Countries where South Africans apply online

An e-visa is a full visa you apply for online and receive by email. An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is a lighter online check, such as South Korea's K-ETA or Sri Lanka's ETA. Either way you need it before you fly, and airlines check it at check-in.

Search results are full of agency sites that look official and charge extra. Use only the government portal linked on each destination page. If a site asks for a large 'service fee', it isn't the government.

Processing takes anything from minutes to several weeks, depending on the country. Apply as soon as your dates are fixed, and print the approval to carry with your passport.

Enter your name, date of birth and passport number exactly as they appear in your passport. A mistake usually means applying, and paying, again.