IMCOSA Immigration and Consulting South Africa

20/07/2026

IMCOSA Newsletter – Immigration enforcement intensifies: Compliance for employers, policy updates, and more

Dear Clients, Partners and Friends,

The past few months have been deeply unsettling for many foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly those from elsewhere on the African continent, as well as for their employers, families, and communities. Anti-migrant demonstrations have created fear and uncertainty, affecting even those who are lawfully present and properly documented.

The issues underlying these developments are complex. Genuine frustrations over service delivery, economic opportunities, and access to resources exist. However, these concerns are often misdirected at vulnerable foreign nationals, and irregular immigration status is frequently conflated with criminality. At the same time, South Africa's asylum and immigration systems have long faced significant challenges and abuse, contributing to public concern and policy pressures.

Sustainable solutions will require a careful balance between humanitarian considerations and responsiveness to broader social and economic realities.

In other news, government continues to pursue various reforms and innovations, bringing a mix of positive and challenging developments.

In this edition we cover:

• Employer compliance amid increased immigration enforcement
• Medical certificates to be abolished
• Government advances implementation of the White Paper
• Processing delays persist as adjudication quality declines
For more information, scroll down, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for live updates.

Yours sincerely,

Julia and the IMCOSA Team


Employer compliance amid increased immigration enforcement

Immigration enforcement has intensified in recent months and is expected to remain a priority. Employers who fail to comply with immigration legislation may face significant fines and even imprisonment. Employees without the required status risk arrest, deportation, and being declared undesirable.

Employers should take the following steps to minimise risk:

1. Collate – and keep up to date – accurate records of all staff confirming their right to be in the country and to work.
2. Verify that documents are a) authentic, b) valid, and c) authorise the holder to perform their duties for their employer.
3. Rectify any inconsistencies.
4. Plan ahead by following steps 1 and 2 during the recruitment process.
Points to be aware of:

A. There are many different visa and permit categories which all have different conditions in terms of the activities they permit.
B. The visa or permit itself does not always reflect the holder's complete legal position. Ministerial directives may temporarily extend rights or modify conditions. Cases must be assessed individually for their merit.
C. Fraudulent and fraudulently obtained immigration documents remain common.
D. The chances of securing a visa with the right to work for unskilled positions are generally low, with some exceptions.
E. An employee’s lack of the required status and documentation does not exempt employers from following correct procedures under labour laws.

Given the complexity of South African immigration law, professional advice is strongly recommended before making employment or compliance decisions.

Medical certificates to be abolished

The Department of Home Affairs has taken a significant step towards further simplifying visa and immigration processes.

As per Ministerial Directive on 8 July 2026 (in its amended version circulated on 17 July 2026), applicants no longer need to provide a medical certificate as part of their supporting documents.

Although the directive was withdrawn shortly after its first publication because of an administrative error, and the second version contains further errors, it is expected that this change will come into effect shortly.

What this means for applicants: Once the corrected directive takes effect, medical certificates will no longer be required for any applications.

For any questions, please reach out to the IMCOSA team.

Government advances implementation of the White Paper

In our Newsletter of April 2026, we reported in detail on the changes to the visa, immigration and citizenship landscape in South Africa proposed in the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection.
As anticipated, government has moved quickly to begin implementing these proposals. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration has recently announced that the draft bill will be published for public comment within the year 2026. Major changes could therefore become a reality in the course of 2027.

Important measures taken and planned for include:

• Improved adjudication quality: In our view, this is urgently needed, see article below.
• Digitized and inter-agency data sharing to verify supporting documents and detect fraud: The current verification process has created significant practical and legal challenges, contributing to avoidable rejections and delays.
• Monitoring of visa holders adhering to requirements after receipt of visas or permits: It will require applicants to comply with their visa and permit conditions long-term.
• ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) roll-out: Digital visa applications will be phased in within the coming three years.
• Smart ID and passport applications through bank branches: To find your nearest participating bank branch, and to be informed as more branches are activated, visit www.dha.gov.za/banks.

