The Department of Home Affairs has issued a guidance document stating that any visas with an expiry date beyond that of a traveler's passport are to be withdrawn and the holder must submit an application for a new visa to ensure legal residence in South Africa.

This marks a change from previous policy where a visa could be transferred to a new passport if the visa was issued for a period exceeding the validity of the passport.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals and employers should review the validity of visas in conjunction with passport expiry dates. Those whose visa was issued for a period exceeding the validity of their passport should contact their immigration professional regarding the next steps.

Fragomen Africa is verifying the contents of the guidance document with the authorities and will provide further updates once feedback is available.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to africainfo@fragomen.com.

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