Breaking News: Time Running Out to Correct Travel Directive for Seasonal Tourists and Swallows, Digital Nomad Visa One Step Closer
An error (of judgment or otherwise) in the latest travel directive dated 21 December 2023 is putting a cold stop to holiday plans of hundreds of visitors who planned to spend the Southern summer in South Africa. It seems to suggest that tourists awaiting extensions of their visas, must leave by 29 February. It is important to understand what exactly the directive says. Those awaiting outcomes to their applications may still remain in the country beyond the date of their first visa, but risk a travel ban if they leave after 29 February and if their extension has not come through by the time they depart. Despite current processing times for tourist visa extensions of 3-4 months, many are wary of Home Affairs’ self-admitted backlogs and not prepared to take the risk. They cut their stays short, some by as much as two months.
Pressure from tourism bodies, government departments and other interested parties on the Minister of Home Affairs is mounting to correct the directive or find another solution. Every day lost in fixing the problem is costing the country dearly in foreign currency, jobs and international standing as a top tourism destination.
Those affected have three options:
- Wait it out in the hope that the decision on their visa extension is issued in time for their return home. If it isn’t, they will likely be banned from re-entry for 1-5 years. (The ban can be appealed, but this process can take many months.)
- Bite the bullet and leave by 29 February (If they are visa exempt and travel to their home country, they may come back within days and receive a fresh 30- or 90-day visa).
- Become inventive and leave by 29 February, travel in the region and return from a neighbouring country for a maximum of 7 days at a time (if visa exempt), or to collect the outcome of their applications once those have been finalised.
Which route is best depends on a number of factors, including the length of time their application has already been pending, how much longer they intended to stay, and how soon they wish to return to South Africa after their departure. For further information and individual advice, reach out to one of our competent consultants.
Digital Nomad Visa, Relief for Parents of SA Citizens and Permanent Resident Children
Draft Regulations dated 8 February 2024, seek to introduce the long-awaited Digital Nomad Visa or Remote Worker Visa, seemingly to be issued for up to 3 years to those working remotely for overseas employers and earning a minimum of R 1 million per annum. Parents of children who are SA citizens or permanent residents are to be able to change their visas from spousal to other categories in-country. And certain changes are meant to address problems for some Critical Skills Visa applicants. An awkward attempt at introducing a points-based system for work visas is also being made.
The draft Regulations are out for public comment until 29 March, and an implementation is therefore not expected before the middle of the year. Keep checking in for further updates.