What this means: Although no legislative changes have taken effect yet, prospective applicants should expect significant reforms during 2027.


Processing delays persist as adjudication quality declines

The Department of Home Affairs has published unchanged target processing timelines for 2026/2027. While the Department's targets remain lengthy in several categories, our experience indicates that actual processing times frequently exceed even these targets.

A positive trend has been detected for permanent residence applications based on retirement and financial independence, with a significant number of results received within 8-12 months.

We continue to see a decline in adjudication quality across the industry, with an increasing number of decisions that appear inconsistent with the law or unsupported by the facts presented. Although difficult to predict due to the nature of the rejections, we continuously refine our advice based on current adjudication trends, helping clients minimise risk and prepare the strongest possible applications.

For questions regarding active or planned applications, please contact us directly.

09/07/2026

Important Change in Immigration Regulations

The Department of Home Affairs has taken a welcome step towards further simplifying visa and immigration processes.

As per Ministerial Directive on 8 July 2026, applicants for permanent residence in general, and for temporary visas submitted within South Africa, no longer need to provide a medical certificate as part of their supporting documents.

This means that you no longer have to obtain your medical certificate from your doctor when preparing for your application for permanent residence, or for a long-term visa when applied for from South Africa.

For any questions, please reach out to the IMCOSA team.

16/04/2026

IMCOSA Newsletter April 2026 – Changes in visa, immigration & citizenship laws, updated travel exemptions, beware 60-day rule, and more

Dear Clients, Partners and Friends,

Many of us entered the year 2026 in the hope that it would be better than the last. On the global stage, this has not entirely proven to be the case. However, while economic challenges elsewhere often reach South Africa with some delay, the country is currently perceived as something of safe haven, largely removed from major international conflicts. Tourist numbers since the start of the year have been high, and we continue to see sustained interest in relocation to South Africa.

Locally, the steady stream of changes in policy and procedure relating to visas, immigration and citizenship continues. Below is a summary of some of the most important developments:

• White Paper on Immigration, Citizenship and Asylum moving towards implementation – do not be caught on the back foot
• Free travel for long-term visa, appeal and waiver applicants until 30 June 2027
• Late application rejections (60-day rule)
• Hundreds of South African citizenships restored via the new portal for South Africans abroad
• Immigration crackdowns – onus on employers
• VFS update – Cape Town office relocation & premium remote service
• Government processing timelines - commitment vs practice

For more information, visit

IMCOSA: Discover the latest news about everything immigration and visa related. Make sure you stay ahead and read today! | IMCOSA

31/03/2026

NEW and EXTRA LONG Automatic Visa Extension & Travel Exemption
Applicants for long-term visas, appeals and waivers covered until 30 June 2027

Once again at the eleventh hour at the close of 30 March 2026, the last travel exemption which was due to expire on 31 March, was extended by the Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber. It again accommodates those affected by visa, waiver and appeal processing backlogs on the part of the Department of Home Affairs.

According to the latest extension, those who applied and have not received an outcome for waivers or long-term temporary residence visas on or before the 30th of March 2026, or who have appealed a negative decision, may continue to stay in South Africa and follow their activities as per their last visas, OR leave the country by 30 June 2027 without being banned from returning.

NOTE: The update still largely excludes short-term visitors and tourists who wish to stay in South Africa longer than their 30- or 90-day visas. All those who are awaiting an extension of their short-term visa and whose previous visas have expired while waiting, must have left the country by the end of 31 March 2026, or receive the outcome of their application before their departure. If they leave from 1 April 2026 before their extension has been granted, they should expect to receive a travel ban of 1 year or longer. Exception: Applicants for short-term visitors visa extensions who have received a rejection of their application, appealed this decision and have been waiting for an outcome of their appeal for longer than 3 months as at 30 March 2026, may leave the country until 30 April 2026 without receiving a travel ban.

