South Africa implements new eTA system amid rising tourism in East Africa

South Africa has implemented a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system designed to streamline and secure entry for eligible travelers. While the digital overhaul aims to make the administrative process faster and more convenient, it has resulted in a significant cost increase for Ugandan travelers. The upfront cost for Ugandans has risen from R425 to R925, representing a 117.6% increase.

The eTA system digitalizes the visa process rather than granting visa exemption. Once approved online, the authorization is issued digitally and linked to the traveler’s passport for verification via biometric and passport checks at the border.

Concurrently, South African tourism is seeing growth in the East African region. Kenyan arrivals to South Africa increased by 7.7% between January and August 2026, reaching 36,497 visitors. To capitalize on this, South African Tourism is participating in the 16th Magical Kenya Travel Expo in Nairobi, leading a delegation of 20 businesses to strengthen trade partnerships and promote local enterprises.