In a welcome move, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has formally committed to setting turnaround times for visa and permit-related services, marking a significant shift aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and public trust in South Africa’s immigration system.

The commitment follows a comprehensive review of all immigration categories, which revealed a critical gap: the absence of visible turnaround time information, leading to applicant and adjudicator confusion and inconsistent communication.

In a circular issued in December 2025, Acting Deputy Director-General for Immigration Services, Mr Mandla Madumisa, confirmed that the Chief Directorate for Permits will now be formally bound to defined turnaround times for visa and permit adjudication. Applicants and stakeholders have been encouraged to consult these timelines to better plan and manage engagements with the Department.

Historically the Chief Directorate operated without formally defined turnaround times for its services. The turnaround times were only informally aligned with the Annual Performance Plan (APP) and Annual Operational Plan (AOP) targets, but were not explicitly included.

Published Turnaround Times for Key Visa Categories

Under the new framework, the DHA has committed to the following processing timelines:

• Critical Skills Work Visa (including pre-vetted companies who are part of the Trusted Employer Scheme): 4 weeks
• General Work Visa: 8 weeks
• Business Visa (Temporary – Section 15): 8 weeks
• Business Investment (Section 27(c), referring to permanent residence permit based on a business investment): 8 months
  • Visitor’s Visa (Section 11(1) relating to short-term stays for tourism, business, or specific activities like research or accompanying family): 60 days
  • Visitor’s Visa (Section 11(6), a special spousal visa for the foreign spouse of partner of a South African citizen or Permanent Resident, allowing them to live, work, study, or start a business in the country): 120 days
  • Medical Treatment Visa: 60 days
  • Port of Entry Visa (Trusted Tour Operator Scheme): 5 days

For Permanent Residence Permits, including retired persons, spouses, dependants, and financially independent applicants, the DHA has set a turnaround time of 12 months.

Appeals will be finalised within:

• 180 days for a first appeal to the Director-General; and
• Up to 240 days for a second appeal to the Minister.

Visa rectifications, transfers, and corrections are to be handled within 30 days.

The Reality on the Ground: Years of Waiting and Court Intervention

Aadil Wadee, Senior Immigration Consultant and Admitted Attorney at Visa Litigation Services, describes the announcement as a positive development but points to several real-life cases illustrating how far-removed applicants’ lived experiences have been from these targets, particularly given the surge in litigation over the past year to compel DHA decisions on long-delayed applications and appeals.

In a recent case, the High Court in Pretoria intervened on behalf of a foreign tax professional who waited more than a year for his Critical Skills Work Visa, despite being eligible. After DHA refused the visa in August 2023 and failed to adjudicate the subsequent appeal lodged in September 2023, the court set aside the refusal and ordered the Department to issue the visa immediately.

In another landmark ruling, the same court resolved what the DHA failed to finalise for more than five years. A UK-born national, who first applied for permanent residence in September 2019, was declared a permanent resident of South Africa nearly six years later. The judgment followed years of unjustified delays, refusals, and administrative dead ends. The court’s intervention ultimately vindicated the applicant on all fronts.

Concerns Remain Over Poor Adjudication and Incorrect Refusals

Immigration practitioners continue to raise concerns about the quality of visa adjudication for applications submitted in South Africa. Wadee says while the DHA is to be commended for eradicating the visa processing backlog, it appears to have introduced new challenges, including an increase in the rejection of applications they believe to be factually incorrect. Many applications that fully comply with regulatory requirements are refused, forcing applicants to follow the legal route.

According to Visa Litigation Services, recent court outcomes in favour of applicants demonstrate that accurately prepared and compliant applications consistently withstand judicial scrutiny. In several instances, courts have not only overturned refusals but have directly ordered DHA to issue visas or permits, underscoring adjudication failures rather than applicant non-compliance.

International Comparison: How South Africa Stacks Up

Internationally, visa processing benchmarks vary widely, but most systems prioritise efficiency, fairness, security, and applicant experience.

Schengen countries aim for decisions within 15 days, extendable to 60 days, while the United States may take several months, particularly where interviews or security clearances are required. The United Kingdom offers standard and paid priority services, with decisions ranging from days for priority applications, to weeks depending on the category.

The UK, often perceived as more efficient with a target turnaround time of 3 weeks (non-settlement), is itself experiencing some delays. British media recently reported that the country’s immigration system faces significant delays across many visa categories, with actual processing times often exceeding official standards due to high demand, new digital system issues, and backlogs, leading to extended waits for family, work, and settlement visas.

Progress, But Legal Remedies Remain Essential

The DHA’s move to publish turnaround times is an important step towards accountability, improved service delivery, and reduced fraud risk. The Department is also modernising its systems and increasingly relying on technology to streamline processes. Wadee notes that this is already bearing fruit.

However, practitioners caution that legal intervention remains an essential recourse for applicants facing undue delays or incorrect refusals, particularly in legacy cases where backlogs persist. This is where professionally prepared applications and timely legal assistance remain critical safeguards in navigating South Africa’s immigration system.

Written by Aadil Wadee, Senior Immigration Consultant and Admitted Attorney at Visa Litigation Services