Visas for both long term and short term visa holders have been routinely extended since the announcement of the National State of Disaster in March 2020. However such visas were not extended when the Minister of Home Affairs published the Government Gazette on 28^th September 2021.

The result of a further extension not being granted is that such visa holders have to leave South Africa by the 30^th September 2021 or alternatively to apply for a new visa before that date. Should they not do this and remain in South Africa then they will be declared undesirable when they leave South Africa. This will result in them receiving a ban from entering South Africa for a period of between 12 months and 5 years.

The only exceptions to this are the following persons:

• Those who have applied for waivers in terms of Section 31 (2) (c) of the Immigration Act
• The holders of asylum seeker visas / permits

The likely reason for these exceptions being allowed is due to the massive delay in the processing of both waiver and asylum seeker applications, both of which have essentially ground to a complete halt.

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.