South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has announced temporary measures which it said are in place to address immigration matters during the lockdown period.
It revealed that holders of temporary residence visas which expired from mid February 2020, who did not renew their visas before the lockdown, will not be declared illegal or prohibited persons. It said any person whose visa expired before or during the lockdown will not be arrested or detained for holding an expired visa.
It added that those who opt to return to their countries of origin or residence after the lockdown instead of renewing their visas will not be declared undesirable upon departure.
According to the South African government, during the lockdown, the Department is not receiving or adjudicating applications for visas and for permanent residence permits.
“Visa concessions apply to those with visas which expired from 15 February 2020, unless a person has proof that he/she had already submitted an application for a visa extension prior to 15 February 2020 and the outcome is pending. These temporary measures will remain valid until 31 July 2020 unless extended officially by the Department. They apply only to foreign nationals who have been legally admitted into the Republic,” the department said in a statement.
The visa concessions are contained in the Directions which have been issued by the Department in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002.
It explained that foreign nationals whose visas expired after 15 February 2020 may reapply for their respective visas or relevant visa exemptions while in the Republic immediately after the lockdown has been lifted. It noted that such individuals will not be required to apply for authorisation to remain in the country.
“Foreign nationals whose visas expired after 15 February 2020 who had scheduled appointments on dates which fall within the lockdown period should reschedule their appointments to an available date after the lockdown has been lifted,” it stated.
Furthermore, individuals whose visa expired during the lockdown and those who have submitted their applications before the lockdown but their applications are still pending, will be allowed to work, study or conduct business after the lockdown while waiting for the outcome of their applications.
For high risk countries, the Department said visas issued to nationals of high risk countries who were outside the Republic on 15 March 2020 had been revoked and the visas remain revoked.
“During the lockdown, except for cases relating to expatriation initiated by another state, all foreign nationals who are currently in South Africa may not depart,” SA government stated.