Expatriates in SA with visas due to expire under lockdown
All expatriates currently in South Africa, and whose visas are due to expire or has expired since 1 December 2019, are advised to apply for the extensions of their visas, within South Africa to ensure that they remain compliant.
Some of these renewals, such as intra-company transfer work visa renewals, corporate visa holders and those on short terms business or work visas; are normally not allowed in South Africa; but these are extraordinary times and special dispensations have been made available to assist.
This is a special process and must be done through the correct Home Affairs channels, and we recommend that employers start this process as soon as possible.
While applications cannot be filed during lockdown we encourage employers to use the time to prepare these applications and book an appointment to ensure applications can be filed as soon as possible after the lockdown has been lifted.
We expect an influx of applications once the lockdown is uplifted and some advance planning will ensure you are ahead of the rush.
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in South Africa and the declaration of a national disaster, employers may be facing uncertainty about the status of their expatriate employees, an emigration expert has said.