Good news about e-visas in South Africa

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schrieber has announced that South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system will go live for visa applications shorter than 90 days at airports by the end of September.

“Over time, we will expand the ETA so that every type of visa application is processed only through this AI-based system to eliminate fraud and inefficiency — forever,” he said.

“Through our vision for digital transformation, Home Affairs is building a tech-driven service delivery revolution that enhances national security and efficiency to grow our economy.”

The system, first alluded to during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February, will digitise visa and entry/exit processes at South African ports of entry.

During the speech, Ramaphosa emphasised the country’s plans to invest in digital infrastructure to expand access to it.

“As we work to reform the public service and build the capability of the state, we will harness technology to transform the way government works,” he said.

Since then, Schreiber has made it his mission to create a seamless process for South Africa’s immigration services to utilise Home Affairs’ online platform.

On Thursday, after demonstrating the ETA system to Ramaphosa, Schreiber said the Border Management Authority will partially roll out the new system by the end of September.

As part of the ETA applications process, travellers must provide their biometrics to Home Affairs as part of the process to use the system.

“This system will eventually replace paper-based visas by issuing the traveller with a unique digital code linked to their passport information,” the minister previously said.

“Once they arrive at a South African port-of-entry, travellers will be required to scan their ETA code and provide another copy of their biometric information, which will then be verified against their passport and the information provided at the time of application.”

A digital identity system

In addition to the ETA system, the President mentioned implementing a digital identity system as part of the Home Affairs digital transformation during his SONA speech.

“At the heart of this transformation will be the implementation of a digital identity system,” Ramaphosa said.

Schreiber explained that the digital system will use a machine-learning-based risk engine to verify the completion of online ID, passport, certificate, and visa applications.

It will authenticate applicants, check for fraudulent documentation, conduct facial recognition checks, allow cashless transactions, and inform applicants of the outcome within seconds.

“No more standing in queues, no more waiting months or years for an outcome, no more being kept in the dark about the status of an application,” said Schreiber.

“And no more space for officials or syndicates to solicit bribes for a transaction to be processed.”

Once in place, Schreiber said the system would enable Home Affairs to deliver services to South Africans worldwide.

The government’s plans to implement a digital identity system align with Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber’s vision to modernise his department.

Schreiber announced plans to digitise Home Affairs’ operations to help fight identity fraud in South Africa.

He said his department’s current processes, which regularly require human intervention, create opportunities for fraud.

Because of this, he wants the Department of Home Affairs’ processes to become fully digital and more automated.

“Until such time as Home Affairs has been transformed into a digital-first department, these abuses will keep happening, and the system will remain offline,” said Schreiber.

Schreiber added that, if done right, the system will free up staff to focus on more productive tasks.

“This would include devoting our staff to serving those who truly need it most,” he said.

“Including the poorest members of our society, people in rural areas, the 10% of South Africans who don’t yet use smart devices, and those exceptional or complicated cases that require more resources to resolve.”