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OnAsylum

Africa

South Africa

Has historically processed one of the largest individual asylum caseloads in Africa, with claims decided by the Department of Home Affairs.

At a glance, for someone deciding whether to come here

Not tourist facts — the things that actually shape daily life while your case is pending and after it's decided.

Right to workLegally permitted for asylum seekers with a valid permit, though a permit is required and not always easy to renew on time.
Cost of living Moderate Lower than Western destinations, though Johannesburg and Cape Town cost more than the national average.
Healthcare while pendingPublic healthcare access exists in principle, though asylum seekers report inconsistent treatment in practice.
LanguageEnglish is widely used alongside several official local languages.
Family reunificationPossible in principle, though the same registration bottlenecks that affect primary claims apply.
After you're granted statusRecognized refugees can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of consecutive refugee status.
ClimateVaries by region — generally mild, with a genuine winter in the south.
Existing communityLarge communities from Zimbabwe, DRC, and Somalia, especially in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Starter content, pending expert review. This page describes general, publicly known information about how this country's asylum system works. It is not legal advice and may be out of date — policies change often. Last drafted 2026-09-04.

How you could qualify to enter this system

  • In-land asylum application at a designated Refugee Reception Office

How the process generally works

Applicants must apply at one of a limited number of Refugee Reception Offices, which can involve long waits simply to register a claim, followed by a status determination interview. Practical tip worth knowing: Durban has become the busiest reception office (about 29% of new applications nationally as of 2025), while Musina — often assumed to be the main entry-point office given its location near the Zimbabwe border — now processes only a small fraction of new applicants; many people bypass it and go straight to a major city office instead.

Step by step

  1. Apply at a Refugee Reception Office

    A limited number of offices nationwide — Durban currently handles the most new applications (about 29% as of 2025); Musina, despite being near the Zimbabwe border, now processes only a small share.

  2. Fingerprinting and first interview

    Conducted by a Refugee Reception Officer; form BI-1590 is completed.

  3. Section 22 permit issued May be issued same-day, or you may be asked to return later

    Legalizes your stay while the claim is decided, valid up to 6 months and renewable.

  4. Status determination interview and decision

    By Home Affairs.

  5. Appeal, if refused Backlog of roughly 161,000 cases as of mid-2026 (about 71,000 active, 90,000 inactive/unaccounted-for)

    To the refugee appeals authority (RAASA).

What you'll typically need

  • Passport or ID if available
  • Evidence supporting the claim

Support available while your case is decided

  • Scalabrini Centre and other independent organizations offering legal and practical support in major cities

Registering a claim can itself take a long time due to limited office capacity — this is a well-documented, practical bottleneck, not just a formality, and has been the subject of court cases within South Africa. The appeals backlog specifically has been improving: active appeals fell from about 79,900 (end of 2024) to about 71,000 (end of 2025) after the appeals authority added staff and streamlined simpler cases — though including inactive cases, the total backlog was still around 161,000 as of mid-2026, so don't expect a fast resolution.

Common pitfalls

  • Assuming Musina is the main entry office because of its location near the Zimbabwe border — most new applicants now go through other offices, especially Durban.
  • Expecting a fast appeal outcome — RAASA's adjudication capacity was cut from 36 to 9 members following UNHCR funding cuts, though a 2025/26 push did clear over 19,000 backlog cases.
  • Letting your Section 22 permit lapse — it must be actively renewed while your case is pending, and renewal isn't always straightforward to arrange on time.
Sources checked for this page