The Department of Home Affairs has published Immigration Circular No 30 of 2025 on 2 December 2025, announcing turnaround times for visa and permit-related applications in South Africa. The circular introduces formally defined turnaround times for temporary residence, permanent residence, waiver and exemption applications, as well as appeals and rectification applications, marking a step toward improved efficiency, accountability, and predictability within the immigration framework for applicants.
One of the key developments highlighted within the circular is the introduction of a defined processing period of four weeks for Critical Skills Visas, 12 months for permanent residence applications and 180 – 240 days for appeal applications.