which is a pilot project limited to G20 delegates from four countries with limited entry via Johannesburg and Cape Town international airports, the plan is to expand ETA applications to Phase 2, which is planned to be available for all tourists from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico. A full rollout is planned for all visa-required nationalities and will eventually include other visa categories, including visitors visas and business visas.
Suppose you are a G20 delegate from either China, India, Indonesia, or Mexico travelling to South Africa for G20 meetings. In that case, you can CONTACT US – our team of experts at June Luna Immigration Attorneys to guide you through applying for your travel authorisation online with SA’s new ETA portal. We’re here to assist you in immigrating to South Africa, and will walk you through the journey.