The Department of Home Affairs has published a new Directive to assist passengers of airlines that are affected by the closure of airspace due to the war in the Middle East. The Directive provides for the following:

Passengers whose long term visas are due to expire up until the 31 March 2026 may submit applications for Visitors Visas in terms of Section 11 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act on or before the expiry date of their present visas.

Passengers whose Visitors Visas have reached their maximum validity period and which would not normally be renewable will be allowed to submit applications for the same visa with the same conditions for a further maximum period of 3 months.

Passengers whose temporary residence visas have expired are allowed to submit renewal applications without the need to first obtain a Form 20 (Authorisation ot remain in South Africa pending an application for status)

Passengers that have applications pending for adjudication shall be allowed to board a flight once available and will not be declared undesirable for having overstayed the validity date of their visa.

Passengers that were unable to depart on time and declared undesirable on departure dating from 26 February 2026 due to circumstances influenced by the closure of airspace may submit an appeal to middleeast@overstay@dha.gov.za

The directive will apply until the 31 May 2026 or until the date of declaration of a ceasefire that reopens travel in the affected region, whichever comes first.