Ugandan passport holders planning to travel to South Africa will now be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) following the introduction of the new system by the South African government.
The development was communicated to Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the South African High Commission in Kampala in a letter dated September 29, 2026.
According to the High Commission, the Government of South Africa has operationalised the eTA system, allowing eligible Ugandan travellers to apply electronically before travelling to the country.
The new arrangement applies to holders of valid Ugandan passports, who can submit applications for an eTA before undertaking travel to South Africa.
Travellers whose eTA applications are approved may be permitted to enter South Africa for purposes including ordinary visits, tourism and holidays, as well as short-term business-related activities, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
However, approval of an eTA does not remove the requirement for travellers to comply with South Africa’s immigration and entry regulations.
The South African High Commission has encouraged government ministries, departments, agencies, relevant stakeholders and the public in Uganda to take note of the new travel requirement.
Applications for the eTA can be submitted through the official South African government eTA platform. The High Commission also provided contacts for travellers seeking technical assistance with applications.
The announcement marks a change in the travel process for Ugandans heading to South Africa, making the eTA application an important step to complete before departure.
