SOUTH AFRICA – Extension of concessions due to visa processing delays.

April 2, 2025

By: Jonathan Fetting, Senior Associate, Newland Chase Advisory

The directive provides important relief for foreign nationals facing delays in their visa, waiver, and appeal applications by granting extensions until September 30, 2025. This ensures that applicants are not penalized for administrative backlogs, maintaining their legal status and avoiding undesirable status while awaiting decisions. The extension also facilitates travel, allowing individuals to depart and re-enter South Africa without issues. However, those who are not visa-exempt and normally require a visa to enter South Africa will need to apply for a visa to re-enter the country should they have to travel during this period.

Overall, the directive offers greater flexibility and fairness in the immigration process, ensuring that applicants have the necessary time for resolution without disruption to their status or plans. The Department of Home Affairs is making significant progress in addressing the persistent backlog of applications it has faced for several years, dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic. This progress appears to be largely attributed to strong leadership by the new Minister.

The Department of Home Affairs of South Africa has made significant progress in addressing a large and persistent visa application backlog. Despite this, a new directive effective March 28, 2025, signalled the continuation of temporary extensions for foreign nationals awaiting delayed outcomes of their waiver, visa, and appeal applications.

Information relating to waiver applications.

If a foreign national’s waiver application is still pending as at the date of the directive, their visa status is extended until September 30, 2025. This allows sufficient time for the Department to finalize processing. Additionally, foreign nationals wishing to leave South Africa while awaiting their waiver decision will be allowed to depart and re-enter South Africa on or before September 30, 2025, without being declared undesirable. Non-visa-exempt travelers will need to apply for a port of entry visa for re-entry to South Africa.

Information relating to pending visa applications.

For foreign nationals who have applied for long-term visas and whose applications are still pending, a temporary extension is granted until September 30, 2025. These individuals are not permitted to engage in activities beyond the scope of their current visa conditions. If they need to travel, they can depart and re-enter South Africa on or before September 30, 2025, without facing any undesirable status. However, non-visa-exempt foreign nationals will need to apply for a port of entry visa to re-enter the country.

Information relating to visa appeal applications.

Foreign nationals who have filed an appeal after receiving a negative decision on their long-term visa application are also granted a temporary extension of their current visa status until September 30, 2025. If they need to travel, they may depart and re-enter South Africa within this period. It is important that they present proof of appeal submission, such as a copy of the rejection letter along with the receipt or confirmation of appeal, when leaving and re-entering South Africa. Non-visa-exempt appeal applicants must apply for a port of entry visa to re-enter the country.

These temporary measures do not apply to foreign nationals who have applied for permanent residence. Foreign nationals must ensure their residential status remains valid while waiting for permanent residence application outcomes. The extensions apply exclusively to those foreign nationals who have submitted applications via VFS Global and can provide verifiable receipts from the VFS Global tracking system.

If you need further assistance or have any questions regarding these changes, please contact us.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.