Your Face Is the New Boarding Pass: Electronic Travel Authorisation Is Here!

Your Face Is the New Boarding Pass: Electronic Travel Authorisation Is Here!

On page 11 of a recently published government report titled “Operation Vulindela”, it casually mentions that the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) was officially launched on 18 September 2025, with G20 delegates being the first to test the system. The launch coincided with upgrades to the Electronic Movement Control System (EMCS), which now features automated facial recognition checkpoints at major airports, including OR Tambo and Cape Town International.

While the ETA is promoted as a convenient online visa system, it is also part of a broader shift toward biometric tracking and digital identity integration.

Official reports confirm that the ETA links directly with EMCS, a border management system that uses facial recognition cameras to scan, match, and record travellers’ faces. Authorities say this will reduce queues and improve security. But it also means biometric data is now being captured and stored nationally.

When combined with initiatives under the National Identification and Registration Bill and the MyMzansi Digital Transformation Roadmap, South Africa is moving closer to a centralised digital ID system connecting personal, travel, and service information.

What is presented as a “tourist convenience” may serve as a testing ground for a wider biometric infrastructure. South Africans deserve transparent policies, public debate, and strong privacy safeguards before these systems expand further.

Concerned Citizen(s)