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Indian passport holders travelling to South Africa for business or tourism can now apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), and the process may soon include a fixed ZAR 500 (about ₹2,500) processing fee.

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has released draft rules proposing the new charge for ETA applications. Public comments are open until August 11, 2026, and if approved, the fee will take effect from August 17, 2026.

What Indian Travellers Need to Know

Since February 2026, Indian citizens holding ordinary passports have been eligible to apply for either an ETA or an eVisa for short business and tourism visits.

However, there is one rule travellers cannot ignore. Anyone who requires an ETA or eVisa but lands in South Africa without one will be refused entry. There is no visa or ETA available on arrival.

Why the ETA Matters

The ETA is part of South Africa’s phased digital border system, first introduced in October 2025. Approved travellers can use automated immigration gates by scanning a QR code stored on their phone or a printed copy.

Each approved ETA offers:

• Multiple entries
• Stay of up to 90 days per visit
• One online extension of another 90 days

At present, Indian travellers can use the ETA when arriving through:

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

South Africa has also announced plans to expand ETA acceptance to all international airports and several busy land border crossings later in 2026.

ETA Preferred Over eVisa for Urgent Trips

South African authorities have acknowledged that the country’s eVisa platform has experienced technical issues and processing delays during system updates.

Because of this, Indian travellers with urgent travel plans are being advised to apply through the ETA portal whenever eligible instead of relying on the online eVisa system.

Digital travel permits are quickly becoming the global standard, but reliability now matters just as much as speed. Countries that invest in stable systems are making travel easier, while technical glitches can still disrupt even the best digital plans.

Proposed Fee Could Expand Beyond Visa Nationals

The draft amendments go beyond introducing a ZAR 500 processing fee. They also propose allowing travellers from visa-free countries to voluntarily obtain an ETA once they are added to the platform by paying the same fee.

If adopted, the proposal would further expand South Africa’s digital border programme as it moves away from traditional visa processing.

Travelobiz Take

We think South Africa’s ETA is a practical upgrade for Indian travellers, especially with faster airport clearance. Just don’t leave home without an approved ETA or eVisa because there is no second chance at the border.