South Africa has extended its temporary visa concession until 30 June 2027, giving major relief to foreign nationals with pending visa, waiver and appeal applications. The Department of Home Affairs announced the move on 30 March 2026, just before the previous concession was due to expire.

Home Affairs Extends Relief for Pending Applications

The concession was first introduced in 2022 to protect legally admitted foreign nationals from falling into undesirable status while Home Affairs dealt with visa processing backlogs. This latest extension is longer than the previous six-month renewals and gives affected applicants an extra 15 months of legal protection.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the department has made progress in dealing with historic visa and permit backlogs. He added that officials are also focused on developing and rolling out the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system to improve efficiency.

What the Concession Means for Applicants

Under Immigration Directive 7 of 2026, people covered by the concession can remain in South Africa legally until 30 June 2027.

For waiver applicants, the concession allows them to leave and re-enter South Africa without penalties while their applications are being processed. Those who choose to abandon their waiver applications may also leave the country permanently by 30 June 2027 without being declared undesirable.

For pending long-term visa applicants, current visa conditions still apply. However, they may travel and return to South Africa before the deadline without being declared undesirable.

For appeal applicants, travel is also allowed, but they must carry proof of appeal, including a rejection letter and submission receipt. They may not take part in activities outside the conditions of their current visa.

Who Qualifies and Who Does Not

The concession applies only to applicants who were legally admitted into South Africa and who submitted their applications locally through VFS Global. Non-visa-exempt travellers will still need a port-of-entry visa to return to the country.

It does not apply to people waiting on permanent residence permit applications. Those applicants must keep valid temporary residence status while waiting for outcomes. Immigration specialists at Xpatweb said the extension offers relief, but applicants and employers should still stay proactive and understand the updated conditions.