South Africa

What changed

The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has withdrawn a directive about taking asylum seeker applications. This directive was initially issued on 28 September 2026. The withdrawal, announced on 9 October 2026, was made because of unexpected problems that came up after the directive was put in place, such as Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) being overwhelmed and risks to public safety. The original directive was an attempt to put into practice a Constitutional Court judgment from 7 July 2026 concerning the Scalabrini of Cape Town case. Its withdrawal means the DHA will now create a new operational approach to follow the court's order.

What changed

The South African Department of Home Affairs has started moving 278 asylum seekers and people who have been granted refugee status from their informal camp in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, Gauteng. This project, which began on 15 September 2026, was instructed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration after detailed discussions with the affected communities and other interested groups.

What changed

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration announced that the Department of Transport (DOT) has cancelled dormant Traffic Register Numbers (TRNs) for foreign nationals. This rule started on 4 September 2026. It applies to TRNs issued from 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2023. These TRNs had to be inactive after a government notice on 7 August 2026. This is part of the government's wider five-point plan to manage migration and stop rule breaking.

What changed

South Africa has published a proposed change to the fees charged under the Immigration Act. The Department of Home Affairs published the Immigration Act: First Amendment of the Regulations on Fees on 17 August 2026. The proposal would change the current immigration fee rules. This proposal must complete a required process before it can become final. This means you should not treat this policy as a final change to South Africa's immigration fees yet.

What changed

The South African Department of Home Affairs is making major digital changes. They are expanding the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. It will cover more than just tourist visas, such as study visas. They are also expanding the Trusted Employer Scheme to include important parts of the economy. These changes aim to make services digital, reduce complex rules (red tape), and make things work better for South African citizens and people travelling to or investing in the country. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system has been tested in four countries. It will become the main part of a full digital immigration system.

What changed

Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 10 of 2026 was published in Gazette No. 55016. It removes the need for a medical report for all visa and permanent residence applications in South Africa. This change makes the application process simpler. It removes a document that was previously required. The directive started when it was published.