The South African Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Leon Schreiber, has announced the expansion of the country’s Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) with a second window for applications now open. The move comes in response to overwhelming demand following the scheme’s initial launch on 12 February 2025, which has already enabled over 2,000 additional tourist arrivals from key markets like China and India.
TTOS is part of South Africa’s broader digital visa reform aimed at streamlining and expediting the tourist visa process. The system allows approved tour operators to facilitate faster visa approvals via a fully digital, AI-assisted platform, drastically reducing wait times for group and individual travelers.
“The key to TTOS’s success lies in digital transformation. Previously, tourists faced long queues and paperwork; now, visa outcomes are delivered digitally within hours,” said Dr. Schreiber. Daily application volumes have surged from 21 on launch day to 165 per day as of April 3, he added.
Tour operators now have 30 days to apply via the Department’s online portal. No paper applications will be accepted.
The South African government views this expansion as a significant step toward enhancing global connectivity, increasing tourist footfall, and driving job creation across the economy.
