EXTENSION OF VALIDITY OF ASYLUM SEEKER AND REFUGEE PERMITS TO 31ST of MARCH 2021

1. Validity of asylum seeker and refugee permits

Following the announcement by the President of the Republic of South Africa to put the country on adjusted alert level 3, the Minister of Home Affairs issued the Direction on the 14th of January 2021 regarding services that will be provided by the Department of Home Affairs. The Directions in paragraph 2.1 thereof made reference to the extension of the validity of visas and permits that were issued by DHA.  To this end, this statement serves to confirm that all permits/visa issued to refugees and asylum seekers are deemed valid until 31st of  March 2021.

Holders of asylum seeker and refugee permits do not need to extend their permits  since the Minister of Home Affairs has extended all permits/visas and deemed them valid until 31st of  March 2021.

 All the rights, benefits and obligations of asylum seekers and refugees remain the same. 

 2. Refugee Reception Centres remain closed

The Refugee Reception Centres have closed since the commencement of the national state of disaster. The Refugee Reception Centres will remain closed until the Department of Home Affairs declares them open.

All stakeholders, refugees and asylum seekers will be notified when the Refugee Reception Centres are declared open.

 * This statement is to be read alongside the Government Gazette No.44072 issued on 14 January 2021 by the Department of Home Affairs on measures to prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19.

This statement is to be read alongside the statement made by the Minister of Home Affairs on the 30th of September 2020 that states that, ' the Department of Home Affairs is extending the validity period of legally issued visas which expired during the lockdown period to 31 January 2021.'