28 Aug Home Affairs Scraps the Visa Medical Report Rule

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, has signed off on the Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 10 of 2026, waiving the requirement to submit a medical report for temporary and permanent residence applicants.

This waiver specifically applies to Temporary Residence Visa and Permanent Residence Permit applications submitted both within South Africa and abroad, providing some much-welcomed relief to prospective applicants.

These medical reports were known to add costs and delays to applications without contributing much decision-making value. All applicants had to book appointments, undergo examinations, and pay for a document that, in the majority of cases, had no significant bearing on the outcome of their application.

Many applications were being delayed or refused over technical defects in the certificate rather than genuine health concerns, adding pressure to South Africa’s already stretched immigration system.

This waiver has been in effect since 8 July 2026. Dr Leon Schreiber further instructed that the content of the Ministerial Directive be brought to the attention of all officials responsible for processing temporary residence visa and permanent residence permit applications to ensure its immediate implementation.

This latest directive builds upon previous reforms that were initially introduced in April 2023, when the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) waived the requirement for applicants to submit a radiological report.

Prior to this waiver, temporary residence visa applicants whose stay exceeded 90 days were required to submit a radiological report that would only be valid for six months.

These reports were often costly, time-consuming to obtain, and had to be issued from the country where the visa application was submitted. This, of course, created significant logistical and financial challenges for applicants living or travelling abroad.

The removal of the radiological and now the medical report requirements represents the DHA’s continued efforts to simplify the immigration process in South Africa by reducing unnecessary administrative barriers.

Which Documents Are Still Required?

It is important for all prospective applicants to remember that this waiver is only applicable to the medical report. Every other requirement remains fully in force, including:

• Police clearance certificate (from the country where you have been residing for 12 months or longer in the five years preceding your application)
• Proof of financial means, qualifications, employment, or relationship (depending on your visa category)
• Valid passport, prescribed forms, and any other category-specific supporting documents

South Africa’s immigration system is slowly moving towards being more efficient and cost-effective, with the DHA removing requirements that have long been criticised for being costly and time-consuming while contributing little to the assessment of immigration applications. This will allow immigration officials to focus on the substantive assessment of applications.

June Luna Immigration Attorneys boasts almost a decade of experience in successfully assisting foreign nationals to obtain a timely and favourable outcome on their temporary or permanent residency application.

CONTACT US today for more information on our South African immigration services and to book a consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.