For specific and detailed information, kindly contact our office on 021 462 3184, or send an email to [email protected].

17/12/2025

Newsletter December 2025

IMCOSA Newsletter – A special Thank You as IMCOSA turns 20, the brand-new Immigration White Paper, New Visa Categories and Process Alerts

Dear Clients, Partners and Friends,

As you are about to knock off for the festive season, allow me to share a few words and important updates to close off an eventful anniversary year. This year was marked by travel, growing interest in South Africa - driven both by local stabilization and by global uncertainty - and a wave of immigration policy changes, some exciting and some requiring careful planning.

At age 20, IMCOSA stands proud and unwavering. We look back at two decades of navigating the sometimes treacherous waters of South Africa’s visa, immigration and citizenship landscape, so that our clients don’t have to. I give my tremendous respect and gratitude to our team, including those who are no longer with us or have moved on over the years. They are the amazing core of this company, and their dedication, passion, professionalism and empathy have helped IMCOSA succeed and build its reputation for ethical, capable, cutting edge and human-centered visa and immigration services.

A special thank you also goes to our incredible network of partners and friends near and far. Your trust and expertise throughout the years have been everything. They are threads woven into IMCOSA’s tapestry. I have come to learn that connections with like-minded people who share one’s ethics and values are invaluable, and I hope we will continue to go far together.

May you all close this year gently and with gratitude for all the good things it has brought. May you thrive in 2026 and may we all play our part in making the world a little kinder next year.

Read our first impressions of the hot-off-the-press Immigration White Paper, and the following updates from 2025:

• White Paper on Immigration boldly builds on latest innovations – What to look out for
• Making a visa application from within South Africa? Beware of the 60-day Rule
• LATEST LIMITED Automatic Visa Extensions & Travel Exemptions (October 2025)
• ZEP & LSP Extended (October 2025)
• Citizenship Restoration Portal for South Africans Abroad
• Current Processing Times and Trends

For more information, please visit our website: https://imcosa.co.za/newsletter-december-2025/

10/11/2025

Swallows, Digital Nomads, Graduates and Job Changers – Beware of New Visa Application Processes

Are you planning to visit South Africa and stay longer than your visa exemption of 90 (or 30) days?
Are you changing schools or jobs, waiting for results, acceptance, or a new contract?
Perhaps you were planning to arrive in South Africa and apply for a visa extension from within the country. Or you may be graduating soon and waiting for your results or university admission. Maybe you’ve checked the process or even done it before without any problems.

A significant change has come into effect in recent months that could impact your plans.
Until recently, it was possible to submit an extension (or change of status or conditions) application up until the very last day of your visa’s validity, provided you had good reasons for applying “late” (i.e. within 60 days of expiry). This is no longer accepted.

In what appears to be a newly introduced enforcement of an existing 2014 regulation, most applications for an extension or change of visa submitted less than 60 days before expiry are now being rejected as “late applications.” Reasons for the delay are no longer being considered, and this practice is being applied retrospectively, affecting even those applications already lodged.

What this means for you:
- Long-term visitors and tourists: Submit your visa extension application as early as possible after arriving in South Africa.
- Job or school changes, or long-term visa renewals: Begin preparations well in advance of your visa expiry date.
- If in doubt or already running out of time: Get expert advice immediately. IMCOSA offers up-to-date, accurate and practical guidance for all your visa questions and needs.

10/10/2025

Massive Relief: Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) and Lesotho Special Permits (LSP) Extended by 18 Months

ZEP and LSP permits, issued to Zimbabwean and Lesotho nationals living in South Africa through special concessions first made in 2009 and 2015, respectively, have since been extended through various means. The latest extensions were due to expire next months, and ZEP and LSP holders had been urged and incentivized through a special waiver to change their statuses to ordinary visas. Some who followed this advice have received their work or other visas, but the majority are still waiting either for their waiver or visa outcomes.

