- South Africa has reportedly removed the requirement for foreign nationals to submit visa renewal or status-change applications at least 60 days before their current visas expire
- Applicants can now reportedly submit applications up to and including their visa expiry date, but the change does not cover visas that have already expired
- Some applicants whose visas were rejected solely for missing the 60-day deadline may appeal, while affected dependants could also benefit from the review process
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South Africa has reportedly relaxed its visa application rules, giving foreign nationals more time to submit renewal and status-change applications before their existing visas expire.
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The reported change, announced by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, removes the requirement that applicants submit their paperwork at least 60 days before the expiry of their current visas.
The development could benefit foreign workers, students and other foreign nationals living in South Africa, including Kenyans who need to renew their permits or change their immigration status.
What the new South Africa visa rules mean
Under the reported changes, foreign nationals applying to renew their visas or change their status can submit their applications at any point before their current visas expire, including on the expiry date itself.
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Previously, applicants were expected to submit their applications at least 60 days before the expiry date. Missing that deadline could result in rejection, even when the application met the other requirements.
The removal of the deadline is intended to ease the application process and reduce unnecessary administrative work for the Department of Home Affairs.
However, applicants must still meet the other requirements for their respective visa categories.
Foreigners with expired visas are not covered
The reported waiver does not apply to foreign nationals whose visas have already expired.
Applicants must submit their renewal or status-change applications on or before the expiry date to benefit from the revised arrangement.
Foreign nationals should therefore avoid waiting until the last day where possible, as missing documents or technical difficulties could complicate the submission process.
The change also does not automatically grant a visa, permanent residency or permission to work. Applications must still be assessed under the relevant immigration rules as reported by Briefly News.
Previously rejected visa applicants may appeal
The reported decision also offers a potential remedy for applicants whose visa applications were rejected solely because they failed to meet the 60-day submission deadline.
Those applicants may appeal and seek to have their applications reconsidered on their merits, rather than being refused only because they missed the previous deadline.
Dependent family members whose applications were rejected as a consequence of the main applicant's refusal may also benefit from the review process.
However, the change does not mean that all previously rejected applicants will automatically receive approval. Other reasons for refusal may still apply.
New visa rules could ease Home Affairs backlog
Immigration specialists at Xpatweb said the removal of the deadline could help reduce the administrative burden facing South Africa's Department of Home Affairs.
According to the report, the department had experienced an increase in applications rejected solely because applicants failed to meet the 60-day requirement.
Those refusals led to additional appeals, waiver requests and paperwork that officials had to process.
Removing the deadline could allow officials to focus more directly on applicants' eligibility and supporting documents, while reducing the number of disputes arising from the timing of submissions.
Foreign nationals planning to renew their visas or change their immigration status should confirm the latest official guidance with South Africa's Department of Home Affairs before relying on the reported change.
Official information is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Source: TUKO.co.ke