28 Jan A New Era for Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Law
South Africa is on the brink of the most significant overhaul of its citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection frameworks in a generation. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has released the Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection, inviting public feedback and igniting widespread discussion among legal professionals, policymakers, and the general public.
This is a major policy proposal by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, aiming to fundamentally reform the country’s approach to citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection. It seeks to modernise, consolidate, and secure the legal framework governing these areas, balancing national security with international obligations.
On 12 December 2025 the DHA invited the public to submit comments on the Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection with the initial closing date for the submission of public comments being the 31st of January 2026. However, the Department has since received requests from various organisations and individuals to extend the closing date. The closing date for the submission of public comments is hereby extended to 15 February 2026.
If this policy proposal is adopted, it would streamline the process of foreign nationals to obtain residency and citizenship as the policy will bring together the Citizenship Act, Immigration Act, and Refugees Act under a single legislative framework, while also safeguarding the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
The White Paper proposes merging existing laws into a single coherent framework, making it easier to administer and enforce migration policies. Additionally, the policy proposes stricter criteria with more stringent requirements for obtaining residency and citizenship, reflecting concerns about national security and the integrity of the system.
The policy outlines updated measures for refugee protection and asylum seekers while also ensuring that South Africa’s international obligations are met. The reforms also incorporate digital transformation of the Department’s agenda, aiming to modernise civil registration and border management.
The Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, immigration and Refugee Protection marks a significant shift in South Africa’s migration governance as it proposes a consolidated legislative framework, stricter eligibility requirements, and improved digital systems to tackle administrative challenges while balancing national security.
To find out more about the draft white paper and what impact these reforms will have, CONTACT US. Our team of immigration lawyers at June Luna Immigration Attorneys today.