Overview

• Home Affairs Minister Leon Amos Schreiber issued Immigration Directive No. 21 of 2025 under the Immigration Act to extend ZEP validity to 28 May 2027.
• Existing permits due to lapse on 28 November 2025 are deemed valid for an additional 18 months.
• The directive states ZEP holders will not face arrest, detention, or deportation for lacking a current certificate, may travel in and out of South Africa, and can apply for other visa categories.
• An Immigration Advisory Board appointed in April 2025 continues deliberations on permanent status options for ZEP beneficiaries.
• The extension follows a High Court ruling that a prior termination was unlawful, with ActionSA criticizing the decision and reports noting at least one million Zimbabwean residents in South Africa.