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GMS Flash Alert 2025-073

South Africa � Extension of the Visa Concession

GMS Flash Alert 2025-073 | 9 April 2025

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (“DHA�) has issued an extension of the temporary concession for foreign nationals due to delays with the processing of appeal applications and certain manual applications.1

The concession issued on 18 December 2024, was set to expire on 31 March 2025. ÌýThe DHA has established that most of the visa outcomes would not be ready for collection prior to this deadline due to the delays in the printing process.Ìý It was further noted that pending appeal applications and some manual category applications will also not be completed prior to the expiry of the concession issued on 18 December 2024.

In terms of Immigration Directive. No 4 of 2025, the visa concession has been extended until 30 September 2025, to provide the DHA sufficient time to finalise pending visa applications and to allow applicants to submit their visa and permit applications.

WHY THIS MATTERSÌý ÌýÌý

The extension of the visa concession is welcomed by many foreign nationals who are awaiting their visa outcomes.Ìý It also provides comfort to employers, as their impacted foreign employees are allowed to continue to work whilst the department processes their work visa applications. ÌýThe decision by the department to grant the visa concession for a period of six (6) months can be expected to help alleviate the anxieties and uncertainties of applicants, providing them sufficient time to collect their outcomes and submit the appropriate visa applications.

BackgroundÌý Ìý

What Is a Visa Holder?

A foreign national who is not a holder of a permanent residence permit, may enter and sojourn in South Africa only if in possession of a visa issued by the Director- General (“DGâ€�) of the DHA for a prescribed period.Ìý

Examples of a Long-Term Visa

  • Visitors Visa to accompany spouses and/or parents
  • Study Visas
  • Own Business Visas
  • Work Visas
  • Relatives Visas
  • Retired persons Visas
  • Section 11(6) Visas
  • Corporate Visas
  • reaty Work Visas

What Is a Waiver for South African Immigration Purposes?

A waiver is a submission of a request to the DG to exempt an applicant from submitting certain prescribed requirements on his/her application for a work visa or permanent residence permit.

For example: An applicant who wishes to make an application for a general work visa and is unable to obtain his/her foreign qualifications to be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority, may request the DG to exempt him/her from submitting that requirement for the work visa application.

Who Is Impacted by the Extension of the Concession (Explanatory Matrix)? [SA = South Africa]

Ìý

Category (Who?)

Details of fact pattern

Additional comments

Applicants whose waiver application outcomes are still pending

Applicants whose waiver application outcomes are still pending

These are foreign nationals who are already visa holders who have applied for a waiver and the waiver application is still pending

Concession applies until 30 September 2025

Applicants whose waiver application outcomes are still pending � requirement to travel

If a visa holder needs to travel but is awaiting the outcome of a wavier application, he/she should be allowed to depart and re-enter South Africa

Concession applies until 30 September 2025 without being declared undesirable

Applicants whose waiver application outcomes are still pending � abandonment and exit the country

These are foreign nationals who are already visa holders who have applied for a waiver and the waiver application is still pending but these applicants have decided to abandon the waiver application lodged

These persons should be allowed to depart from South Africa without being declared undesirable

Non-visa-exempt applicants

This category of person who travels outside of SA with a waiver application receipt, is required to apply for a port of entry visa, which should allow the person re-entry into SA

Until 30 September 2025

Applicants whose visa applications are still pending

Visa holders who have applied for long-term visas and whose visa application is still pending as at 28 March 2025:

These visa holders are granted a temporary extension of their current visa status

Until 30 September 2025

àVisa holders who need to travel but who are awaiting the outcome of the long-term visa application

These persons should be allowed to depart from SA and re-enter SA

Concession applies until 30 September 2025 without being declared undesirable

àNon-visa-exempt applicants who travel out of SA with a long-term visa application receipt

This category of person who travels outside of SA with an application receipt, is required to apply for a port of entry visa which should allow him/her re-entry into South Africa.

Until 30 September 2025

Applicants who visa appeal applications are still pending

Visa holders who have appealed a negative decision on an application for a long-term visa

Ìý

These persons are granted a temporary extension of their current visa status

Until 30 September 2025. Note that applicants cannot engage in any other activity other than what the current visa conditions provide for.

Visa-appeal applicants who need to travel but who are awaiting the outcome of the appeal for a long-term visa

These persons should be allowed to depart from SA and re-enter SA

Concession applies until 30 September 2025 without being declared undesirable

Source: ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø in South AfricaÌý

Note: As Relates to Persons Who Have Lodged an Appeal

  • All appeal applicants are required to produce a copy of the rejection letter, together with a receipt and/or confirmation indicating that such a person has submitted an appeal application, on departure from and re-entry into the Republic.
  • Non-visa-exempt appeal applicants who travel out of the country with an appeal application receipt and/or confirmation, are required to apply for a port of entry visa, which would allow them re-entry into the Republic.

It is also important to note that the visa concession does not apply to applicants with pending Permanent Residence Permit applications, as these applicants are required to make sure that they always maintain a legal status whilst the DHA processes these applications.

ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø INSIGHTS

For foreign nationals with visa applications with the DHA and wondering about the processing of those applications and how they may be affected by the extension, and whether additional steps need to be taken, should consult with their usual qualified immigration counsel or a member of the immigration team with ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø in South Africa (see the Contacts section).ÌýÌý

FOOTNOTE:

1Ìý See Immigration Directive No 4 of 2025 at: Ìý.

Contacts

melissa-duffy
Melissa Duffy

Partner

ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø in South Africa

lesego-matsheka
Lesego Matsheka

Senior Immigration Manager

ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø in South Africa

More Information

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Disclaimer

* Please note the ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø International member firm in South Africa.

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