The Department of Home Affairs has issued Immigration Directive No. 4 of 2025, extending temporary concessions for foreign nationals affected by delays in the processing of visa appeals, waivers, and certain manual applications.
Key highlights include:
Extension until 30 September 2025 for individuals awaiting outcomes on:
- Waiver applications
- Long-term visa applications
- Appeals on rejected long-term visa applications
Travel permitted during this period without being declared undesirable, provided specific documentation is presented.
Non-visa exempt nationals must still apply for a port of entry visa if they travel with a pending application.
These measures only apply to those legally in South Africa who have applied via VFS Global and can produce a valid receipt.
Applicants for permanent residence must ensure they maintain valid temporary residence, as this concession does not apply to PR applications.
This extension provides much-needed breathing room for applicants still caught in the backlog.
For further information please visit our website at www.dsdlaw.co.za or reach out to us at info@dsdlaw.co.za