Home Affairs Launches Digital Delivery of Visa Waivers, Starting with ZEP Holders

Pretoria – In what Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber has described as a “small but meaningful step” toward digital transformation, the Department of Home Affairs has officially rolled out a system to deliver visa waiver outcomes via email.

The reform, launched on 29 August 2024, marks the beginning of the department’s shift to becoming a digital-first institution, with the aim of improving efficiency, reducing corruption, and clearing long-standing backlogs.

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Waivers Now Delivered by Email

Under the new system, holders of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) will be the first to benefit. Instead of making trips to VFS branches to collect physical waiver letters, applicants will now receive official digital copies of their outcomes in PDF format via email.

These digital waiver letters can then be used to apply for mainstream visas, streamlining the process for thousands of applicants. The department has committed to expanding this digital-first approach to cover all visa and permit categories in due course.

Tackling the Backlog

Minister Schreiber revealed that the change is already having a significant impact on clearing the department’s massive application backlog.

• Out of a backlog of more than 306,000 unprocessed applications, 60,582 ZEP waiver applications have already been finalized under the new system.
• A further 22,529 ZEP waiver applications are in the pipeline and expected to be processed shortly.

“While this step on its own may be a small one, it is still meaningful as part of our larger quest to clamp down on corruption and to enhance efficiency. We are determined to use technology to do more with the little we have,” Schreiber said.

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Understaffed but Pushing Forward

The minister also highlighted the severe resource constraints at Home Affairs, noting that the department currently operates with only 40% of its required staff capacity. Despite this, the digital initiative is seen as proof that innovation can bridge gaps created by financial and human resource shortages.

Looking Ahead

The Home Affairs Department plans to gradually extend digital waiver delivery to other visa applicants, with the long-term goal of making digital services the standard for all processes.

This initiative aligns with South Africa’s broader push for e-governance, reducing paperwork, improving turnaround times, and ensuring greater transparency in service delivery.