South Africa grants 15-month visa extension for expats amid Home Affairs backlog

Foreign nationals in South Africa with pending long-term visa, waiver and appeal applications will get a 15-month extension, in a move aimed at easing pressure on a strained immigration system.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) confirmed the concession at the end of March, giving affected applicants a legal stay in the country until June 2027.

The extension applies only to long-term visa categories and not short-term applications.

Relief for expats and employers

The decision is expected to benefit thousands of foreign nationals already living and working in South Africa, particularly scarce skills professionals.

Applicants with pending cases, including those who have proof of submission, will remain legally in the country while waiting for outcomes.

“They are covered by this concession,” said immigration specialist Jaco Brits.

He added that the concession is open-ended, meaning future applicants within the next 15 months are also likely to benefit.

Employers also gain protection.

Companies with foreign staff whose visas have technically expired but are still pending will not face labour law penalties, provided employees continue to comply with their visa conditions.

What the extension means in practice

Foreign nationals must still follow the rules of their current visas.

That includes working only in the role and for the employer specified in their visa.

“The only thing is your time period is extended until your outcome is received,” Brits said.

Travel is allowed, but with conditions.

Those from non-visa-exempt countries may need to return to their country of origin to secure a visa before re-entering South Africa.

Backlogs and ‘nonsensical rejections’

The DHA continues to battle a significant backlog.

Brits said applications are being processed, but outcomes are often rejected for unclear or ‘nonsensical’ reasons, creating a new backlog of appeals.

“It is breathing room to fix the digitalisation of the department and address the current backlog,” he said.

The extension is also expected to give officials time to deal with corruption and inefficiencies.

Shift to digital systems and points-based visas

The DHA is rolling out major reforms, including:

--An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system

--A points-based system for long-term work visas

Under the new system, general work visa applicants must score 100 points based on salary, qualifications, experience, and language ability.

Critical skills applicants automatically qualify if their occupation is on the official list.

Brits said the changes are already showing progress but require time and capacity to implement fully.

Competition for global talent

South Africa is competing globally for high-level skills, particularly senior executives brought in by multinational companies.

“We need that skill that we don’t have… to upskill our local employees,” Brits said.

He added that the extension helps retain that talent by providing legal certainty.

Digital nomads and remote workers

Digital nomads remain a separate category.

They can live in South Africa while working for foreign employers, but cannot accept local employment.

These visas are typically issued for one year and can be renewed up to three years.

Brits said many remote workers are choosing to stay longer after experiencing life in South Africa.

Trusted employer scheme speeds up processing

Companies registered under the trusted employer scheme are seeing faster visa processing times.

They also face fewer administrative hurdles and can secure longer visa durations for skilled employees.

Confidence still key

While the extension offers relief, Brits said confidence in the system remains critical.

Applicants want to see consistent processing and clear outcomes.

“We want to see visa applications being processed… not just a concession helping us,” he said.

For more information, listen to Brits on CapeTalk’s Views and News with Clarence Ford using the audio player below: