Johannesburg- The South African Department of Home Affairs has extended temporary visa concessions for foreign nationals, including thousands of Basotho citizens who live, work, and study in the country, while their waiver and appeal applications remain pending.
The new directive, signed by Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber on 30 September 2025, extends the validity of pending visa and waiver statuses until 31 March 2026. It came into effect on 1 October 2025.
The extension, outlined in Immigration Directive No. 22 of 2025, aims to ease pressure caused by processing delays that have left many foreign nationals — among them Basotho farm workers, domestic employees, students, and professionals — in uncertainty about their legal status.
According to the department, the backlog in visa and permit processing remains significant, particularly for waiver and appeal applications submitted before 7 March 2024. Applicants who can produce a VFS Global receipt or tracking confirmation will have their visa status automatically extended until the end of March next year.
The directive also allows applicants to travel out of and re-enter South Africa during this period without being declared undesirable under the Immigration Act, provided they meet certain conditions. Travelers must present proof of their pending application, including a rejection letter, a receipt of submission, and evidence from VFS Global.
Basotho and other non-visa-exempt travelers will still need to apply for a port of entry visa before returning to South Africa. The concession applies only to those who were legally admitted into the country and submitted their applications through official channels.
The announcement has been welcomed by many Basotho who work in South Africa and depend on valid permits to sustain their families back home. For others — particularly students and skilled workers — it provides relief after months of waiting for feedback from Home Affairs.
Lesotho’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has encouraged citizens affected by the directive to verify their application status and ensure they carry all relevant documents when crossing the border.
While the extension brings temporary relief, it also highlights ongoing challenges within South Africa’s immigration system, which continues to affect the movement and livelihoods of many Basotho working across the border.
