Online Travel ConciergeFrom $67.00 all-inclusive

South Africa Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Get your digital South Africa ETA for Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban in 3 easy steps

Non-affiliation notice: NomadicMart is an independent commercial travel facilitation service and is NOT affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) of the Republic of South Africa. Official government applications may be submitted directly via eta.dha.gov.za at no intermediary concierge charge.

SARS Online Traveller Declaration (SATMS / OTD)— Official Filing Window & Rules:Within 24 hours before departure (Travel Date: Today or Tomorrow)

Required for: All travellers entering or leaving South Africa by Air, Land (Road), Sea, or Rail — including South African citizens, permanent residents, foreign tourists/visitors, drivers of foreign-registered vehicles (mandatory from June 1, 2026, including SACU member states Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Namibia), crew members, diplomats/VIPs, and minors/infants (mandatory for all travellers from July 1, 2026, whether submitting a Full or Nil declaration).. Applying early? NomadicMart queues your declaration in advance and automatically submits it when the official window opens.

Read South AfricaArrival Card Guide & Window Rules →Apply for South Africa Arrival Card →All 39 Country Arrival Cards

Start South Africa Application View speeds & pricing

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256-bit Bank-Grade Encryption

100% Full Error Pre-Check

Application Overview

Verified details for South Africa travel authorizations

Filing method100% Online

Standard speed2–3 business days

Starting total$67.00

DeliveryApproved PDF via Email

Support24/7 Human Concierge

Apply online now

Validity

180 days from issuance date

Entries

Multiple entry

Stay Duration

Up to 90 days per visit

Standard Processing

24 to 72 hours

Authority

Department of Home Affairs (DHA) of the Republic of South Africa

Eligibility & Document Checker

Check Your Eligibility for South Africa

Select the country of your passport to view entry requirements, fees, and processing times.

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Where is your passport from?

Popular:

United States Passport

ETA Eligible Online

You can apply 100% online in advance. No embassy visits or physical paperwork required.

All-inclusive: From $67.00

Apply for South Africa

Document Checklist

South Africa Document Requirements

Prepare these items before starting your application. You can submit clear digital photos taken with your smartphone.

Requirement 01

Passport valid for at least 30 days after your intended departure from South Africa with at least 2 blank pages

Requirement 02

Biometric facial photograph and clear color scan of the passport biographical data page

Requirement 03

Arrival by air at one of the 4 designated ETA airports (Johannesburg JNB, Cape Town CPT, Durban DUR, or Lanseria HLA)

Requirement 04

Confirmed return or onward flight itinerary and proof of accommodation in South Africa

Requirement 05

Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from or transiting >12 hours through an endemic country

Streamlined Process

How It Works in 3 Simple Steps

We handle the complexity of international government portals so you can focus on your journey.

Fill Form Online

Submit your passport biodata scan, facial photograph, flight details, and South African accommodation address.

Pay & Submit

Complete checkout with transparent all-inclusive pricing; our specialists verify your port of entry and passport blank pages.

Receive via Email

Receive your official South Africa Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) PDF with QR code delivered to your inbox.

Transparent Pricing

All-Inclusive South Africa Processing Speeds

All fees included upfront. Government fee + NomadicMart concierge service. Zero surprise checkout charges.

Standard

2–3 business days

Total: $67.00all fees & taxes included

Official government visa fee included
Full manual document pre-verification
24/7 real-time tracking & chat support
Free re-submission if immigration requests info

Select Standard

Rush

Within 24 hours

Total: $82.00all fees & taxes included

Official government visa fee included
Full manual document pre-verification
24/7 real-time tracking & chat support
Free re-submission if immigration requests info

Select Rush

Super Fast

Within 4 hours

Total: $97.00all fees & taxes included

Official government visa fee included
Full manual document pre-verification
24/7 real-time tracking & chat support
Free re-submission if immigration requests info

Select Super Fast

Why Travelers Choose Us

NomadicMart vs. Applying on Your Own

Compare applying directly through government portals against our full-service concierge experience.

Feature	NomadicMart Concierge	Government Portal Self-Apply
Price & Transparency	Clear all-inclusive upfront total in USD with no ZAR foreign card rejections	ZAR 500 (~$28 USD) non-refundable government fee on the DHA portal
Processing Time	Pre-verification of biometric facial photo and 4-airport arrival eligibility	Applications delayed or refused if arrival port is not JNB, CPT, DUR, or HLA
Support	24/7 dedicated support via chat, phone, and email across all time zones	Limited support through Department of Home Affairs call centers
Error Handling	Checks South Africa's strict 2-blank-page and 30-day post-departure passport rules	Arriving with fewer than 2 consecutive blank passport pages results in denied boarding
Refund Policy	Service fee refunded if application cannot be filed	Government fees are strictly non-refundable even if denied

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa

Clear answers on eligibility, processing times, validity, and entry requirements.

What is the South Africa Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?

The South Africa Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a modernized, AI-driven digital entry clearance launched by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) at eta.dha.gov.za. It replaces slow paper visas for 38 eligible nationalities (including India, China, Indonesia, and Mexico) and provides a 180-day multiple-entry digital authorization allowing stays of up to 90 days per visit.

Which South African airports accept the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?

The South Africa ETA is valid exclusively for arrivals by air at four designated international airports equipped with DHA biometric e-Gates: O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg (JNB), Cape Town International Airport (CPT), King Shaka International Airport in Durban (DUR), and Lanseria International Airport (HLA). Land and sea border crossings are not yet supported under the ETA rollout.

What are South Africa's strict passport blank-page and validity requirements?

South African immigration law strictly requires that your passport remain valid for at least 30 calendar days after your intended departure date from South Africa and contain at least two completely blank visa pages (excluding endorsement/amendment pages at the back). Airlines routinely deny boarding to travelers with only one blank page.

Can NomadicMart guarantee approval of my South Africa ETA?

No commercial agency or third-party facilitator can guarantee ETA approval. All authorization and border entry decisions rest exclusively with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) of the Republic of South Africa. NomadicMart is an independent application concierge service not affiliated with the South African Government or eta.dha.gov.za.

Do UK, US, Canadian, or Australian citizens need a South Africa ETA?

Citizens of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most EU member states currently enjoy visa-free entry to South Africa for tourism stays up to 90 days during the Phase 1/2 rollout, though they may voluntarily register on eta.dha.gov.za to utilize the biometric facial-recognition e-Gates at JNB and CPT.