Applications for Permanent Residence Permits have been closed in South Africa since approximately March of 2020. The initial reason for this was the hard lockdown when all businesses were closed due to the onset of Covid-19. However, when the Covid-19 regulations were relaxed, and businesses were allowed to reopen again Permanent Residence Permit applications were still not allowed.

It is well known that the Department of Home Affairs has a massive backlog of Permanent Residence Permit applications, and the processing times for such applications has become unacceptably long. The backlog is estimated to be approximately 40 000 applications

Permanent Residence Permit applications, particularly those related to spousal relationships, are presently taking in excess of 3 years to be processed with some applicants now having waited for nearly 6 years with no end in sight. The reason for the non-acceptance of Permanent Residence Permit applications has now been advised that it is to allow the Department of Home Affairs to catch up on the backlog.

The Department of Home Affairs has over the years become riddled with corruption. A project has been initiated to review all visas and permanent residence applications issued since 2004. This appears ridiculously over ambitious, and will also have contributed to the slow processing of visa applications that is presently being experienced.

However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The Department of Home Affairs has now announced that applications for Permanent Residence Permits will reopen from the 1^st January 2022. This is still some time away, but at least it provides some certainty. In addition, permanent residence appeal applications and proof of permanent residence applications will both become available from the 1^st October 2021.