Johannesburg – The SA Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday announced the extension of the blanket concession to 31 December 2023 for long-term visa or waiver applicants who are awaiting the outcomes of their applications.
“A directive to the Home Affairs Head Office, the Department of International Relations and Cooperations Consular Services and Visa Facilitation Centres has been issued to communicate this decision,” the Department of Home Affairs said.
“The decision means that long-term visa or waiver applicants are permitted to legally remain in the country until 31 December 2023, pending the finalisation of their applications.
“Those that are travelling on passports issued by countries that are not visa exempted, are required to apply for a visitors visa to return to South Africa until their applications have been finalised.”
The department said this concession was only applicable to applicants who have submitted their application via VFS before or on 31 March 2023.
“All visitors on short term visas whose validity was issued for less than 90 days are excluded from the concession and are required to depart before or on the date of expiry of the validity period of their visas,” the department said.
For full details of the concession, please click on the link below or visit the Departments website which is www.dha.gov.za:
