In a significant move towards digital transformation, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, has introduced a new rule to deliver visa waiver application outcomes via email. This digital-first approach will initially apply to Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders, effective immediately, with plans to expand to other visa and permit applicants in the future.
This change eliminates the need for applicants to visit VFS branches to collect physical waiver letters. A statement published by the Department of Home Affairs on 29 August 2024 said that starting today with ZEP holders, and eventually all applicants, digital waiver letters in PDF format will be sent directly through email. These digital documents can then be used for future mainstream visa applications.
“While this may seem like a small step, it is a meaningful part of our larger effort to combat corruption and improve service efficiency by transforming Home Affairs into a digital-first department,” said Minister Schreiber. “This change has accelerated our work in clearing a backlog of over 306,000 applications, effectively processing 60,582 outstanding ZEP waiver applications, many from 2022. An additional 22,529 ZEP waiver applications will soon be processed, reducing the backlog and freeing up critical resources in our underfunded department.”
Applicants who still prefer to collect hard copies of their ZEP waiver letters can do so at VFS branches. The Department advises applicants not to be concerned when they receive digital outcomes via the official email addresses listed below:
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