Immigration
Immigration is the movement of people into a country with the intention of settling there temporarily or permanently. It encompasses the administrative, legal and policy frameworks that govern the entry, residence and naturalisation of foreign nationals. Immigration systems typically involve visa processing, border control, documentation verification and compliance monitoring. Governments manage immigration through dedicated departments or agencies that assess applications, enforce entry requirements and maintain records of foreign nationals. The process often includes background checks, health screenings and the issuance of permits or visas tailored to different categories such as work, study, family reunion or asylum. Immigration has significant economic implications, affecting labour markets, skills availability, remittances and demographic trends. In many African countries, immigration authorities are modernising through digital transformation initiatives, deploying biometric technology and digital identity systems to improve efficiency, security and service delivery. Border management agencies work alongside immigration departments to control cross-border movement and prevent irregular migration. Immigration policy balances national security concerns, economic development objectives and international obligations, including refugee protection. The sector intersects with tourism, as visitor visa processing forms a substantial part of immigration workload, and with business, as work permits enable foreign investment and skills transfer.
Immigration Updates
SA: Dr Leon Schreiber: Address by Home Affair Minister, at Xpatweb Annual Global Mobility Conference (21/07/2026)
24th July 2026 At the time, I argued that Home Affairs should no longer be viewed merely as an administrative department responsible for issuing documents and... →
South Africans deserve answers on who advises Home Affairs on immigration and who is holding government accountable
23rd July 2026 I have said it before, and I will say it again: “I don’t have a plan for Africa, I have a plan for South Africa.” This statement has never been... →
Home Affairs launches digitalised Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II
21st July 2026 The Department of Home Affairs has today gazetted the launch of Phase II of its highly successful Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), marking another... →
Trusted Employer Scheme round 2 accelerates international hiring and boosts business confidence in South Africa
20th July 2026 Government has officially opened the long-awaited second window for corporate employers seeking to become part of the Trusted Employer Scheme... →
PanSALB cautions against linguistic profiling during anti-illegal immigration protests
17th July 2026 The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has noted with great concern reports of members from various linguistic communities who have faced... →
DA welcomes Schreiber’s Home Affairs clearing more than 19,000 refugee appeals backlog
10th July 2026 The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the significant progress made by the Department of Home Affairs, under Minister Leon Schreiber, to reduce the... →
South African protesters go door-to-door forcing immigrants from their homes
By: Reuters 10th July 2026 Groups of anti-immigration South Africans seized foreigners from their homes in Johannesburg on Thursday and handed them to police in a hardening... →
Major relief for certain visa applicants as Home Affairs drops medical report requirement
9th July 2026 On 8 July 2026, the Minister of Home Affairs moved to provide welcome relief for temporary residence visa and permanent residence permit applicants... →
Eleven more Trump deportees arrive in Eswatini from the United States, lawyer says
By: Reuters 9th July 2026 Eleven more migrants deported by the Trump administration under a policy of sending them to third countries arrived in Eswatini from the United... →
EFF slams ‘State dysfunction’ after ConCourt defends asylum seekers
By: Thabi Shomolekae 8th July 2026 The EFF have strongly welcomed the landmark judgment of the Constitutional Court, which confirmed the Western Cape High Court’s declaration that... →
