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The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, has waived the requirement for foreign nationals in South Africa to submit visa applications at least 60 days before their current visa expires. Signed on 8 October 2026 under Immigration Directive 13 of 2026, the waiver removes a significant practical hurdle for hundreds of foreign nationals and their families affected by the 60-day requirement. The requirement has increasingly resulted in visa applications being refused solely because they were submitted within the 60-day period, contributing to a growing backlog of appeals. Importantly, the waiver will apply retrospectively, including to qualifying applications currently under appeal. The Department has indicated that negative decisions on affected appeals will be overturned, allowing the underlying visa applications to be processed and issued accordingly. Applications of affected accompanying family members can also be resolved once the relevant appeals have been overturned. The retrospective waiver provides a clear pathway towards resolving outstanding matters, although it may take several months for affected cases to work through the system. The waiver will also allow future visa applications to be submitted without the 60-day prior-to-expiry requirement, removing a longstanding challenge for applicants. However, all visa applications must still be submitted before their expiry date. The waiver does not mean that applicants can remain in South Africa after their visas have expired without submitting a new application. If your visa application has been affected by the 60-day requirement, or you are uncertain how the waiver applies to your circumstances, Xpatweb’s immigration specialists can assist you in assessing your case and determining the appropriate next steps. For more information, please find below or if you have any questions or require further information regarding the waiver, please feel free to contact Xpatweb at contact@xpatweb.com.  

It has been widely reported as such following a Newzroom Afrika interview with Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza on Monday, 13 April 2026, but there has been no official communication by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to substantiate this notion. Shirley Khunou, Immigration Consultant at Xpatweb, says direct conversion to a Permanent Residence (PR) Permit for ZEP holders is not an option, even though they may have held this permit for years. “Instead, ZEP holders must first transition into a qualifying mainstream visa category before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residence under South Africa’s standard immigration framework. These categories typically include Critical Skills Work Visas, General Work Visas, Business Visas or Relative’s Visa to name a few.” These are currently among the most common pathways for ZEP holders to obtain PR in South Africa. Khunou notes that each of these categories carries eligibility requirements such as qualifications, employment offers, financial thresholds, and compliance with immigration regulations. No Change to Government Policy The Deputy Minister said that ZEP holders may pursue permanent residence by transitioning into standard immigration pathways. While this reflects the Department’s position, it is important to distinguish between legal possibility and practical accessibility. Nzuza’s remarks seem to have been misinterpreted creating the impression that ZEP holders can now directly apply for permanent residence. “This is actually not the case,” emphasises Khunou “as the conditions of the ZEP still includes that the permit holder cannot directly apply for permanent residence in South Africa and has to explore other pathways first.” While the pathway of PR is legally recognised, it is not a direct or simplified process for most ZEP holders. The Deputy Minister in the interview did mention ZEP holders should follow other pathways and once approved, they can then proceed to applying for PR. He also reiterated that all applications will be assessed on individual merit and that there is no automatic or category-wide approval process. Khunou explains: “Once a qualifying visa is obtained and where applicable, maintained for the required period, applicants may then proceed to apply for permanent residence, provided they meet all statutory requirements, including lawful continuous residence and financial and professional stability as may be required.” ZEP Was Always Temporary Nzuza said the ZEP system was always meant as a temporary measure and for years have been providing legal status to thousands of Zimbabwean nationals residing and working in the country. Alongside the Lesotho Exemption Permit (LEP), the ZEP was introduced as a special dispensation to regularise undocumented migration flows and provide interim relief while longer-term policy solutions were considered. In October 2025 the validity of both the ZEP and LEP was extended until 28 May 2027. Unclear Messaging Should Not Create False Hope Although the extension of the ZEP until 2027 provides important interim relief and legal certainty, it does not alter the fundamental immigration framework governing permanent residence. “The established legal pathway remains in place. Valid ZEP holders cannot directly convert to PR but are encouraged to transition to a temporary residence permit, such as a work visa, before applying for permanent residence,” Khunou says. The correct pathway remains a structured, step-by-step process: transitioning from a ZEP to a qualifying visa category and thereafter applying for permanent residence under existing immigration law. ZEP holders are therefore encouraged to proactively assess their eligibility for alternative visas to ensure long-term legal stability in South Africa. Read the entire article using the link below

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has officially confirmed that the long-standing visa concession, first introduced in 2022, has been extended until 30 June 2027. Xpatweb, would like to share the below and attached important update regarding the recent extension of the immigration concession. This latest development, announced by the Department of Home Affairs on 30 March 2026, provides significant relief to foreign nationals with pending visa, waiver, and appeal applications, allowing them to remain in South Africa lawfully until 30 June 2027. For ease of reference, please find the full article here:https://www.xpatweb.com/xpatweb-news/home-affairs-grants-generous-extension-to-protect-visa-holders-with-pending-applications/