Tag Archive for: Aaron Motsoaledi

Sisipho Ntsabo
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Department of Home Affairs calls upon asylum seekers and refugees to renew their expired visas and statuses

The Department of Home Affairs has issued a statement calling upon qualifying asylum seekers and refugees to renew their expired visas and status online before the deadline on 30 June 2021.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has extended the validity of the asylum seeker visas and refugee statuses. This online extension is aimed at reducing the COVID-19 spread. With the online extension, a holder of an asylum seeker visa (section 22) or a refugee status (section 24), can request an extension of visa validity via email, without having to physically go to a refugee reception office.

To request an online extension for an asylum seeker or refugee visas a client will need to submit the following documents:

  • A signed template that has a permit number, full names and surname, and full contact details (an email address, mobile phone numbers and physical address).
  • Proof of physical address in a form of a utility bill or an affidavit confirming the address.
  • A copy of the current visa. If the visa is lost, the client must submit an affidavit confirming that the permit is lost and indicate the previous permit reference number.
1 Desmond Tutu Refugee Reception Office Refugee visa extensions: DTRRC.Extension24@dha.gov.za

Asylum seeker visa extension: DTRRC.Extension22@dha.gov.za
2 Cape Town Refugee Reception Office Refugee visa extensions: CTrrc.extension24@dha.gov.za

Asylum seeker visa extension: CTrrc.Extension22@dha.gov.za
3 Musina Refugee Reception Office Refugee visa extensions: MusinaRRC.Extension24@dha.gov.za

Asylum seeker visa extension: Musinarrc.Extension22@dha.gov.za
4 Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Refugee Reception Office Refugee visa extensions: PERRC.Extension24@dha.gov.za

Asylum seeker visa extension: PERRC.Extension22@dha.gov.za
5 Durban Refugee Reception Office Refugee visa extensions: DurbanRRC.Extension24@dha.gov.za

Asylum seeker visa extension: DurbanRRC.Extension22@dha.gov.za

 

 

Sisipho Ntsabo
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Resumption of Services at Home Affairs Offices

South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country has been moved to Alert Level 1, and Home Affairs has announced that more services will be resumed as of Thursday, 04 March 2021. The Citizenship service remains temporarily unavailable. Under Alert Level 1, eHome Affairs online services have resumed,

  • Births Registration
  • Re-issuance of Births Certificates
  • Late Registration of Birth (LRB) for learners and pensioners only;
  • Death registration
  • Applications temporary Identity certificate (TIC)
  • Collection of Identity cards or documents
  • Applications and collection of passports for those who are exempted to travel
  • Applications for identity (Smart ID) Cards or documents for matriculants only

In addition, the following services under Alert Level 1, will be resumed:

  • Re-issues of Smart ID Cards and identity documents
  • Registration and Solemnization of Marriages
  • Amendments and rectifications
  • Late Registration of Birth (LRB) for all categories
  • Applications and collections of passports for all categories
Foreign nationals who are in possession of 90 day visitors visas, which expired during the lockdown, are automatically valid until 30 June 2021.
 
Foreign nationals  who are in possession of long term visas which expired during the lockdown, are automatically valid until 31 July 2021 and they are invited to apply for extensions before 31 July 2021.
Andrew Stegmann
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How to Save Time and Get Your South African Smart ID and Passport at a Bank Branch

With lines at Department of Home Affairs offices around South Africa often being long, more citizens would be wise to know about another option for obtaining their Smart IDs, or renewing their passports.

The four major banks in SA – Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank, and ABSA – offer ID and passport services at a number of their branches. By arranging an appointment online, through eHomeAffairs, you can skip the lines, and process everything at your bank.

The process

  1. Create an account on the DHA’s eHomeAffairs website.
  2. Capture your application.
  3.  Attach your supporting documents.
  4. Make payment.
  5. Schedule your appointment.

eHomeAffairs allows you to save your application progress, and come back to complete it at a later stage.

A bank branch visit is mandatory for the capture and verification of your biometric detail (photos, fingerprints, and signature). You will not be required to go to a Home Affairs office at any point.

Participating bank branches

This service is not available at all bank branches, nor is it available in all cities in South Africa. For a list of participating branches, click here.

Below is a list of current bank branches that support this process.

And below here is a list of scheduled bank branches that aim to support this process.

To find out more about the South African Smart ID card, click here. And for a how-to guide to arrange an appointment at your bank branch, click here. If, for whatever reason, you would prefer to get your Smart ID from a Home Affairs office, you can find a list of Smart ID-capable branches here.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
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South Africa Has Opened Up Visa-free Travel to These 11 Countries

Home Affairs minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has announced visa-free travel for 11 countries in an effort to boost tourism to the country.

In a media briefing on Sunday (4 October), Motsoaledi said that the visa-free status of citizens of some countries and territories was temporarily suspended at the start of the lockdown period.

“In line with the commitment of Government to take urgent steps to address the economic and tourism stagnation brought about by the outbreak of Covid-19, visa-free status of citizens from a number of countries and territories has been reinstated.”

However, the minister said that visa-free status does not alter the current Covid-19 regulations, including with regards to the bans in place for leisure travelers from high-risk countries, as determined by the South African Government.

The countries include (bolded are high risk):

  • South Korea;
  • Spain;
  • Italy;
  • Germany;
  • Hong Kong;
  • Singapore;
  • USA;
  • UK;
  • France;
  • Portugal;
  • Iran.

Motsoaledi said he has instructed officials to communicate this decision to the aviation industry, embassies and other stakeholders as a matter of urgency.

“The port managers have been instructed to adhere to the SADC protocol and guidelines regulating the movement of essential goods under Covid-19 regulations.

“The guidelines regulating truck drivers travelling across the border will continue to apply as has been the case for the past seven months,” he said.

The minister said that immigration officers will be required to assess the movement and place of origin of the traveller and not the country of origin of the airline concerned.

“Transit travellers through South Africa by air will be allowed to connect to their destinations, subject to them complying with applicable health protocols but need not produce the 72 hours negative certificate.”

High-risk countries 

Motsoaledi said that any person from a country listed as having a high Covid-19 infection and transmission rate, who wish to undertake business travel into South Africa, may, in writing, apply to the Department of Home Affairs and demonstrate reasons for their request to enter the Republic for business purposes during the period of the national state of disaster.

Such applications must be directed to email Covid19BusinessTravel@dha.gov.za and supported by:

  • A copy of passport and/or temporary residence visa;
  • Proof of business activities to be undertaken in the republic;
  • Proof of travel itinerary; and
  • proof of address or accommodation in the republic.

The list of these high-risk countries will be updated fortnightly, said Motsoaledi.

“Immigration officers have been instructed to apply the requirements with a measure of flexibility in order to allow applications for business travel to be lodged at the ports of entry if and when necessary and await the outcome before entry into the republic is allowed,” he said,

All other categories of travellers from medium and low-risk countries are required to produce a certificate of negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from the time of departure, Motsoaledi said.

“Any person who fails to submit the certificate will be required to quarantine at his or her own cost.”

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].