On 26 September 2025 the Minister of Home Affairs announced a further extension of the visa concession to visa holders with waiver and appeal applications as the backlog at the Department of Home Affairs in finalising these applications, remains.

Announced just days before the current concession was due to expire on 30 September 2025, the extension was widely anticipated due to some ongoing processing delays.

Both waiver and appeal applicants now have time until 31 March 2026, as per Immigration Directive No. 22 of 2025.

Jaco Brits, Head of Immigration at Xpatweb, says visa holders who previously benefited from earlier concessions as they waited on the Department to finalise their applications, should note the narrower relief of the latest concession.

2025: From Blanket Relief to Targeted Measures

Faced with a backlog in visa applications that stretched back nearly a decade, the DHA issued its first blanket concession in September 2022. Several more extensions were granted as the Department tackled the backlog. 

By mid-2025, the Minister announced it had eliminated the visa and permit backlog entirely. With standard visa processing delays eradicated, the focus has now narrowed to clearing the remaining waiver and appeal backlogs.

Brits explains that the transition from broad safety net to targeted relief with the concession reflects DHA’s confidence in its progress.

The extension of the concession is welcomed as it provides critical certainty for applicants who find themselves in this difficult position. “It allows them to continue their stay in South Africa lawfully while the Department works through outstanding waiver and appeal matters.”

Further Temporary Relief

The temporary measures announced, apply with immediate effect.

Waiver Applicants

Visa holders, who have applied for a waiver and whose waiver application is still pending as of the date of signature of the Directive are granted a further temporary extension until 31 March 2026.

Those who need to travel would be allowed to depart and re-enter South Africa at a port of entry up until 31 March 2026, without being declared undesirable.

However, non-visa-exempt applicants who travel out of the country with a waiver application receipt are required to apply for a port-of-entry visa, which would allow them re-entry into the Republic.

Appeal Applicants

Visa holders who have appealed a negative decision on an application for a long-term visa or who have appealed a negative decision on a permanent residence application, are also granted an extension until 31 March 2026. Applicants are not allowed to engage in any activity other than what the visa conditions provide for.

Appeal applicants who need to travel but are awaiting the outcome of an appeal application for a long-term visa or a permanent residence permit, will be allowed to depart from South Africa and re-enter up to and including 31 March 2026, without being declared undesirable.

The DHA reiterated that the temporary measures would apply only to those foreigner nationals who have been legally admitted into the country, who have applied via VFS Global in South Africa and who can produce a verifiable receipt for such application against the VFS Global tracking system.

Stay Knowledgeable

Any other person from the categories not listed in the Directive who might not have received his/her outcome, and the application was made before 7 March 2024 and remains pending, is advised to make urgent enquiries, the DHA stated.

Written by Xpatweb