The Minister of the Department of Home Affairs has recently issued an Immigration Directive No. 7 of 2020, outlining temporary measures on all foreign nationals who intend to enter or who have already entered South Africa.
Main point taken from the directive:
Inbound
- Visa exemption previously granted to nationals of high risk countries (namely: Italy, Iran,
South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States and the UK) have been withdrawn. This
same withdrawal applies to nationals of medium-risk namely: Portugal, Hong Kong and
Singapore.
- Any one foreign national from Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore wanting to visit South
Africa are required to apply for a visa; application for such visa must include a medical report
attesting to the fact that the applicant has not tested positive to COVID-19.
- Any foreign national whose passport contains evidence that he or she has visited any of the
high risk countries since 15 March 2020, will not be issued a visa.
Foreign nationals already in the country - Any foreign national who is already present in the South Africa and originates from a country
which is affected by the COVID-19 outbreak or who, in order to reach such destination of
origin needs to transit a country a country which is affected by COVID-19, and whose visa is
due to expire or has already expired, will be allowed to re-apply for such a visa. A country
which is affected by the COVID-19 refers to any country with confirmed cases in terms of the
World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
- Visas valid until 31 July 2020 may be issued to such applicants. This suggests that regardless
of the type of visa to be extended as well as the general visa processing time of 60 workings
days, the said date will be the expiry date.
- As consultations with various stakeholders continue to take place, the Department of Home
Affairs has undertaken to further communicate in writing on any modifications or
amendments to this Directive.
Contact us at KVN if you have further questions/queries regarding to your current stay or
have recently fallen out of status in the country, as a result of circumstances related to the
coronavirus outbreak.
