Johannesburg, South Africa – In a significant step towards digital transformation, the South African Department of Home Affairs announced a new system for delivering visa waiver application results. Applicants, starting with Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders, will now receive their outcomes electronically via email.
This initiative marks a major shift from the previous method of collecting paper-based waiver letters at VFS Global offices. Moving forward, all applicants will receive digital waiver letters in PDF format, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for physical copies.
“This seemingly small step is a meaningful part of our broader digital transformation plan,” said Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber. “By embracing a digital-first approach, we’re not only improving efficiency, but also tackling the decade-old backlog of unprocessed applications.”
The digital transition has already yielded positive results. Over 60,000 outstanding ZEP waiver applications, some dating back to 2022, have been processed. An additional 22,529 applications are slated for imminent processing, further reducing the backlog and freeing up resources.
“This move demonstrates our unwavering commitment to leveraging technology and maximizing our limited resources,” Minister Schreiber emphasized. “With only 40% of our previous staffing capacity, we’re determined to do more with less.”
While the digital system is the primary mode of delivery, applicants who still prefer physical copies can visit departmental branches.
The department urges applicants to exercise caution and trust emails received from the following official addresses: [email protected]; [email protected]; and so on (up to [email protected]).