As the expiry deadline drew near, and after consultation with his newly appointed Immigration Advisory Board (the statutory body IMCOSA’s Director served on for seven years), the Minister has now issued directives No 20 and 21 of 2025, allowing holders of ZEP or LSP permits to continue living, working, conducting their businesses, studying, and traveling out of and back into the country under the same conditions as before for another 18 months, expiring on 28 May 2027.

This move provides temporary relief to thousands of affected permit holders whose fate had been uncertain, and to their employers and families. The directives are not expected to impact on any pending applications for waivers and ordinary visas.

For detailed advice, contact our Team.

10/10/2025

NEW and LIMITED Automatic Visa Extensions & Travel Exemptions
Only applicants awaiting outcomes of appeals and waivers covered until 31 March 2026

Due to persistent processing backlogs of visa applications made from within South Africa, the Minister of Home Affairs has been issuing a sequence of directives over the last years, protecting applicants from negative consequences arising from their previous visas expiring while they awaited their application results. The directives allowed those with pending applications, and who no longer had valid visas in their passports, to leave the country without being declared undesirable. The latest of these directives expired on 30 September 2025, and its extension was being eagerly awaited.

The directive No 22 of 2025 was published on 26 September and, in a revised form, on 30 September 2025. However, against the previous practice, the directive no longer covers most applicants. In line with the Minister’s claim of earlier this year that the visa backlog had been eradicated, applicants awaiting an outcome to their visa applications are no longer protected. The protection which continues in place is that for applicants awaiting waivers or appeal outcomes (having applied on or before 30 September 2025), because the Department of Home Affairs has acknowledged that a backlog persists in those two areas. This last group of applicants may continue with its activities as per their last visas, and leave the country and return without any penalties or bans, until 31 March 2026.

The newest directive is welcome in its protection of temporary residence waiver and appeal applicants, who are indeed suffering from a backlog of many months and even years. However, the omission of visa applicants altogether brings serious challenges for many. Although current visa processing times have greatly improved to currently, by and large, 2 -10 weeks, industry feedback confirms that there is a significant number of applicants who have been waiting for outcomes of their visa applications from as far back as 2022. These applicants are suddenly no longer able to leave the country without receiving a travel ban, and are not protected if they continue working, studying, or conducting their businesses as per their last visas.

The directive recognises (somehow self-contradicting) that there are visa outcomes outstanding for applications made before 7 March 2024, but only offers as a remedy merely offers the Department’s general enquiry contacts which are not known for providing fast relief. Those who applied for a visa after the rather random date of 7 March 2024 and have not received an outcome yet, are left without any remedy or protection at all.

Holders of ZEP (Zimbabwe Exemption Permit) are still protected in their stay in, and departure from, the country until 27 November 2025.

IN SHORT: All those who are awaiting an outcome of their visa applications and whose previous visas have expired while waiting, are advised to await the outcome of their application from within South Africa. If they leave before their new visa has been granted (in the case of ZEP holders, after 27 November 2025), they should expect to receive a travel ban of 1 year or longer.

For specific and detailed information, kindly contact our office on 021 462 3184, or send an email to [email protected].

07/05/2025

Constitutional Court Restores Citizenship Rights for South Africans Abroad

In a landmark decision welcomed by citizenship experts and the broader South African diaspora, the Constitutional Court has unanimously confirmed that section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act is unconstitutional and invalid from its promulgation in 1995. This provision had automatically stripped South Africans of their citizenship if they voluntarily acquired another nationality, unless they had secured prior permission from the Minister of Home Affairs. The Court declared that all those who lost their citizenship under this provision (i.e. after 6 October 1995) are now deemed never to have lost it, restoring the rights and status of countless South Africans who had found themselves unexpectedly disenfranchised.

