South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has announced a temporary extension for foreign nationals awaiting the outcomes of visa waiver requests, long-term visa applications and appeals.
The new directive, signed by Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber on March 28, grants eligible applicants an extension until September 30. It applies to:
- Foreign nationals with pending waiver applications.
- Applicants awaiting long-term visa decisions under sections 11(1)(b) to 22 of the Immigration Act.
- Individuals appealing rejected long-term visa applications.
To qualify, applicants must have lawfully entered South Africa and submitted their applications via VFS Global with verifiable receipts linked to the VFS tracking system.
Travel regulations under the directive
Foreign nationals covered by the directive can remain in South Africa and travel in and out of the country, provided they carry the necessary documentation. However:
- Those from non-visa-exempt countries must apply for a visitor’s visa under Section 11(1) of the Immigration Act before re-entering South Africa.
- The directive does not apply to permanent residence applicants who must ensure their immigration status remains valid.
The new directive was issued ahead of the previous March 31 deadline to address backlogs and printing delays affecting visa processing. The Department of Home Affairs has stated that efforts to clear the backlog are ongoing but additional time is needed to finalise applications and appeals.
