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• When thinking of soaring demand for international travel, we visualise selfie stick-wielding visitors bustling through crowded markets and snaking queues of excited and weary travellers at airport counters. A record five billion people are expected to take to the skies this year, according to the International Air Travel Association, up from an estimated 4.49 billion in 2023. For some associated sectors of the industry, the impact of this boom is felt early on, before travellers begin the actual journey, as the queues are getting longer at visa processing centres amid the growing hunger for leisure, business and migration travel.... Read more...

• When thinking of soaring demand for international travel, we visualise selfie stick-wielding visitors bustling through crowded markets and snaking queues of excited and weary travellers at airport counters. A record five billion people are expected to take to the skies this year, according to the International Air Travel Association, up from an estimated 4.49 billion in 2023. For some associated sectors of the industry, the impact of this boom is felt early on, before travellers begin the actual journey, as the queues are getting longer at visa processing centres amid the growing hunger for leisure, business and migration travel.... Read more...

• Thousands of foreign nationals have chosen South Africa as their retirement destination, with many of them leaving some notable first-world countries such as the United Kingdom, China, Germany, and the United States of America. In a parliamentary Q&A last year, the former Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, was asked to provide the total number of retirement visa applications received and approved, as well as the countries from which these applicants came. In his response, Motsoaledi revealed that over the past two years, South Africa had received approximately 3,645 retirement visa applications from foreigners residing in 112 countries.... Read more...

• Schreiber says SA must differentiate between ZEP holders who have contributed their skills to the country and those who have undermined the system. Newly appointed Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says he needs time to review the processes and “missteps” in how the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs) were handled. This comes after the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruled that former Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi unlawfully terminated the ZEP. The ZEP has allowed Zimbabweans to live, work and study in South Africa since 2009. This has been part of the Dispensation of Zimbabweans Project.... Read more...

• Surprise increase makes Australian visa application fee among most expensive in the world, as new survey finds rising costs putting prospective students off International students say the Australian government is making them feel like “cash cows” and sending a clear message they are unwelcome after home affairs more than doubled the price of visa applications overnight. The non-refundable visa fee rose from $710 to $1,600 without prior warning on Monday, making it one of the most expensive in the world and well in excess of competitors New Zealand (A$343), Canada (A$164), the UK (A$932) and the US (A$277).... Read more...

• Bank of America (BofA) has welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s reappointment, believing that South Africa’s GDP could start improving in the next few years and “turn the corner” in 2026 amid an enhanced performance from Eskom. Following the 2024 election, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a Government of National Unity (GNU) as the ANC lost its majority in parliament. Ten other parties have joined the GNU: DA, IFP, Good, PA, FF Plus, UDM, Rise Mzansi, PAC, Al-Jama Ah, and UAT. Thus, the president included several of these parties in his cabinet, which increased from 30 to 32 to accommodate the new faces.... Read more...

• Synopsis The key change is that individuals holding an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5, without a clear pathway to residency, can no longer sponsor their partners and dependent children for work, visitor On June 26, 2024, New Zealand implemented changes to its visa regulations that will impact certain foreign workers and their families. The new rules aim to streamline the visa application process and align it more closely with the country`s economic and immigration priorities.... Read more...

• South Africa`s new Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber’s focus on remote working visas has been met with widespread enthusiasm. He aims to attract digital nomads and remote workers from around the globe, positioning South Africa as a prime destination for professionals seeking a balance of work and leisure. The Home Affairs Minister has expressed his commitment to making South Africa a more accessible and appealing location for remote workers.... Read more...

• Synopsis Starting July 1, 2024, changes to Australian student visa rules require offshore applications. Temporary Graduate visa holders must explore job opportunities for extended stay. Post-study work rights are shorter with stricter English Effective July 1, 2024, individuals applying for an Australian student visa must begin their application process from outside the country, rather than within Australia. This change affects holders of specific visas, such as Visitor and Temporary Graduate visas, who will no longer be allowed to apply for student visas while in Australia.... Read more...

• 700,000 IDs Are Still Blocked by Home Affairs in South Africa: Are You One of Them? Check Here: In a landmark ruling that could potentially alter the lives of hundreds of thousands, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has declared the Department of Home Affairs’ (DHA) practice of blocking South African IDs as unconstitutional. 700,000 IDs Are Still Blocked by Home Affair This judgment comes as a significant relief to many who have found themselves in a state of bureaucratic limbo, unable to access essential... Read more...