Visa News & Updates
Keep up with the latest developments in visa and immigration. From regulation updates to practical guidance, we share the insights you need to navigate your application with confidence.
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Does Buying Property in South Africa Give You Residency?
The short answer No. Buying a house in South Africa gives you title to the house. It gives you no right to live in it. South African immigration law contains…
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Can I Stay in South Africa? 10 Mistakes That Put Your Visa Status at Risk
By Visa Immigration SA Updated: 26 August 2026 Sometimes, but never automatically. Whether you may remain in South Africa after your visa expires depends on what you applied for, when…
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New South African Visa Rules in 2026: What Has Changed and What Is Still Proposed
Four South African visa rules changed in 2026 and are already in force: the Electronic Travel Authorisation, a R500 electronic processing fee, the 100-point work visa system and Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II. Everything in the Revised White Paper is still a proposal. Updated 21 August 2026.
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South Africa’s Remote Work Visa: Work Abroad, Live Here
South Africa’s Remote Work Visa lets qualifying foreign professionals keep their overseas job and income while living in South Africa for up to three years.
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Financial Freedom, Permanent Roots: South Africa’s Financially Independent Permit
By Visa Immigration SA | 5-minute read There is a particular kind of freedom that comes with financial independence. It is not simply the ability to stop working, travel more…
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Retiring in South Africa: Cost of Living and Where to Settle
There comes a stage in life when the question of where to live is no longer dictated by an office, a commute, or the demands of a career. For those…
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South Africa’s Immigration System at a Crossroads: Progress, Pressure, and the Road Ahead
By Visa Immigration SA South Africa has long stood as one of Africa’s most compelling destinations for investment, skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, retirees, students, and families seeking to build a new…
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Benefits of Moving to South Africa for Work or Retirement
South Africa, often referred to as the “Rainbow Nation,” is a country of diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, and vibrant opportunities. Whether you’re considering relocating for work or retirement, South Africa…
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Navigating Progress and Persistent Challenges: The South African Department of Home Affairs
Cape Town, South Africa – July 16, 2025 – The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in South Africa, a critical pillar of national identity and security, has embarked on an…
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Massive visa backlog in South Africa
Over 56,000 visa applications have been piled up at the Department of Home Affairs, and it estimates that they will only be processed by the middle of 2024. Home affairs…
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Home Affairs withdraws central adjudication of visas due to severe backlog and complaints.
The Department of Home Affairs has reversed a decision to centralise the adjudication of long-term visas. That plan lasted for only a couple of months and did not go at…
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Department of Home Affairs – Delays and Backlog
Visa extension for waiver and visa applicants until 30 June 2022 The Department of Home Affairs has admitted to many delays in the processing of waivers, and visa applications. Previously,…
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Updated Critical Skill List – South Africa
Please see the updated Directive in regards to the New Critical Skill List for 2022 As of 2nd of February 2022, the Department of Home Affairs issued a new Critical…
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Permanent Residency Applications open after 22 months – but expect delays
Home Affairs office / Image via Facebook The Department of Home Affairs, (DHA) after 22 months, has resumed the processing of permanent residency (PR) applications, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic….
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KNOW YOUR GREEN PAPER ON MARRIAGES IN SOUTH AFRICA
A Green Paper is a government policy discussion paper that details specific issues, and then points out possible courses of action in terms of policy and legislation. It articulates possible solutions…
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Top 10 Tourist Destinations In South Africa
We have listed our Top 10 Tourist Destinations for foreigners looking to visit South Africa, and enjoy all the beauty that it has to offer. Welcome to South Africa! The…
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Things to Know about South Africa
General Population South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is a country in Southern Africa. With over 59 million people, it is the world’s 23rd-most populous nation and covers…
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Applying for a Life Partner Visa
Information about a Life Partner Visa Would my girlfriend/boyfriend or fiancée be regarded as a spouse? A girlfriend/boyfriend or fiancée is considered a spouse only if you and your South…
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions: What is a South African visa? All temporary residency documents have been renamed “visas” in accordance with the Amended South African Immigration Act 13 of 2002. A South…
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Critical Skills Work visa South Africa
What is a critical skills visa? It is a work visa based on compliance with the Critical Skills List. The South African government publishes a list of key skills and qualifications…
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Five Benefits of Life in South Africa
There are a number of benefits to living in South Africa, in this article I will mention five of them:- The people of South Africa are very warm and friendly…
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The Advantages of Applying for Permanent Residency as a Critical Skills Graduate
As one of the fastest growing countries on the African continent, South Africa is making it easier to attract the right skill sets to it’s shores. The Critical Skills Work…
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New Visa Laws for South Africa
The Department of Home Affairs wants to attract more skilled visitors, business partners and investors to South Africa in order to grow the economy. As a result, on the 7th…
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Asylum seekers can now apply for residence visas
The Constitutional Court has ruled that asylum seekers whose refugee applications have been refused, can apply for a visa.
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SA needs more ICT skills to solve economic woes
South Africa is facing a skills-shortage in the information and communications technologies industry (ICT) at a time when people should be finding digital solutions to their economic problems.
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Tears at the airport as families denied boarding
South Africans travelling abroad will in future be exempt from a controversial biometric system at the country’s international airports says Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.
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Home Affairs to do away with biometric process for SA flyers
South Africans travelling abroad will in future be exempt from a controversial biometric system at the country’s international airports says Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.
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Court battle over Cape Town asylum seekers
A precedent-setting judgment focusing on South Africa’s new immigration regulations could see foreigners with tourist visas who are living here with South African partners being given spousal visas without having to return to their home countries to apply for the documents.
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Judgment opens wider visa vistas
A precedent-setting judgment focusing on South Africa’s new immigration regulations could see foreigners with tourist visas who are living here with South African partners being given spousal visas without having to return to their home countries to apply for the documents.
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Department of Home Affairs accused of wasting money
The case between the Department of Home Affairs and immigration lawyers, who are accusing the department of being in contempt of a High Court order, has been postponed to this month.
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Foreign students graduating from South African Universities
Foreign students graduating from South African universities in critical skills areas will soon qualify for permanent residence permits
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DIRCO forced to abandon some Foreign Missions
Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s budget has been reduced by R153 Million and will be reduced further by R1,8 million over the next three years.
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SA’s revised visa rules: What you need to know
Here’s what you need to know about the department of home affairs changes to SA’s visa rules.
