South Africa activates its points-based work visa and remote work visitor visa
What changed
South Africa has made two important changes to its immigration rules: 1. A points-based system for General Work Visas and Critical Skills Work Visas. 2. A Remote Work Visitor Visa for people who work from outside South Africa for an employer located in another country. The government published these changes on 9 October 2024. They are now part of South Africa's visa system. The Department of Home Affairs currently lists the visa types and what people need to apply. The points system replaces a more flexible way of judging applications. It uses a structured points-based assessment for work visa applications that qualify. For General Work Visa applications outside the Trusted Employer Scheme, people must now earn at least R650,796 each year. The Remote Work Visitor Visa allows people who qualify, and who work for a foreign employer, to live in South Africa for a short time. They can continue to work for their employer from another country.
The detail
Policy history
South Africa activates its points-based work visa and remote work visitor visaRelated changes
South AfricaAsylumEffectiveEffective 9 Oct 2026 South Africa withdraws asylum seeker intake directive
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The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has withdrawn a directive about taking asylum seeker applications.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.
Published 9 Oct 2026Effective 9 Oct 2026Department of Home Affairs — Statements and speeches
South AfricaAsylumEffectiveEffective 15 Sept 2026 South Africa Relocates Asylum Seekers and Refugees to Lindela Repatriation Centre
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.
Published 14 Sept 2026Effective 15 Sept 2026South African Government — Media statements and gazette notices
South AfricaEntry RulesEffectiveEffective 4 Sept 2026 South Africa Cancels Dormant Traffic Register Numbers (TRNs) for Foreign Nationals
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.
Published 8 Sept 2026Effective 4 Sept 2026South African Government — Gazette notices feed
South AfricaFeesPublishedIssued 17 Aug 2026 Immigration Act: First Amendment of the Regulations on Fees
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.
Published 17 Aug 2026South African Government — Gazette notices feed
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