The Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced the implementation of a new methodology for its online Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) programme. This decision comes as a response to the previous system's failure to meet technical requirements and timely updates.

Initially launched in 2012, the ETA programme faced limitations as it only gathered text information from travelers, falling short of the department's technical standards. To address this, 15 new visa schemes were introduced under a Gazette dated 27.11.2023, with two additional short-term visa schemes approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

In an effort to enhance national security measures, the department emphasized the need to collect and verify a substantial amount of documents online. The selection of VFS Global as the service provider was based on various criteria, including the company's extensive experience in online document submission for visa approvals, multilingual services, and global operational expertise spanning 151 countries.

The department underscored its authority to approve, issue, and reject visas in accordance with the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948. The transition to the new methodology aims to streamline visa processing while ensuring adherence to stringent security protocols.