REQUIRE ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR ZIMBABWEAN EXEMPTION PERMIT?

On Wednesday, 7 June 2023, the Minister of the Department of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, announced a last chance for a further 6-month grace period until 31 December 2023 to allow ZEP holders to regularize their status by applying for a mainstream visa category.

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The Zimbabwean special dispensation started in 2009 and was called the Dispensation for Zimbabwe Permit. It provided for the documentation of qualifying Zimbabweans for a five-year period. The permits were extended in 2014 for a further three-year period until 2017 and called the Zimbabwean Special Permit. The current Zimbabwean Exemption Permits were issued in 2017 and expired on 31 December 2021.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ZEP?

On 25 November 2021, the Cabinet announced that no further concession will be allowed and as such ZEP holders will no longer be able to extend their permits in terms of this special dispensation. The Department of Home Affairs has granted a 12-month grace period from the current ZEP expiry to allow permit holders to apply for a visa in a different category to allow them to legally reside in the country.

In an announcement made on 7 June 2023, the Minister of the Department of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, announced a last chance for a further 6-month grace period until 31 December 2023 to allow ZEP holders to regularize their status by applying for a mainstream visa category. Details of this announcement was shared in various media sources.

WE ASSIST THE FOLLOWING ZEP HOLDERS AND TO ALIGN WITH THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS ANNOUNCED RECOMMENDATIONS

Standard Bank clients, as we have a commitment to the bank to ensure compliant banking of its permit holder customers.
Large corporates who need an exercise to determine the validity of ZEP holders, as well as roadmap to give them a sustainable path in South Africa.
Special cases for our group’s High Net Worth or Affluent Families, who understands the complexity and resources required to obtain Ministerial exemption (of which we have obtained a number of such special approvals, including for our own Zimbabwean staff).

THE CHALLENGE WITH ZEP PERMITS IS OTHERWISE EFFECTIVELY AT THREE LEVELS

There are many ZEP “holders” who have been issued with false papers. These ZEP holders are often under the false impression that they were legally assisted, so they are examples of the most vulnerable being victims.
The costs for the DHA process, especially the VFS process, is often unaffordable for ZEP holders who do not hold large qualifications or is business critical.
There are a number of court cases, which will play out over the coming months or even years, which will change the dynamics.

Our focus will remain to serve the corporate, professional and High Net Worth / Affluent families with legally correct
Immigration and Permanent Residency services.

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WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

For the first time since the announcement made in November 2021, the ZEP process has now been given Ministerial direction. Based on this experience, we are comfortable to support these applications now; as previously this was a space of too much uncertainty.

We presented on this topic with the Minister of Home Affairs and Marisa Jacobs on Radio 702. If you have missed the session, you can listen to it by clicking here.

HOW WE CAN HELP?

Xpatweb is South Africa’s largest immigration practice and have in the past three years obtained over 2,000 work visas of the same special category announced by the Minister as suitable for ZEP holders. As a provider of specialist work visa services to some of South Africa’s largest corporates and families our team of Specialists we will be able to provide direction and clarification on the correct process to follow.

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REQUIRE ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR ZIMBABWEAN EXEMPTION PERMIT?

MORE INFORMATION

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ZEP?

WE ASSIST THE FOLLOWING ZEP HOLDERS AND TO ALIGN WITH THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS ANNOUNCED RECOMMENDATIONS

THE CHALLENGE WITH ZEP PERMITS IS OTHERWISE EFFECTIVELY AT THREE LEVELS

TALK TO US

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

HOW WE CAN HELP?

Find Us

Contact Us

In the News

REQUIRE ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR ZIMBABWEAN EXEMPTION PERMIT?

MORE INFORMATION

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ZEP?

WE ASSIST THE FOLLOWING ZEP HOLDERS AND TO ALIGN WITH THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS ANNOUNCED RECOMMENDATIONS

THE CHALLENGE WITH ZEP PERMITS IS OTHERWISE EFFECTIVELY AT THREE LEVELS

TALK TO US

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

HOW WE CAN HELP?

Find Us

Contact Us

In the News

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