This judgment is a monumental affirmation of the constitutional right to citizenship and the importance of legal certainty for South Africans at home and abroad. IMCOSA welcomes this outcome, which aligns with international trends supporting dual citizenship and recognises the realities of a globalised world. We encourage anyone affected by the previous provision to contact us for guidance on the restoration of their citizenship status and to ensure their rights are fully protected going forward. Special processes are being put in place by the government for this purpose, which we will be able to help navigate.

Would you like more information on how to restore your citizenship or what this means for your family? Visit imcosa.co.za for more information.

IMCOSA is your go-to immigration specialist in South Africa. Expert guidance for all your Immigration Consults in South Africa needs!

08/04/2025

IMCOSA Newsletter - Automatic visa extensions, digital nomads visa status, backlog project updates and more

Dear Clients, Partners, and Friends,

The first quarter of 2025 brings both positive developments and ongoing challenges regarding the Department of Home Affairs and its visa and immigration processes. Since Minister Schreiber assumed office in July 2024, we have observed several meaningful improvements. Where challenges persist—such as inconsistent decision-making quality resulting in high rejection rates, and limited application appointments—the Minister has acknowledged these issues and committed to addressing them promptly. While this commitment is encouraging, the practical effects remain mixed for many applicants.

Several initiatives have yet to meet expectations despite public announcements. The E-visa system continues to experience reliability issues, and the Digital Nomad Visa program, though technically available for up to three years, faces implementation barriers at most overseas missions. Nevertheless, we remain optimistic about the overall direction under the new administration. And can we not all do with some positivity at this current global and national moment?

Today's newsletter covers:

• Latest Automatic Visa Extensions & Travel Directive
• Digital Nomad Visa Implementation Status
• SAQA Still Affecting Recruitment Timelines for International Staff
• Visa & Immigration Backlog Project Updates
• Recent Court Ruling on Application Submissions
• SmartID Availability for Naturalized Citizens and Permanent Residents
• New Immigration Advisory Board Appointment
• Current Processing Times and Trends

For more information, scroll down, visit our website (imcosa.co.za) or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for live updates.

Latest Automatic Visa Extensions & Travel Directive

The Minister of Home Affairs' directive No 16 of 2024, issued on December 18, 2024, accommodated those affected by visa, waiver, and appeal processing backlogs by extending the travel exemption through March 31, 2025. This exemption received a partial extension on March 28, 2025.

Under the updated extension, individuals who applied for waivers or long-term temporary residence visas on or before March 28, 2025, and who have not yet received an outcome or have appealed a negative decision, may either continue their activities under their previous visa terms or leave the country by September 30, 2025, without incurring a re-entry ban.

Important Note: This update no longer covers short-term visitors and tourists seeking to extend their 30- or 90-day visas. Those awaiting short-term visa extensions whose previous visas expired during the waiting period were required to leave South Africa by March 31, 2025, or await their application outcome before departing. Those leaving after April 1, 2025, without receiving their extension may face a travel ban of one year or longer.

Digital Nomad Visa Implementation Status

Despite the Remote Worker or Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) being formally introduced in October 2024, practical implementation has progressed slowly. Most South African diplomatic missions abroad either do not yet accept these applications or fail to provide clear confirmation about their processes, creating uncertainty for potential applicants. To date, successful applications have been documented in the United States and United Kingdom.

Questions remain unanswered regarding eligibility for self-employed individuals with regular salaries or freelancers with established client relationships and proven track records. This represents another promising initiative hampered by implementation challenges.

SAQA Still Affecting Recruitment Timelines for International Staff

The Department of Home Affairs has significantly improved foreign skills recruitment by reducing processing times for work visas. While most visa categories require several months for adjudication, work visas are typically issued within 4-8 weeks after application submission—a notable achievement in prioritization.

However, preparation time before submission remains problematic. Applications for both critical skills and general work visas often require 4-8 months of preparation (in addition to processing time) due to foreign qualification evaluation requirements by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which has experienced multi-year backlogs resulting in 3-6 month evaluation periods.

