Population · Chart
Home Affairs cleared a backlog of 306,000 visa applications, the largest of three queues
306,000applications Visa applications · Highest
The visa backlog was the biggest at 306,000 applications. Clearing it made later changes possible, such as dropping the medical report requirement.
From our storiesNo more medical report in visa application from within South AfricaRead the full story →
Method and sources
Each bar is the size of a backlog the Department of Home Affairs reported clearing or cutting, as reported in the article.
Visa applications 306,000. ID documents 247,500. Refugee appeals 19,064.
The article notes the visa and ID backlogs were cleared and that the refugee-appeals backlog was cut by 14.2% in 2025/26.
The article gives the span only as between 2024 and 2026, so the period is approximated as 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026.
Sources: Department of Home Affairs 2025 and 2026 Budget Vote statements (https://www.dha.gov.za/)
Figures as published in our article on the removal of the medical report from visa applications (chart last checked 14 September 2026): Department of Home Affairs 2025 and 2026 Budget Vote statements.
Chart updated · 14 Sep 2026. The observation dates above describe the data, not today’s conditions.
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