South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has approved the resumption of Identity Document (ID) and passport applications and extended the validity period of legally issued visas or asylum permits which expired during the lockdown until 31 December 2021.
The extension applies to people who applied for waivers in terms of section 31(2)(c)of the Immigration Act, 2002 and holders of asylum seeker visas/permits or refugee status. Holders of such visas are permitted to remain in the country under the conditions of their visas until the expiry of their applicable extension. Those wishing to be repatriated to their countries within this period can depart without being declared undesirable persons.
The extension does not apply to people who entered the country from 15 March 2021. The normal validity period of visas of people admitted into the country from 15 March 2021 applies.
Read the full statement by the Department of Home Affairs here.
