The South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has confirmed that its Digital Visa System – Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system – will officially go live by the end of September 2025.1 This initiative is part of South Africa’s broader digital transformation strategy.
WHY THIS MATTERS
South Africa’s DHA is forging ahead with enhancements to its immigration procedures that entail modernisation and digitisation with the aim of enhancing service delivery.
Users should be prepared for changes in their processes and procedures.
The upshot is expected to be swifter, more convenient, smoother, and more secure visa application and issuance processes.
A. South Africa’s Digital Visa System to Launch in September 2025
Key Features
- Fully online visa application and processing.
- Successful applicants will get their visa on the spot as a digital document with a secure QR code that can be stored in a smartphone wallet.
- Real-time application tracking for the applicant and status updates.
- Integration with biometric verification and digital document uploads.
- Enhanced security and fraud prevention measures.
Who Is Affected?
All foreign nationals applying for tourist visas with particular focus on travellers arriving by air at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport ahead of the G20 leaders meeting happening later this year.
Over time, the DHA will expand the ETA to cover more visa categories and roll it out at all international ports of entry.
What Is Required?
A foreign national looking to travel to South Africa should register on the DHA’s new digital visa portal (Department of Home Affairs - HOME) and prepare digital copies of required documents.
B. New Visas for the Film and Event Industries
To enhance accessibility to South Africa, two new visas have been introduced within the digital visa system.
1. STAGES Visa: Boosting South Africa’s Film Industry and Talent
The initial initiative is named STAGES, an acronym for Screening Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme. The STAGES visa is designed to make it easier and faster for film production companies and international talent to obtain visas for South Africa.
This initiative allows for online visa applications via a digital system, fostering more efficient decision-making and processing and removing the need for in-person visits to South African missions overseas.
By simplifying the process, the South Africa STAGES visa seeks to support the country's competitiveness and appeal to international film and entertainment projects, with the expectation that it will help promote economic growth and job creation in the “creative” sector.
2. MEETS Visa: Driving Business Tourism and Global Events in South Africa
In addition to the STAGES visa, the MEETS (Meetings, Events, Exhibitions and Tourism Scheme) visa category is tailored to simplify the visa application process for international participants attending major conferences, sporting events, exhibitions, and other large-scale global gatherings in South Africa.
This programme also includes online visa processing and quick turnaround times, aimed to tackle the administrative challenges that can discourage international delegates and event organisers.
The MEETS visa is anticipated to enhance South Africa's business-tourism sector and reinforce its status as an attractive destination for significant international events.
KPMG INSIGHTS
With these reforms to South Africa’s immigration landscape there may be questions and concerns about adapting to new policies and procedures, as well as eligibility and conditions for the new STAGES and MEETS visas. These should be directed to your qualified immigration counsel or a member of the immigration team with KPMG in South Africa (see the Contacts section).
FOOTNOTE:
1 Department of Home Affairs, "Budget Vote Speech delivered by the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon Dr Leon Schreiber (MP), on the occasion of the Home Affairs Budget Vote Debate (5) in the National Assembly" (08 July 2025).
Contacts
Disclaimer
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in South Africa.
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