Draft First Amendment of Regulations on Fees under South Africa's Immigration Act, 2002
Current rules
South Africa has proposed amendments to the immigration-fee regulations. The amendment was published as Government Notice 7834. It appears in Government Gazette 55209. The proposal is part of the Department of Home Affairs' process for changing the fees prescribed under the Immigration Act. The proposed fees should not yet be treated as final fees. Existing fees continue to apply until the amendment legally takes effect.
Overview
South Africa has published a proposed amendment 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 amend the existing immigration-fee regulations and is currently subject to the required process before it can become final. This means the policy should not yet be treated as a final change to South Africa's immigration fees.
Who is affected by the latest change
- People applying for South African immigration services covered by the fee rules
- People who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland — legally called third-country nationals — applying for immigration documents or services
- Employers dealing with immigration applications for people who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland — legally called third-country nationals — workers
- Immigration professionals and representatives
- Families submitting immigration applications
- Businesses that often submit immigration applications
What changed in the latest version
Before
Rules made under the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 set immigration fees. Applicants currently pay the fees in the existing rules. The old fee rules still apply while the government considers the proposed change. The July 2026 draft was an earlier version of this proposed change.
After
South Africa has proposed changes to the immigration fee rules. Government Notice 7834 published the amendment. It is in Government Gazette 55209. This proposal is part of the Department of Home Affairs' plan to change fees under the Immigration Act. The proposed fees are not yet final. Existing fees continue until the amendment officially starts.
This amendment matters because it directly affects the cost of immigration processes in South Africa. People and businesses who apply for or sponsor visas and permits will need to know the new fee structure. We do not know the details, so we cannot say if costs have gone up, down, or if there are new fees. This change will affect how applicants and their representatives plan and budget.
Explained simply
Imagine if the prices for things like school applications or getting a special pass to stay in South Africa were about to change. This announcement is like a notice saying, 'Hey, we've updated the price list!' but it doesn't tell you exactly which prices went up or down. You'd need to check the actual new price list to find out.
Frequently asked
Version history
- v1Issued 17 Aug 2026PublishedInformational impactImmigration Act: First Amendment of the Regulations on Fees
South Africa published an amendment to its Immigration Act. It is called 'Immigration Act: First Amendment of the Regulations on Fees'. This amendment changes the fees for immigration services or applications. The government published this notice on 17 August 2026. The specific new fees and when they start are not in this notice.
Timeline
Announced
17 Aug 2026
The South African government has introduced the First Amendment of the Regulations on Fees under the Immigration Act, as published on 17 August 2026. This instrument directly impacts the cost structure associated with various immigration services and applications within the jurisdiction of South Africa, though the specific fee changes and effective dates are not established by the available sourc
goborda provides monitoring and explanation of publicly available policy information. It is not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration professional before acting.
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