The Department of Home Affairs released the latest immigration updates on 8 February 2024.
The Gazette dealt with several proposed changes to the Immigration Act, of which the most notable is the introduction of a work visa points system and a remote working visa.
The public can comment on the Gazette until 29 March 2024. Anyone who’d like to submit comments can send an email to Luvo.Vena@dha.gov.za.
Read more Work visa points system and remote working visa in the works
On 3 October 2023, the Department of Home Affairs gazetted a new critical skills list. The Department added two new occupations to the critical skills list.
Additionally, eligible Candidate Engineers qualify to apply for critical skills work visas yet again and university lecturers no longer need professional body registration.
Read more Home Affairs updates South Africa’s critical skills list
Operation Vulindlela, a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury, released a progress update with critical milestones and highlights achieved during the second quarter of 2023.
These milestones included the completion of the work visa review and visa reforms to support the growth of South Africa’s tourism industry.
Read more Operation Vulindlela reports on reforms to South Africa’s visa system
On 13 April 2023, the Department of Home Affairs released a Directive that eases radiological and police clearance certificate requirements for temporary and permanent residency applicants. Read more New Immigration Directive brings positive changes!
On 29 March 2023, the Department of Home Affairs announced a further visa extension for visa and waiver applicants.
The announcement came just in time for anxious visa holders, as the current extension was set to expire on 31 March – a mere 48 hours later. Read more Last-minute blanket visa extension from Home Affairs
On 1 February 2023, the Department of Home Affairs implemented changes for Spousal and Life Partner visa and permanent residence applications. Read more New requirements for Spousal and Life Partner Visa applications
In mid-October, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced that it’d launch a pilot implementation of a travel management system in November.
This system will require all travellers, including South Africans, leaving or entering South Africa by air to complete and submit an online traveller declaration. Read more SARS is launching a ‘travel pass’ for all travellers
In July 2022, the Department of Home Affairs granted visa and waiver applicants a visa extension until 30 September 2022 to give it time to process a backlog of applications.
As expected, Home Affairs has had to issue another extension as it’s still experiencing a backlog in processing applications. Read more Home Affairs issue another blanket visa extension!
The Department of Home Affairs has released an updated critical skills list. This updated list includes 39 medical professions that weren’t on the list released in February 2022. Read more South Africa has added 39 medical professions to the critical skills list!
Cape Town’s done it again. It’s on another global ‘best of’ list!
This time, it’s the Time Out Index 2022. Time Out quizzed 20,000 city-slickers about their hometown to rank the best cities in the world right now.
Read more Cape Town is Time Out’s 11th Best City in the World!
