Visa Relief Extended to 2027: What South Africa’s Latest Concessions Mean for Applicants

South Africa’s immigration landscape continues to evolve as the Department of Home Affairs works through longstanding visa, waiver and appeal backlogs. In response to these delays, the Department issued Immigration Directive No. 7 of 2026, extending temporary concessions for certain foreign nationals until 30 June 2027.

The extension provides important relief for applicants who are already in South Africa and waiting for the outcome of qualifying immigration applications. However, the concession is not a blanket extension for all foreign nationals. Applicants must meet specific requirements, and the relief comes with important limitations.

What Has Been Extended?

The directive, issued on 30 March 2026, took effect from 1 April 2026. It applies to certain foreign nationals affected by delays in the processing of waiver, long-term visa and appeal applications.

The Department explained that although progress has been made in addressing historical backlogs and developing its Electronic Travel Authorisation system, not all applications have been finalised within the expected timeframes. The temporary concessions are intended to provide applicants with continued protection while these applications are processed.

1. Pending Waiver Applications

Foreign nationals whose waiver applications were still pending when the directive was signed may benefit from a temporary extension until 30 June 2027.

The purpose of this extension is to allow the Department additional time to process the waiver application, allow the applicant to receive the outcome and, where the waiver is successful, proceed with an appropriate visa application.

The directive also provides certain travel protections. Applicants awaiting waiver outcomes may depart and re-enter South Africa until 30 June 2027 without being declared undesirable, subject to the requirements of the directive.

Importantly, non-visa-exempt nationals may need to obtain a port-of-entry visa before returning to South Africa. Travel should therefore not be undertaken without first confirming the applicable requirements.

2. Pending Long-Term Visa Applications

The concession also covers holders who have submitted applications for certain long-term visas under sections 11(1)(b) to 20, including section 22, of the Immigration Act and whose applications remained pending when the directive was signed.

Their current visa status is temporarily extended until 30 June 2027.

There is, however, an important limitation: the extension does not change the conditions attached to the applicant's existing visa.

For example, if the applicant's existing visa permits a particular activity, the applicant must continue to comply with those conditions. The temporary concession does not automatically give the applicant new work, study or business rights.

3. Pending Visa Appeals

Applicants who have appealed a negative decision concerning a qualifying long-term visa application may also benefit from the extension.

Where an appeal under section 8(4) or 8(6) of the Immigration Act remained pending when the directive was signed, the applicant's current visa status is extended until 30 June 2027.

Applicants travelling under this concession must carry the required supporting documentation, including the rejection letter and proof or confirmation that the appeal was submitted.

Again, non-visa-exempt nationals must take particular care with re-entry requirements and may need a port-of-entry visa before returning to South Africa.

Who Qualifies for the Concession?

The extension is subject to important eligibility requirements.

The directive states that the temporary measures apply only to foreign nationals who:

• Were legally admitted into South Africa;

• Submitted the relevant application through VFS Global; and

• Can produce a verifiable application receipt that can be confirmed against the VFS Global tracking system.

This means that simply having an outstanding immigration matter does not necessarily mean that an applicant qualifies for the concession.

Applicants should retain their application receipts, correspondence, rejection letters, appeal confirmations and other immigration records as evidence of their status.

What About Permanent Residence Applications?

One of the most important limitations is that the concession does not apply to pending permanent residence applications.

The directive specifically states that applicants awaiting permanent residence outcomes must ensure that their existing residential status remains valid while waiting for the outcome.

Applicants with pending permanent residence applications should therefore not assume that the 30 June 2027 extension automatically protects their status.

What About Visitor Visa Appeals?

There is also a specific exclusion concerning certain visitor's visa appeals.

Applicants whose appeals relate to the rejection of a visitor's visa renewal under section 11(1)(a), where the appeal had already been pending for more than three months, are excluded from the concession. The directive provided a separate departure requirement for those applicants.

This highlights why applicants should assess their individual immigration circumstances rather than relying solely on the general announcement of an extension.

Does the Extension Mean an Applicant Has Been Granted a Visa?

No.

The concession should not be confused with the approval or issuance of a visa.

It is a temporary administrative measure designed to protect qualifying applicants while their applications remain pending. It does not guarantee that a waiver, visa or appeal will ultimately be successful.

Furthermore, the concession ceases immediately once an outcome is issued, meaning applicants must comply with the terms of the decision without delay.

What Does This Mean for Employers?

The extension is particularly significant for South African employers who employ foreign nationals whose immigration applications remain unresolved.

Employers should not simply assume that an employee's immigration status is secure because an application is pending. Instead, employers should verify:

1. What type of application was submitted;

2. When and where it was submitted;

3. Whether the application falls within the categories covered by Directive No. 7 of 2026;

4. Whether the employee has a verifiable VFS Global receipt;

5. What conditions applied to the employee's previous visa; and

6. Whether any subsequent decision has been issued.

This is especially important where an employee's right to work depends on the conditions attached to their existing visa.

Travel Requires Particular Caution

One of the most useful aspects of the concession is the travel protection available to qualifying applicants. However, this does not mean that applicants can travel internationally without documentation or immigration consequences.

The requirements differ depending on the applicant's circumstances and nationality.

For example, a non-visa-exempt applicant may need to obtain a port-of-entry visa before returning to South Africa. Appeal applicants must also be able to produce the required evidence of their previous rejection and pending appeal.

Before traveling, applicants should therefore establish whether they qualify for the concession and what documentation they will need at departure and re-entry.

What Applicants Should Do Now

The extension to 30 June 2027 provides valuable breathing room, but applicants should not treat it as a reason to delay taking action.

Applicants should:

Keep all immigration documentation safe.Retain VFS receipts, application confirmations, rejection letters, appeal receipts, passports and correspondence with the Department of Home Affairs.

Check the status of the application regularly.A concession remains temporary and can cease once an outcome is issued.

Understand the conditions of the existing visa.The extension does not expand the activities an applicant is permitted to undertake.

Obtain legal advice before travelling.Travel arrangements can have significant consequences, particularly for non-visa-exempt nationals.

Act promptly when an outcome is received.Once an application or appeal is finalised, the temporary protection ends and the applicant must comply with the outcome.

A Temporary Solution to a Continuing Immigration Challenge

The extension of the concession until 30 June 2027 provides meaningful protection to qualifying foreign nationals caught in South Africa's immigration processing delays. It can help prevent applicants from falling out of lawful status simply because their applications have not been finalised within the expected timeframe.

At the same time, the directive reinforces an important principle: temporary relief is not the same as immigration approval.

Every applicant's circumstances must be assessed individually. The type of application, existing visa conditions, application history, nationality, travel plans and supporting documentation can all affect the protection available.

For foreign nationals, employers and businesses navigating South Africa's immigration system, understanding the scope and limitations of the 2027 concession is therefore essential.

Need assistance with a pending waiver, visa or immigration appeal? Ndou Attorneys can assist with assessing your immigration status, reviewing the applicable concession, advising on compliance and determining the appropriate legal steps available in your circumstances.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws, directives and administrative practices may change. Individuals should obtain advice based on their specific circumstances.

Sources: Department of Home Affairs, Immigration Directive No. 7 of 2026, dated 30 March 2026; KPMG South Africa, Temporary Extension of Concessions for Delayed Waiver, Visa, and Appeal Applications, 15 April 2026.