Understanding South Africa's new R500 visa fee

The South African Department of Home Affairs has suggested implementing a R500 electronic processing fee for travellers utilizing the country's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. This proposal was outlined in a draft notice published in Government Gazette No. 55072 last month. The ETA, launched in October 2025, enables travelers to submit travel authorisation and visa applications online as part of Home Affairs' digital transformation initiative.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber clarified that the ETA has been functioning as a fully subsidized service since its inception, due to the initial absence of an integrated online payment system. Visa fees for countries in the first phase were temporarily waived, and no separate ETA processing fee was charged. Schreiber stated that the department is now prepared to introduce integrated online payment options to collect application fees. "We propose a processing fee of R500 per ETA application," he announced.

The upcoming phase will make the ETA compulsory for travelers from non-visa-exempt countries on the platform, with initial optional implementation for visa-exempt travelers. The department anticipates increased usage of the platform by visa-exempt travelers due to its efficiency and security enhancements. For non-visa-exempt travelers, the proposed fee structure would raise the total application cost to R925, compared to the current total of R1,975.

The department emphasized that the online system would also lower costs for travelers who currently rely on outsourced visa service providers.

The ETA will facilitate online application submissions, eliminating the necessity for travelers to visit South African missions or VFS application centers.