Home Affairs Extends Visa Deadline for Foreign Nationals

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has issued a new immigration directive granting temporary relief to foreign nationals awaiting outcomes on visa waiver requests, long-term visa applications, and related appeals.

Signed by Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber on 28 March 2025, Immigration Directive No. 4 of 2025 extends the validity of current temporary visas to 30 September 2025 for all eligible applicants, including:

• foreign nationals with pending waiver applications,
• foreign nationals with pending long-term visa applications in terms of sections 11(1)(b) to 22 of the Immigration Act, and

• applicants appealing rejected long-term visa decisions.

The extension applies specifically to individuals who lawfully entered South Africa and submitted their applications through VFS Global, with verifiable receipts matching the VFS tracking system.

The directive is clear that all eligible individuals can remain in South Africa during this grace period and may exit and re-enter the country provided they carry the required documentation.

It is important to note:

1.      Applicants from non-visa-exempt countries who travel out of the country with a VFS application receipt are required to apply for a visitors’ visa in terms of Section 11(1) of the Immigration Act, 2002, which would allow them to re-enter South Africa.

2.      The directive does not apply to permanent residence applicants, who must ensure their stay remains lawful throughout the process.

The new directive was issued just ahead of the previous 31 March deadline and aims to address ongoing backlogs and printing delays which have put pressure on the system.

You can access the full document HERE