South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has announced that it is extending its temporary visa concession in light of a continued backlog in processing of visa, waiver and appeal applications.
The Department states that it has “made a significant impact in addressing the backlog” since its previous extension, but that application outcomes were not ready to collect when the holiday season started on December 12, 2024 and that a backlog of appeals and permanent residence applications still exists.
Visa holders with pending long-term visa, visa waiver or visa appeal applications as of November 30, 2024, are granted an extension until March 31, 2025.
- They must comply with their current visa conditions.
- Those wishing to abandon their visa applications are permitted to depart up to and including March 31, 2025.
- Those who need to travel can leave and return to South Africa up to and including March 31, 2025.
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