ZEP General Waiver: Another Step Forward in Tackling Application Backlogs
Since assuming office in early July, Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber has taken steps to address the Department’s most critical challenges. In one of these, he issued a general waiver for ZEP (Zimbabwean Exemption Permit) holders seeking to transition to work visas. ZEP permits will not be extended again once they expire in November 2025. ZEP holders can apply to change to work visas now, but the requirements attached to general work visas are extremely stringent and impossible to meet for most ZEP holders. Thousands of ZEP holders therefore applied to be exempted from those stringent requirements. They were usually approved, but often not all relevant conditions were waived. The latest general waiver exempts all ZEP holders who have received individual waivers, from the additional stringent condition.
For ZEP holders with a job offer or work contract, this significantly increases the likelihood of securing a work visa for up to five years, paving the way for potential permanent residence.