Visa changes for South African nationals:

All South African visitors to New Zealand will require visitor visas
from the 21 November this year.
These changes are being made as a result of an increase in the number
of South African nationals who have been refused entry at the New
Zealand border in comparison to other visa waiver countries.

Currently, people from South Africa do not need to apply for a visitor
visa before travelling to New Zealand, with genuine visitors being
granted a visitor visa on arrival. As a result of the change all
visitors from South Africa will need to obtain a visa before
travelling to New Zealand.

INZ recommends that applicants apply for a visitor visa about six
weeks in advance of their intended travel dates.
________________________________________
South Africa visa changes - Questions and Answers

Why is the Government introducing visitor visa requirements for all
South African nationals wishing to travel to New Zealand?

The Government is introducing these changes as a result of an increase
in the number of ineligible passengers who do not meet New Zealand
entry instructions.
This is evidenced by an increase in the number of passengers who have
been refused permission to board a flight to New Zealand or refused
entry at the border in comparison to other visa waiver countries.
Additionally, there have been incidents of passengers who have been
found holding counterfeit or fraudulently obtained South African
passports.

What do these changes mean?

This means that on and after

the 21 November all South African
nationals will need to obtain a visa before travelling to New Zealand
Applicants wishing to travel to New Zealand can visit the Visas Zone
website to obtain requirements and applications forms.

Questions and answers:

I`m from South Africa and purchased a ticket prior to today's`
announcement, what happens now?

People who have already purchased tickets for travel to New Zealand
prior to today's (And departing on of after 21 November 2016)
announcement should immediately apply for a visitor visa.

I`m planning to travel to New Zealand before 21 November, but I won`t
be leaving until afterwards. Do I need to apply for a visa before I
travel?

No. You will be a granted visitor visa on your arrival in New Zealand
providing you meet standard requirements (such as having sufficient
funds, an outward ticket and satisfying the immigration officer you
are genuinely intending a visit). The visitor visa will remain valid
for up to three months from your arrival.

I`m a South African national in New Zealand and wish to extend my
stay; do I need to apply for a visitor visa?

Yes – whether you were granted a visa under visa waiver provisions or
arrived with a visa you will need to ensure you remain lawfully in New
Zealand. If you wish to stay beyond the duration of the visa you
currently have please apply for another visa well before your current
visa is due to expire. V.1819

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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