The Department of Home Affairs has reported a dramatic improvement in visa processing times during the 2024/25 financial year - the first under Minister Dr Leon Schreiber.
According to the department’s latest Annual Report, the turnaround in work visa adjudication has been remarkable. Critical skills visas processed on time rose from 52% to 89%, business visas from 61% to 97%, and general work visas from just 10% to an impressive 98%.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the department’s performance, saying it demonstrates the impact that effective leadership can have in areas that have long struggled with inefficiency.
The DA said the results show real progress toward boosting economic growth and job creation.
The department’s Medium Term Development Plan for 2024–2029 lists visa regime reform as a top priority, aimed at attracting skilled professionals, promoting investment, and supporting tourism.
Initiatives such as the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme have already attracted nearly 40 000 tourists and created more than 3 000 jobs in its first phase.
A second key focus has been ensuring that all South Africans can access smart and digital IDs and e-Passports.
In the past year, Home Affairs produced 3.6 million identity documents - up from 2.8 million in 2023/24 - surpassing its annual target by nearly one million. The department says these gains reflect the success of its system modernisation programme and efforts to reduce downtime caused by offline systems.
Immigration Affairs also showed strong progress, improving from 40% to 87.5% performance.
The department says this demonstrates that South Africa can pursue visa reforms to attract investment and tourism while taking firm action against illegal immigration.
The DA says ministries under its leadership will continue to focus on programmes that drive economic growth and create sustainable employment opportunities.
According to the department’s latest Annual Report, the turnaround in work visa adjudication has been remarkable. Critical skills visas processed on time rose from 52% to 89%, business visas from 61% to 97%, and general work visas from just 10% to an impressive 98%.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the department’s performance, saying it demonstrates the impact that effective leadership can have in areas that have long struggled with inefficiency.
The DA said the results show real progress toward boosting economic growth and job creation.
The department’s Medium Term Development Plan for 2024–2029 lists visa regime reform as a top priority, aimed at attracting skilled professionals, promoting investment, and supporting tourism.
Initiatives such as the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme have already attracted nearly 40 000 tourists and created more than 3 000 jobs in its first phase.
A second key focus has been ensuring that all South Africans can access smart and digital IDs and e-Passports.
In the past year, Home Affairs produced 3.6 million identity documents - up from 2.8 million in 2023/24 - surpassing its annual target by nearly one million. The department says these gains reflect the success of its system modernisation programme and efforts to reduce downtime caused by offline systems.
Immigration Affairs also showed strong progress, improving from 40% to 87.5% performance.
The department says this demonstrates that South Africa can pursue visa reforms to attract investment and tourism while taking firm action against illegal immigration.
The DA says ministries under its leadership will continue to focus on programmes that drive economic growth and create sustainable employment opportunities.
