SA Visa Backlog Concession Extended to March 2026 | Directive 22 of 2025

The South African Department of Home Affairs (the "Department") has issued a major update, Immigration Directive No 22 of 2025, granting a temporary six-month reprieve for thousands of foreign nationals whose applications are stuck in the appeals and waiver backlogs.

While the Department has made significant progress in clearing the general visa and permit backlog, the finalization of waiver and appeal applications has been slower than anticipated.

The previous concession deadline of 30 September 2025 has therefore been extended to protect applicants from being penalized.

This directive brings clarity and legal stability for the next six months.

The following temporary measures take immediate effect:

New Extension Deadline: 31 March 2026

Who is Eligible? Only foreign nationals who were legally admitted into the Republic and submitted their applications via Visa Application Center with a verifiable receipt.

If you are a visa holder who submitted a waiver application and are still waiting for the outcome, you are protected by this extension:

Temporary Extension Granted: Your current visa status is temporarily extended until 31 March 2026. This gives the Department time to finalize your application and allows you to submit the final, appropriate visa application.

Travel Permitted: You are allowed to depart from and re-enter South Africa up to and including 31 March 2026 without being declared "undesirable".

Crucial Travel Note: If you are a non-visa-exempt applicant (meaning you usually need a visa to enter South Africa), you must apply for a port-of-entry visa to allow re-entry into the Republic while your waiver application is pending.

If you have appealed a negative decision regarding a long-term visa (Sections 11(1)(b) through 22 of the Immigration Act) or a permanent residence application, you are also covered:

Temporary Extension Granted: Your current visa status is temporarily extended until 31 March 2026.

Condition: You must not engage in any activity other than what your current visa conditions provide for. For example, if you hold a visitor's visa, you cannot begin working.

Travel and Documentation: You are allowed to depart from and re-enter the Republic up to and including 31 March 2026 without being declared "undesirable".

Mandatory Requirement: On both departure and re-entry, you must produce a copy of the original rejection letter, along with a receipt or confirmation of your appeal submission.

Crucial Travel Note: Non-visa-exempt appeal applicants who travel out of the country must apply for a port-of-entry visa for re-entry.

Validity Check: This temporary extension only applies to foreigners who were legally admitted into the Republic and who can produce a verifiable Visa Application Center receipt.

Pending Outcomes (Pre-07 March 2024): Any person not specifically listed in this directive whose application was made before 07 March 2024 and remains pending should urgently inquire with the Home Affairs Contact Centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does processing take at the Visa Application Center?

  Standard processing takes 15 calendar days from your appointment at the designated Visa Application Center or Embassy.

• What are the visa fees and application center charges?

  Visa fees consist of the official Embassy/Consulate consular fee (EUR 80 / ~R1600), standard designated Visa Application Center biometric service fee (R450), and expert document advisory assistance (R950).

• Do I need an appointment at the Visa Application Center?

  Yes, in-person biometric submissions and document verification require a pre-booked appointment at the accredited Visa Application Center or official Consulate.

• Are application fees refundable if a visa is delayed or refused?

  Official Embassy visa fees and designated Visa Application Center biometric charges are strictly non-refundable once the dossier has been lodged.