Foreign nationals in South Africa with pending visa waivers and appeals could be compelled to exit the country by the end of March 2026, as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) prepares to allow a key visa concession to lapse.
First introduced in 2022 and renewed multiple times, the concession has enabled applicants to remain legally in the country while awaiting decisions from the DHA on their visa requests.
There has been no confirmation from authorities that the concession will be extended again.
According to BusinessTech, the measure was intended to prevent foreign nationals from slipping into irregular immigration status due to prolonged processing delays.
As the deadline draws near, individuals with unresolved waivers or appeals may be required to leave South Africa, risking being declared undesirable upon departure.
Impact of Concession Expiry
If the concession is not renewed, applicants awaiting DHA decisions will lose their legal protection, leaving them with few alternatives.
Immigration lawyers from Visa Litigation Services (VLS) have indicated that affected individuals may have to pursue legal action to speed up their cases or leave the country to avoid overstaying.
The firm noted that some applicants have lived in South Africa for decades, are married to citizens or permanent residents, and have been waiting since 2022 for outcomes, describing the situation as unfair and unacceptable.
The cost of sudden travel arrangements has also increased, as airfare prices continue to rise due to geopolitical tensions and higher oil prices linked to conflicts in the Middle East.
This has added further pressure on applicants already struggling with delays from the DHA.
DHA’s Progress and Corruption Allegations
The DHA has been working to reduce a backlog of more than 300,000 applications since early 2024.
Although a significant portion has been processed, delays persist, particularly for visa waivers and appeals.
To address the issue, the concession was extended until March 31, 2026, as the number of pending applications continued to grow.
A recent report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed longstanding corruption within the country’s immigration system, involving a small group of officials.
These officials allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for approving visas and residence permits.
The probe, commissioned by President Cyril Ramaphosa, examined irregularities in visa processing between 2004 and 2024, before the current coalition government took office.
Findings showed that manual, paper-based systems were manipulated, contributing to inefficiencies and opportunities for abuse.
Impact on South African Employment
The corruption has also affected the local job market.
Irregular visa approvals have allowed more foreign nationals to enter or remain in the country, with some allegedly obtaining permits through fraudulent means, increasing competition for employment with citizens.
Digital Reform to Combat Corruption
In response, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated that efforts are underway to tackle fraud through digital transformation.
The department is shifting toward an electronic travel authorisation system designed to minimise human involvement in application processing.
Schreiber emphasised that modern technology and systemic reforms are essential to eliminating corruption within the system.
Uncertainty Surrounds Concession Extension as Deadline Approaches
With the expiry date fast approaching, the DHA has not clarified whether the concession will be extended.
Now that much of the backlog has been cleared, attention is turning to how future applications and pending cases will be managed.
The decision will have a major impact on foreign nationals seeking to retain legal status in South Africa, and those affected are urged to monitor updates from the DHA as the deadline approaches.