Home Affairs Extends Validity of Visas, Announces Resumption of ID Applications

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has extended the validity period of legally issued visas or asylum permits, which expired during the lockdown period, to 31 December 2021.

In a statement on Thursday, Home Affairs announced that the Minister has also approved the resumption of Identity Document (ID) and passport applications.

Directions communicating these amendments, in line with the National State of Disaster Regulations, were gazetted on Tuesday, 28 September 2021.

People who were issued with Temporary ID Certificates and those who have lost their IDs, can now return to Home Affairs offices to apply for their IDs. These IDs will be available for collection within 13 days from the day of application.

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.

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.

Qualifying visa or permit of holders, who have not departed South Africa since the announcement of the National State of Disaster in March 2020, and arrived with a valid visitor’s visa between December 2019 and 14 March 2021, are deemed to be valid until the end of December 2021.

“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,” said the department.

Refugee Reception Centres remain closed to walk-ins. The validity of asylum and refugee permits that expired during the lockdown and whose holders could not use the online extension service, has been extended until 31 December 2021.

Asylum seekers and refugees are encouraged to continue renewing their permits via the online platform.

As of 8 September 2021, the department has extended 24 333 Section 24 (refugee status) and 69 185 Section 22 (asylum seeker permits) through the online platform since it was activated in April 2021. A total of 93 518 asylum seeker permit and refugee status had been extended online. Holders of a visa or permit must adhere to the terms and conditions of their visa and any activity not endorsed onto such visa or permits is prohibited.

The suite of services available at Home Affairs are: births registration; late registration of birth; re-issuance of birth, marriage and death certificates; applications for unabridged birth, marriage and death certificates, including vault copies; death registration; applications for temporary identity certificates; applications and collection of identity card or document, applications and collection of passports.

This also includes solemnisation and registration of marriages, applications for retention and renunciation of citizenship, applications for rectifications and amendments of personal particulars. It also includes applications for travel documents for persons who are to take up employment or studies abroad, attend funerals or other emergency situations on submission of proof therefor, visa services in terms of the Immigration Act and online renewal of refugee status and asylum seeker permits/visas. – SAnews.gov.za