5 Home Affairs shake-ups you need to know

Heads up, locals and travellers alike!  

Home Affairs and a few other key stakeholders have been busy rewriting the rulebook to make travel and accessibility to Cape Town digitally charged and visitor-friendly.

A 'smart move' as we gear up for summer 2025 in the Mother City, home to the World's #1 Airport for its on-time performance. 

These are the top five visa and travel-centric changes shaking things up and connecting you to Cape Town, and across South Africa more efficiently. 

1. Cape Town International immigration boosted for smoother entry

A three-way partnership between Border Management Authority (BMA), Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town has added 48 assistant port control officers (24 from the City, 24 from the Province) to nearly double Cape Town’s immigration capacity from 66 to 114 officers.  

Expect fewer queues, faster passport checks, customs clearances, and onboard safety - so you’ll be on Table Mountain sooner, not stuck in customs.  

2 Digital visa processing soon to be instant with ETA

By September 2025, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system will launch for tourist visas at OR Tambo and Cape Town International. Fully automated and machine-learning enabled, it aims to deliver visa decisions within hours (no really), replacing manual steps and eliminating pesky back-and-forth trips.  

3. Digital IDs & passports via your banking app

Imagine ordering your ID or passport like mobile data - virtually. A growing partnership with banks means that in the near future you will be able to apply for a Smart ID or passport through your banking app, with home delivery and facial-recognition checks.

The pilot will also expand to 100-plus branches by the end of the year - currently, only 30 bank branches across the country have this service - a win to sidestep outdated green-book issuance. 

4. New passport/smart ID service centres Abroad

South Africans abroad, rejoice. You’ll soon avoid extensive waits, too (we see you Saffas). New facilities in Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE now guarantee a five-week turnaround. Future rollouts include France, Germany, the Netherlands, and North America.

"Our ultimate aim is to deliver Home Affairs @ home, which will enable every South African, no matter where they are on the planet, to obtain services from their government online," said Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber.

5. TTOS turbocharge for group tourism enters Phase Two

The Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) is now doubling down - expanding from 65 to 110 vetted operators, welcoming group tourists from China and India. In just six months, more than 25,000 visitors travelled through TTOS, helping create nearly 1,924 formal-sector jobs. 

ICYMI: World's most powerful passports 2025: SA climbs the passport ranks

So there you have it. In just months, bureaucratic red tape around visas and documentation has shifted gears towards a tech-friendly, traveller-oriented model.   

These changes matter because they make travel smoother, services more convenient, boost tourism and jobs, and strengthen South Africa’s global connections. And we're ready for it - and no more waiting in line.