Stats SA has released its latest tourism and migration report and the
verdict on July arrivals is in. Total arrivals are up by 2% and
overseas arrivals are up 10%, with Central and South America leading
the charge at 90% year-to-date growth.

Brazil arrivals continue to grow exponentially with a year-to-date
increase of 119%, as 17 524 arrivals in 2016 increased to 38 460
arrivals in 2017. Argentina isn’t far behind Brazil, at an 89%
year-to-date increase and a 71% month-to-month increase. While Mexico
has shown a 42% year-to-date increase.

Europe saw an overall Year-to-date increase of 10%. France, Spain,
Germany and The Netherlands continue their year-long trend of growth,
coming in at 31%, 19%, 15% and 12% year-to-date growth a piece. France
went from 80 368 arrivals in 2016 to 105 494 arrivals in 2017. While
Spain displayed a 16% month-to-month increase and Germany went from
155 371 arrivals in 2016 to 178 328 arrivals in 2017. Other notable
European countries are Austria which grew

20% both month-to-month and
year-to-date, and Sweden which grew 16% year-to-date.

North America increased by 8% year-to-date, but decreased by 1%
month-to-month. The USA went from 199 853 arrivals in 2016 to 215 680
arrivals in 2017, but remained static on a month-to-month basis. While
Canada decreased 10% month-to-month and only increased by 7% year-to-date.

The four markets showing the greatest decline came from Europe, Asia
and Australasia. Ireland arrivals continue to nosedive, showing 38%
year-to-date decrease, with just over 6 000 fewer arrivals occurring
in 2017 compared with 2016. New Zealand and Iran also saw a 23%
year-to-date decrease, while China dropped a further 16%.

The fastest growing African markets are Mauritania with an 89%
year-to-date increase, Guinea-Bissau which increased by 60%
year-to-date, Libya which is sitting at a 41% year-to-date increase,
and Gambia which came in at a 30% year-to-date V.2022

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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