If you are a non-Citizen from Australia looking for a visa to South Africa, then this article is for you. You will learn about the Australian Humanitarian Visa for South Africa , how to get it and what are the benefits of applying for it.

The Australian Humanitarian Visa is a type of visa that allows a non-citizen to apply for lawful permanent residence in Australia. This can be used by South Africans who have been made refugees, as well as victims of wartime sexual violence, faminies affected by natural disasters, and certain others who qualify.

Visas and Migration  

Welcome to the Australian Immigration Office at the Australian High Commission, Pretoria. We are an overseas office of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Our office  provides visa services to residents of South Africa and other countries in Southern and Western Africa. To see who is responsible for processing visa from your country of usual residence see: Country coverage – Africa 

Global Service Centre (GSC)

From 1 March 2021, the Australian High Commission is unable to provide responses on visa, citizenship or customs enquiries. Visit the Department of Home Affairs website  or call the Home Affairs Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196, open Monday to Friday 0900 to 1700 (local time).

 

Travel Restrictions – Travel to resume for fully vaccinated travellers from 21 February 2022

On 7 February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that from 21 February 2022, all fully vaccinated visa holders will be able to travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.

For information on what ‘fully vaccinated’ means for both adults and children – please see the department’s website: Vaccinated travellers | COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au).

If you are not fully vaccinated you will not be able to travel to Australia unless you are an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or have received a travel exemption. Further information on travel exemptions can be found on the department’s website: Travel restrictions | COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Fully vaccinated travellers should also check the What I need to do before I travel | COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au) link for details on documents they should bring with them as evidence they are fully vaccinated and details on pre departure COVID testing and travel declaration requirements.

Quarantine on arrival requirements vary from state to state and travellers will need to comply with requirements of their arrival location as well as any other state or territories that they plan to travel to. This includes quarantine and post arrival testing requirements. These requirements can change at short notice and travellers should regularly check these requirements before travel. Further information can be found using the following link: States (australia.gov.au)

Visitor applications lodged before 15 December 2021

Please note that there is a high number of visitor visa applications which were lodged during the pandemic which, due to travel restrictions, were unable to be finalised. It will take time to process these applications as well as new applications which have been received after the reopening announcement.

To assist us in working through the backlog of applications, we request that –

• if you lodged your application more than 3 months ago, please attach updated information in your application about your current circumstances (employment information, financial information, or invitation letters) and travel plans. We also encourage you not to make any irreversible travel plans until you have received a decision on your visa application as we may not be able to finalise your application before your desired travel dates due to high volumes.
• If you had submitted an application through an agent before this date you should contact your agent to request an application status update.  If the agent is no longer operating, you can send a completed form 929 and a copy of your passport bio data page to immigration.pretoria@dfat.gov.au. We will update your contact details and the Department will cease corresponding with your agent.  All future correspondence will be sent to you.
• If you no longer wish to travel to Australia at this time, or if your circumstances or contact information has changed, please see the section on how to update information or withdraw your application.

Please refer to the following links for further information:

Updating your contact details and form 929 – Your personal details have changed (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Before you travel you should review Australia’s travel requirements, which are detailed above.