Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber has announced the introduction of two new visa categories aimed at removing administrative barriers to economic activity in the film and events sectors.
Addressing the National Assembly during the home affairs budget vote debate, the minister said the new schemes form part of a broader digital transformation agenda intended to position home affairs as an economic enabler.
The Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme (Stages) will simplify visa access for international film production companies.
“Currently, outdated and paper-based systems hinder the industry,” Schreiber said. He cited the recent loss of a major Netflix production from Mexico due to visa delays, which he said cost SA about R400m in lost income.
The Stages scheme will allow companies to apply via a dedicated online portal and receive visa decisions within hours. Applicants will no longer be required to visit SA missions abroad.
The second initiative, the Meetings, Events, Exhibitions and Tourism Scheme (Meets), will facilitate visa processing for international attendees at major conferences, sporting events, exhibitions and other international gatherings.
“Outdated visa systems have also repeatedly frustrated international event organisers,” Schreiber said.
He confirmed the Meets scheme would enable rapid turnaround times for online applications, in support of events such as the SA20 cricket tournament and the World Rugby Sevens.
Both schemes are part of a wider reform programme under the banner of “Home Affairs @ home”, which aims to digitise and decentralise service delivery.
Schreiber said the department had cleared a visa backlog of more than 306,000 applications dating back more than a decade. He also referenced the successful rollout of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, which has facilitated visa access for thousands of tourists from China and India.
The department’s new electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system would go live by the end of September for air travellers arriving at OR Tambo and Cape Town international airports. The ETA would automate the visa process from start to finish, using machine learning technology to deliver outcomes within seconds, he said.
The minister confirmed the department would continue to expand digital visa categories and online processing systems. “Together, Stages and Meets are set to transform South Africa into a leading destination for film, tourism, sports, arts, culture and events.”
The Federated Hospitality Association of SA (Fedhasa) welcomed the announcement. In a statement, national Fedhasa chair Rosemary Anderson said the new visa categories were “powerful economic enablers”, and praised Schreiber’s recognition of the practical impact of visa delays on investment and job creation.
Schreiber acknowledged the broader systemic delays in visa processing that are affecting foreign nationals across multiple categories. Work, study, spousal and permanent residence permits often resulted in extended waiting periods and legal uncertainty for applicants.
The department’s digital-first approach to immigration services would reduce turnaround times and improve transparency, he said.
The department of home affairs has faced sustained scrutiny from legal advocacy organisations and business groups over the economic and legal consequences of prolonged visa processing. In 2023, the Helen Suzman Foundation and other civil society bodies raised concerns about the impact of administrative delays on skilled migration and foreign investment.
The department had committed to continuous reforms to address these issues through expanded digital systems and policy changes. It would continue to engage stakeholders on implementation timelines and system integration, Schreiber said.
The reforms under way represented “the most ambitious departmental reform programme our country has seen since 1994”, he said.
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