NM Heinze Attorneys Inc.

South Africa visa extension 2025 update. The Department of Home Affairs has announced an important update about visa and waiver applications which are affected by the current backlog. . Foreign nationals who applied for long-term visas or waivers by 28 March 2025 and are still awaiting a decision now have an automatic extension of their … More South Africa Visa and Waiver Backlog: Home Affairs Extends Concession Until 30 September 2025

The Department of Home Affairs is now strictly enforcing Regulation 9(5) and Regulation 9(8)(c) of the Immigration Regulations, 2014 (as amended). If you’re applying for a South Africa visa renewal, extension, or change of conditions, take note of these key deadlines: ✅ If you’re applying for a new visa, including renewals, extensions, or changes of … More Important Visa Update: Submission Deadline Now Enforced

On 4 December 2023, the Constitutional Court of South Africa delivered a landmark ruling in Rayment and Others v of Home Affairs (CCT 176/22), declaring parts of the Immigration Act and its Regulations unconstitutional. This judgment significantly impacts foreign nationals who were previously unable to regularise their immigration status after the termination of a good … More Major Victory for Foreign Spouses and Parents: Constitutional Court Judgment Reshapes South African Immigration Law

On 9 October 2024, the Department of Home Affairs introduced Regulations 18(12) and 18(13), formalising the points-based system (PBS) for General Work Visas and Critical Skills Work Visas. Under the new system, applicants must earn at least 100 points based on predetermined criteria such as qualifications, salary, post-qualification experience, and language proficiency. Applicants must still … More NEW POINT BASE SYSTEM (PBS) FOR GENERAL AND CRITICAL SKILLS WORK VISA

The Department of Home Affairs has issued Immigration Directive 13 of 2024 on 27 November 2024, announcing the concession relating to application for appeals in terms of Section 8(4) and 8(6) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 as amended. Foreign nationals who have received a rejection letter will be permitted to submit their physical … More APPEAL CONCESSION: Temporary concession relating to the 10 working days provided for to submit an application for a visa or permit appeal

The Department of Home Affairs has issued Immigration Directive 16 of 2024 on 18 December 2024, announcing that the concession for long-term temporary residence visa holders has been extended until 21 March 2025 due to the current backlog. Another blanket concession has been granted extending the expiry date of expired visas to 31 March 2025 … More VISA AND WAIVER BACKLOG: Temporary Concession Extended Until 31 March 2025

The Minister of the Department of Home Affairs has announced an important extension of the current expiry date for ZEP (Zimbabwean Exemption Permit) holders, a move aimed at providing much-needed relief to many individuals and families in the community. All ZEP visas, which were initially set to expire on 31 December 2021, are now officially … More ZEP Expiry Date Extended to 28 November 2025

Another blanket concession has been granted extending the expiry date of expired visas to 31 December 2024 for foreign nationals who applied for their new long term visas including appeals which were still pending as at 30 June 2024. Similarly foreign nationals on long term visas awaiting waiver outcomes which were still pending as at … More MEDIA STATEMENT: Visa concession extended in light of ongoing visa and waiver backlog

The Department of Home Affairs has issued an amended circular on 21 December 2023, announcing that the concession for long-term temporary residence visa holders has been extended until 30 June 2024 due to the current backlog. The Department of Home Affairs released an important announcement providing yet further relieve to foreign nationals who are awaiting … More Visa and waiver backlog: Temporary concession extended until June 2024

Great news for Candidate Engineers who are registered with a recognized SAQA professional body and individuals graded similarly in occupations featured on the newly released 2023 critical skills list! They will now be eligible for critical skills work visas, as long as they fulfill all other prerequisites. Additionally, it’s important to note that upon receiving … More Updated Critical Skills List 2023