South Africa proposes US$30 fee for ETA and online visa applications

South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) may soon come with a price tag

According to draft regulations published in the Government Gazette on July 27, 2026, the South African Department of Home Affairs proposes an R500 (about US$30) electronic processing fee for ETA applications and other online visa or permit requests.

The public can comment on this proposal until August 11, 2026. The department plans to implement the new fee on August 17, 2026, subject to the results of the consultation.

Why is the fee being introduced?

South Africa launched the ETA in October 2025 without a separate processing fee because the system lacked a payment processor.

"The ETA has, so far, been operating as a fully subsidized service, which is unsustainable." — Leon Schreiber, South African Minister of Home Affairs

Now that an online payment system is ready, the department wants to introduce an R500 fee to help cover the system's costs.

The draft regulations not only address the ETA but also propose applying the same fee to any visa or permit application submitted online.

This means it could be added to current visa charges, depending on the traveler's nationality and visa type.

How the total cost would break down

The total cost of the proposed fee depends on your specific visa requirements:

• Travelers who need a visa and must pay the visa fee: total cost would be R925 — the R500 processing fee plus the existing R425 visitor's visa fee.
• Travelers who need a visa but are exempt from the visa fee: would pay only the R500 processing charge.
• Visa-exempt travelers would not be required to use the ETA at all during this initial phase and could continue entering visa-free at no cost.

The DHA has framed the change as a net savings for many applicants. Under the current outsourced application process, the department says some travelers pay a R1,550 service fee to the third-party provider handling submissions, on top of the R425 visa fee, for a combined R1,975. Moving to the ETA platform would bring that down to R925.

ETA stays optional for visa-exempt travelers for now

People from countries that already have visa-free access to South Africa will not need to get an ETA under this proposal.

They can keep entering the country under the current exemption. If they want a faster border process, they can apply for an ETA, and the R500 fee would then apply.

At this time, there are no new mandatory travel requirements for travelers from countries that are already visa-exempt in South Africa.

Who can currently apply for an ETA?

South Africa's ETA is only available to adults with passports from China, India, Indonesia, or Mexico, and travelers must arrive at OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, or Lanseria International Airport.

The Department of Home Affairs says the ETA will eventually be the main way to apply for tourist visas for all nationalities that need a visa to enter South Africa.

However, there is no timeline yet for expanding beyond the first four countries. For more details on how the system works and who can apply now, see iVisa's South Africa ETA rollout update.

What travelers should know?

This is only a proposal, and the Department of Home Affairs is accepting public comments until August 11, 2026.

The details, including the planned August 17 start date, could change before the rule is officially adopted. If you are planning to visit South Africa soon, keep an eye out for updates after the public comment period ends.