South Africa: Long-Term Visa Processing Assigned to Consular Posts  

Last Updated on February 23, 2023

Key Points   

  • The government of South Africa announced that the responsibility for processing long-term visa documents will be assigned to individual consular posts  

Overview   

The government of South Africa announced it will no longer centralize the review process of long-term visas. Instead, long-term visa applications will be reviewed and processed by individual consular posts of South Africa.  

What are the Changes?   

The government of South Africa announced that the country’s consular posts will assume the responsibility of reviewing and processing long-term visa applications. In January 2022, the government of South Africa assigned this responsibility to the Department of Home Affairs. However, due to delayed processing times of long-term visas, the government shifted the process back to consular offices.  

Looking Ahead  

The government of South Africa has yet to announce when the transition will begin or the new estimated time for long-term visa processing. Continue to check the government of South Africa’s website and Envoy’s website for the latest updates and information.   


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Content in this publication is for informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult an attorney at one of the two U.S. Law Firms working with the Envoy Platform or another qualified professional. On non-U.S. immigration issues, consult an Envoy global immigration service provider or another qualified representative.