Dr. Leon Schreiber Introduces Digital Delivery of Visa Waiver Outcomes, Starting with ZEP Holders

The first phase of this rollout begins with the digital delivery of waiver outcomes for holders of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs), effective immediately.

In a significant step towards the digital transformation of the Department of Home Affairs, Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber has implemented a new rule to deliver the outcomes of visa waiver applications digitally via email. This initiative marks an important milestone in the department's efforts to enhance service efficiency and curb corruption.

The first phase of this rollout begins with the digital delivery of waiver outcomes for holders of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs), effective immediately. Over time, this digital-first approach will be extended to other applicants within the visa and permit regime.

Previously, applicants were required to visit a VFS Global office to collect physical, paper-based copies of their waiver letters. However, starting today with ZEP holders, applicants will now receive digital waiver letters in PDF format directly via email. These digital documents can be used for submitting mainstream visa applications in the future.

Minister Schreiber emphasized the broader significance of this shift towards digital processing, stating, "While this step on its own may be small, it is still meaningful as part of our larger quest to clamp down on corruption and enhance the efficiency of services by transforming Home Affairs into a digital-first department."

The Minister also highlighted the impact of this change on the department's efforts to clear a decade-long backlog of unprocessed applications. "Through this change, we have been able to effectively process 60,582 outstanding ZEP waiver applications, many of which date back to 2022. Another 22,529 ZEP waiver applications are set to be processed soon, further reducing the backlog and freeing up valuable resources in a department that has been financially gutted to the point of only having 40% of the staff resources. This step illustrates our absolute determination to use technology to do more with the little we have," Minister Schreiber said.

Despite the shift to digital delivery, applicants who prefer to collect hard copies of their ZEP waiver letters at branches will still have the option to do so.

The department has assured applicants that digital outcomes sent via email from the official addresses (No-reply1.dhasa@vfshelpline.com, No-reply2.dhasa@vfshelpline.com, and similar) are legitimate and should not be doubted.