Temporary measures to address the delays in processing visa applications, outcomes on waiver applications and appeal applications were announced by the South African Department of Home Affairs in December last year. The key extension dates to note are outlined below.

Key extension dates to note:

• Waiver applications: Applicants with waiver applications pending as of 30 November 2023, have been granted a blanket temporary extension until 30 June 2024. This is to allow time for the Department of Home Affairs to process the pending applications and for the applicants to be able to collect their outcomes and submit their relevant visa applications. Applicants who wish to abandon their waiver applications and depart South Africa will be able to do so on or before 30 June 2024 without being declared undesirable.
• Long-term visa applications: Applicants with pending long-term visa applications as of 30 November 2023 have been granted a blanket temporary extension on their current visa status and conditions until 30 June 2024. Applicants who wish to abandon their visa applications and depart South Africa will be able to do so on or before 30 June 2024 without being declared undesirable.
• Short-term visa applications: Applicants who have applied for a renewal of their short-term visa (90 days or less) but have not yet received their renewal visa outcome by 23 February 2024, must depart South Africa on or before 29 February 2024 to avoid being declared undesirable.
• Appeal applications: Applicants with pending appeal applications on negative decisions for long-term visas have been granted a temporary extension on their current visa status and conditions until 30 June 2024. Applicants who wish to abandon their visa applications and depart South Africa will be able to do so on or before 30 June 2024 without being declared undesirable.

Applicants that fall under the above extensions, are not allowed to engage in any activity other than what their current visa status and conditions allow.

Applicants who need to travel and are awaiting outcomes are allowed to exit and re-enter South Africa up to and including 30 June 2024, without being declared undesirable. However, non-visa-exempt applicants are required to apply for a port-of-entry visa, which allows re-entry into South Africa. All appeal applicants are required to produce a copy of the rejection letter with a receipt for the appeal application on departure and re-entry into South Africa.

The above temporary measures apply only to foreign nationals who have been legally admitted into South Africa and applicants who have submitted applications via VFS Global on or before 30 November 2023.

Written by Ahlisha Yesmariam, Immigration Paralegal, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg