The South African Department of Home Affairs has issued Immigration Directive No. 4 of 2025, extending temporary concessions for certain foreign nationals until 31 March 2026. These concessions are intended to address ongoing visa and permit processing backlogs. Readers are invited to review our previous alert on the concession here.
The concession applies to individuals who have:
- Pending waiver applications; or
- Pending visa or permanent residence (PR) appeals.
Eligible applicants may depart from and re-enter South Africa during this period by presenting proof of their pending application, such as:
- A copy of the rejection letter and proof of appeal submission (for visa appeal applicants); or
- The same documentation when applying for a port of entry visa, if required.
The concession only applies to individuals legally admitted to South Africa who have submitted their applications via VFS Global.
This latest directive provides welcome relief amid ongoing processing delays, particularly as it now includes those with pending waiver applications. Newland Chase will continue to monitor updates and advise clients of further developments.
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.