Acknowledging this bottleneck, the Minister issued directives in October 2024 allowing Critical Skills or General Work Visa applications to proceed without completed SAQA evaluations. Under this provision, work visas can be issued for 12 months and extended later. However, these directives have limited practical value since other requirements—particularly registration with and recommendations from professional bodies—typically require SAQA certification first. As a result, employers urgently seeking to address South Africa's skills shortage through foreign recruitment continue to face delays.

Visa & Immigration Backlog Project Progress

Our previous newsletter detailed the Minister's comprehensive backlog reduction initiative. The number of finalized applications by the end of 2024 was substantial. However, what appeared to be a policy of "finalize at all costs" and "reject when in doubt" has resulted in numerous legally flawed rejections and administrative errors, triggering a surge in rectification requests and appeals.

Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) offices struggled to meet the demand for application appointments, prompting the Minister to issue a directive extending the submission deadline to any date before March 31, 2025. This directive, which waived the requirement to submit appeals within 10 working days of receiving negative outcomes, has not been further extended. Both the Department and VFS now believe they can accommodate appointment requests within the standard timeframe.

Positively, some recurring errors have been addressed efficiently, with VFS returning problematic decisions to adjudicators for correction rather than requiring applicants to navigate the appeals process. The Minister has confirmed to parliament that appeals resolution remains a priority for 2025. While early results suggest improved decision quality and faster turnaround times compared to the historical 6-12 month timeline, more data is needed for definitive conclusions.

Court Ruling on Application Submissions

In March 2025, the courts reaffirmed that Department of Home Affairs officials cannot refuse to accept applications for citizenship, birth and marriage certificates, identity documents, and related matters at service counters. Contrary to practices observed at some Home Affairs offices, officials must accept all applications and allow the appropriate adjudicating authorities to evaluate their merits. This ruling provides helpful recourse when dealing with gatekeeping officials.

SmartIDs for Naturalized Citizens and Permanent Residents

A recent agreement between the South African Revenue Services (SARS), the Department of Home Affairs, and other agencies aims to enable naturalized South African citizens and permanent residents to apply for SmartID cards through the same process as citizens by birth or descent within the next 12 months. This enhanced interdepartmental cooperation should facilitate the Department of Home Affairs' digital transformation efforts toward improved documentation and visa services while supporting more effective tax collection and fraud prevention by SARS.

New Immigration Advisory Board Appointment

In another positive development, the Minister of Home Affairs has appointed a new Immigration Advisory Board (IAB) under the leadership of Mavuso Msimang, former Director-General of Home Affairs and Head of Operation Vulindlela (responsible for reducing government bureaucracy). This multi-stakeholder body will provide diverse expertise to guide the Minister on policy matters, including resolving the ongoing situation with Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders.

Current Processing Times and Trends

As mentioned earlier, results for both long-outstanding and recent applications continue to be issued. The backlog reduction coincides with shortened processing times—a significant improvement despite certain challenges. The following averages and estimates are particularly difficult to make at this point in time and provided for reference but should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your dedicated consultant in our team for case-specific guidance:

• Permanent Residence: Critical skills, work, and business applications: 4-12 months; all other categories: 2-3 years
• Temporary Visa Applications: Tourist visa extensions: 1-2 months; critical skills and business visas: 1-2 months; study visas: 1-3 months; other categories: 2-5 months (improving)
• Overseas Visa Applications: 2-16 weeks, depending on category and consular location
• Appeals: Temporary residence: 3-6 months; permanent residence: 6-12 months
• Citizenship: Select processes: 2-3 months, others significantly longer[1]
While IMCOSA clients generally continue to benefit from our high success rate, we have received some unfounded rejections. By promptly adapting our guidance to changing trends and providing cautious advice, we minimize such occurrences.

For questions regarding active or planned applications, please contact us directly.

IMCOSA is your go-to immigration specialist in South Africa. Expert guidance for all your Immigration Consults in South Africa needs!