The South Africa ETA is now live and allows eligible Indian passport holders to complete the pre-travel authorisation process digitally, with applications intended to be processed within 24 to 48 hours, says Mitalee Karmarkar, Marketing and Communications Manager (MEISEA), South African Tourism. “This means a simpler and more streamlined process, with less paperwork for travellers. It is important to check the eligibility requirements before applying. Applicants need to hold a valid ordinary passport with at least 19 months validity, have access to a smartphone for biometric verification, and arrive through one of the currently supported airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Lanseria. The ETA is currently available for short leisure and work visits of up to 90 days, and travellers who do not meet the eligibility requirements should continue to follow the existing visa application process,” she adds.
Karmarkar said that India remains an important and steadily growing market for South Africa, and the introduction of the ETA is a welcome step towards making the travel journey more convenient for eligible Indian visitors.
“We are encouraged by the positive response we are receiving from our travel trade partners, who see the ETA as a meaningful improvement in the ease and convenience of planning travel to South Africa. While it is still early days and we do not yet have consolidated figures on the number of Indian travellers who have used the ETA, the initial response from our partners has been very encouraging. As South African Tourism, we remain committed to working closely with our trade partners to build awareness of the new process and support them in guiding their clients. We also look forward to the continued rollout of the ETA to additional ports of entry,” she said.
With over 17 years of experience in the B2B travel and hospitality sector, she brings deep insight into travel trade dynamics, industry challenges and market developments. She holds an MA in English Literature and a Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, which underpin her strong editorial expertise. An avid nature enthusiast, she prefers outdoor and adventure-led travel, including hiking and trekking.