Two new visas launching in South Africa

The Department of Home Affairs is launching two new visas to increase the nation’s appeal as a filming location and events hub. 

Speaking at the Home Affairs budget vote debate in parliament, Minister Leon Schreiber said that the department is working on two new digital visa initiatives.

The first one is called STAGES, short for Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme, which is aimed at simplifying visa access for film production companies.

Schreiber said that outdated and paper-based systems hinder the industry. One example is the loss of a major Netflix production from Mexico, which cost South Africa R400 million in lost income.

“But thanks to STAGES, companies will now be able to apply via a dedicated online portal, receive visa decisions within hours, and will no longer be required to visit missions in person abroad,” he said.

The second new visa is called MEETS, short for the Meetings, Events, Exhibitions and Tourism Scheme.

Although South Africa is seen as a world-class events destination, outdated visa systems have repeatedly frustrated international event organisers.

MEETS will ensure that visa applications for international attendees at significant conferences, sporting events, exhibitions, and other global events will be processed online, with quick turnaround times.

He noted that the new visa will support events such as the SA20 cricket tournament and the World Rugby Sevens, allow athletes to arrive without delay, and further grow the economy.

STAGES and MEETS are set to transform South Africa into a leading destination for film, tourism, sports, arts, culture and events – all sectors with enormous growth and job creation potential.

The new visas have received support from the City of Cape Town, with the city believing it will open the door for more production and investment in South Africa, which is crucial for creating jobs.

MEETS also comes at a time when Cape Town is quickly becoming a premier hub for global meetings, conferences, and events.

Several events for Cape Town are expected to generate an economic impact of R745 million and attract over 27,000 delegates to the city through to 2028.

“I am consulting stakeholders across the tourism, hospitality, and aviation sectors to shape a bold new tourism strategy for Cape Town,” said Cape Town MMC for Economic Growth James Vos.

“This strategy will focus on key levers such as boosting international arrivals, driving volume, and creating economic spin-offs that benefit local communities.”

Other visa initiatives

The MEETS and STAGES visas follow a series of other immigration initiatives undertaken by Home Affairs recently.

Schreiber said that the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will go live for tourist visas by the end of September.

The new visa will focus on travellers arriving by air at OR Tambo and Cape Town International airports before the G20 leaders’ meeting in November. 

The ETA will fully automate and digitise the visa process from beginning to end, enabling outcomes to be delivered within seconds and using machine learning technology to eliminate fraud.

“With tax season having just opened, SARS has already demonstrated how impactful this technology can be in improving government services, and we are grateful for their collaboration on this project,” he said.

“Over time, we will expand the ETA to cover more visa categories and roll it out at all international ports of entry.”

The minister also announced that Home Affairs has completed the second intake of vetted and approved tour operators to join the highly successful Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS).

Over 17,000 tourists from China and India have visited South Africa since February.

The TTOS allows tour operators that submit group applications for large tour groups to speed up visa processing.

The second intake of 45 operators will increase the number of participating companies from 65 to 110, and South Africa will see more tourists from the two burgeoning source markets.