Foreigners with pending waiver applications, visa applications and visa appeal applications safeguarded against adverse consequences until 30 September 2025

The extension applies as follows:

• A blanket temporary extension of their current visa status has been granted to long-term visa holders (foreign nationals in possession of either a visitor's visa in terms of section 11(1)(b) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (Act), work visa, business visa, study visa or accompanying spousal visa) who have pending visa applications, appeal applications, and/or waiver applications as at 28 March 2025 until 30 September 2025.
• The temporary blanket extension will allow foreign nationals with pending waiver applications time to collect their waiver outcomes and apply for appropriate visas.
• Foreign nationals who decide to abandon their pending visa waiver applications and depart from South Africa will be allowed to exit at a port of entry on or before 30 September 2025 without being declared undesirable.
• While waiting for the outcome of their visa applications, foreign nationals are prohibited from engaging in any activity other than those activities that are specifically provided for as part of the conditions imposed on their current visas.
• Foreign nationals with pending waiver, visa and appeal applications who need to travel will be allowed to exit and re-enter South Africa at a port of entry up to and including 30 September 2025 without being declared undesirable, however:
• upon returning to South Africa, non-visa exempt foreigner nationals are required to apply for a port of entry visa which would allow them re-entry into South Africa; and
• foreign nationals with pending appeal applications are required to produce a copy of the rejection letter with a receipt from the Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) as proof that the appeal application has been submitted on departure and re-entry into South Africa.

The concession only applies to foreign nationals who have been legally admitted into South Africa, who have pending visa, appeal or waiver applications and who can produce a VFS receipt that is verifiable against the VFS Global tracking system.

Hopefully this additional extension will allow the DHA sufficient time to clear its backlog, and come 30 September 2025, foreign nationals aren't left questioning their legal status in South Africa.