The Department of Home Affairs is working towards allowing all African
citizens to enter the country without visas. There is a catch though,
initially, so-called “trusted travellers” will be the only ones to
benefit. Trusted travellers? These are diplomats, academics, business
people and students.


Big immigration changes could be coming.


Home Affairs’ latest White Paper on international migration was
already adopted by cabinet six weeks ago, the paper was not
immediately made public. News24 reports that the paper explains the
steps that will be taken towards scrapping visa requirements.


The paper draws strongly on the African Union’s Agenda 2063, it led to
former AU President Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma launching the African
Passport last year.


“South Africa fully supports the vision of an Africa where its
citizens can move more freely across national borders, where
intra-Africa trade is encouraged and there is greater integration and
development of the African continent”.
Home Affairs believes the current situation is simply untenable.


“For instance, on average Africans need visas to travel to 55% of
other African countries. They can get visas on arrival in only 25% of
other countries. Finally, they do not need a visa to travel to just
20% of other countries on the continent.”


In March, Home Affairs also confirmed that “visa-free travel for South
Africans to the EU” was still in the works. In fact, it was now
finance Minister (former Home Affairs minister) Malusi Gigaba who
stated in September that the EU were looking at relaxing or
eliminating visa requirements for South Africans. Now that Hlengiwe
Mkhize is heading up Home Affairs, how will that

affect plans for the
“African” passport and EU travel visas?


The White Paper is also aware of the potential security issues that
could arise with visa scrapping. News24’s Carien du Plessis
summarises it as such:


“The policy is envisaged as follows: African citizens can enter South
Africa visa-free where there are reciprocal agreements.


“Visas will only be needed when there are risks of foreign nationals
overstaying, security risks like organised crime, terrorism and
political instability, civil registration risks, i.e. fraud by foreign
governments in issuing documents or an unable or unwillingness to
identfy their nationals when requested, and for countries “with a high
number of nationals who abuse the asylum system”.


“Key elements of the visa-free regime would be visa-free entry for
visits up to 90 days, recognition of visas for third parties, for
example regional visas, agreed standards on immigration and border
management, agreed standards on civil registration and “sophisticated,
real-time risk management, information and intelligence sharing”.


The white paper also emphasises that we as a country should “continue
to advocate for a free movement of African citizens.” It also warns of
the large influx of “semi- skilled or unskilled economic migrants,”
this often then leads to abuse from “some unscrupulous South African
employers”.


Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize is expected to announce details
on the new immigration dispensation during her budget speech on Wednesday. V.1956

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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