On 30 June 2026 the Minister of Home Affairs extended the temporary immigration concession for foreign nationals in South Africa whose travel has been disrupted due to flight limitations to countries affected by the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region.

Dr Leon Schreiber issued Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 11 of 2026, extending the temporary visa concession until 30 November 2026 or until a ceasefire is declared and normal travel to the affected region has fully resumed, whichever occurs first.

The concessions apply to foreign nationals who were lawfully admitted into South Africa and whose travel has been impacted by disruptions involving Iran, Iraq, Syria, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Oman.

Welcome Relief for Travellers Stranded by Regional Conflict

The directive provides much-needed relief to passengers and crew of airlines who remain unable to return home due to limitation on flights affecting several countries across the region, said Jaco Brits, Head of Immigration at Xpatweb.

“This directive recognises the extraordinary circumstances facing travellers affected by the conflict and provides practical immigration relief to ensure they are not unfairly prejudiced by events beyond their control.”

Extension Builds on March 2026 Concession

The Minister first issued a temporary visa concession in March 2026. It applied to passengers and crew of airlines who were impacted by the cancellation of flights and the closure or airspaces in these jurisdictions following military strikes in the region.

At the time, the directive stated that the temporary concession would apply until 31 May 2026 or until the date of declaration of a ceasefire that would result in the reopening of travel in the affected region, whichever comes first.

Among the countries who has also offered similar temporary relief in the last few months, are Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, India and Thailand. 

Among the key measures South Africa has introduced now are:

• Long-term visa holders whose visas are due to expire may apply for visitor’s visas before expiry, provided they meet the prescribed requirements.
• Visitor’s visa holders who have reached the maximum validity period may apply for a further visitor’s visa for up to three months under the same conditions. 
• Temporary residence visa holders whose visas have expired may submit renewal applications without first obtaining a Form 20 (i.e. authorisation for an illegal foreigner to remain in the country pending an application for status).
• Eligible foreign nationals with pending applications who overstay because they are unable to secure flights should not be declared undesirable.
• Individuals who were declared undesirable upon departure from 26 February 2026 due to conflict-related travel disruptions may submit an appeal, supported by reasonable evidence.

Affected Foreign Nationals Should Act Promptly

Brits advised foreign nationals who believe they qualify to act promptly, ensure that applications are submitted within the applicable timeframes where possible and retain supporting documentation such as cancelled flight confirmations or evidence of travel disruptions.

Given the complexity of South Africa’s immigration framework and the temporary nature of these concessions, affected individuals and employers are encouraged to seek professional immigration advice to ensure continued compliance with the Immigration Act. 

Submitted by XpatWeb