04 Jul New Home Affairs Minister Extends Temporary Visa Concession

The newly appointed Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, has previously stated that addressing the backlog of work visas was high on the agenda. He stated, “We absolutely have to look at visa processes; we have to take the visa issue very seriously, as this is an economic catalyst for SA.”

The Minister has been true to his word, and on his first day in office, he swiftly executed his first official act by extending the temporary visa concession for foreign nationals waiting for their visa, waiver, and application outcomes.

The extended concession is effective immediately until the 31st of December. Minister Schreiber has pledged that while tackling the infamous Home Affairs backlog, any modifications or alterations to the concession will be communicated before the new expiry date. This decision is to ensure that there won’t be a repeat of the current situation where the concession expires before an extension is announced.

Under this concession, international tourists and workers who contribute to the South African economy can work without worry if their documentation expires while they wait for the outcome of their application. The Minister’s swift decision is a hopeful sign for skilled workers, investors, and those in the tourism sector, who often see opportunities lost because of the delayed visa system.

Under the new concession, businesses and other stakeholders are protected while Home Affairs tackles the backlog of visa applications. The clearing of the backlog is an urgent priority that the Minister of Home Affairs has vowed to solve and update the public on.

Detailed Guidelines for Applicants

Applicants with Pending Waiver Applications

• If you are a visa holder with a pending waiver application as of June 30, 2024, you are granted a temporary extension until December 31, 2024. This will allow enough time for the Department of Home Affairs to process applications and for applicants to know their application outcomes and submit the applications for the necessary visas.
• There is also the option to abandon the waiver applications. If this is decided by the applicant, they may do so by December 31, 2024, and they will not be declared undesirable.
• For visa holders who are waiting for waiver outcomes, they are allowed to leave and re-enter South Africa up until the 31st of December without being declared undesirable. If the applicant is a non-visa-exempt applicant, they must apply for a port-of-entry visa to re-enter the country.

Applicants with Pending Visa Applications

• Visa application holders with a long-term visa that has been pending as of June 30, 2024, are allowed a temporary extension of their current status until December 31, 2024. These applicants must adhere to their current visa conditions.
• For those applicants who wish to abandon their visa appeals, they may do so by leaving South Africa by December 31, 2024. Upon doing so, they will not be declared undesirable.
• For visa applicants who are waiting for outcomes, they may exit and re-enter South Africa until December 31, 2024, without being declared undesirable. If the applicant is a non-visa-exempt applicant, they must apply for a port-of-entry visa to re-enter the country.

Short-term visa holders

• If the applicant is a short-term visa holder who has applied for a renewal but has not received any outcome from Home Affairs, they are required to arrange to depart by the expiry date of the principal visa to avoid being declared undesirable. This is in alignment with the Immigration Act’s limit of 180 days for visiting purposes.

The Department of Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Leon Schreiber, and his team have pledged a commitment to restoring trust and building South Africa’s economic potential through efficient and fair visa processes.

At June Luna Immigration Attorneys, we are committed to guiding applicants through the often complicated aspects of the South African visa process. For more information on the temporary visa concession, visit our website. For more information on navigating the visa process or if you need any assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us.