Can I apply for a visa extension after expiry?

Can I apply for a visa extension after expiry?

SA Migration | 06 Dec 2022

No, you may not apply for a renewal after it has expired. This means that you would be illegal in the country and declared an undesirable person when exiting the country. You must ensure that you apply for a renewal in advance before your visa expires as set out in the regulations.

The only applicants exempt from applying for a renewal after their visas have expired are foreign nationals whose visas have expired during the lockdown. These applicants have up to the 30th of September to renew their visas or else they would be declared undesirable.

If you apply for a renewal with an expired visa, officials from VFS will refuse to accept your application.

If you are in the country with an expired visa, the best option is to leave the country and upon exit, you will receive a letter stating that you are banned from South Africa for 12 months or 5 years depending on how long you overstayed. Once you received your letter, you may appeal the decision to lift the ban.

To appeal the decision, the applicant must submit the following documents to the overstay appeals department:

  1. Written Representation
  2. A copy of the declaration of undesirability (form 19) that was issued at the port of entry.
  3. Copy of the relevant pages of the passport, including the bio page.
  4. Acknowledgement of receipt (In cases where the applicant applied for a permit and the visa is still pending)
  5. If the applicant overstayed due to medical reasons, then a medical certificate must be submitted.

Once you have all the necessary documents, then your appeal application must be emailed to overstayappeals@dha.gov.za and you can contact the IMS deportations department at 012-406 4985 to confirm if your application has been received.


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