​ What’s in the White Paper (Quick Overview)

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 Proposed improvements & positives

• Modernising systems: Moves toward a digital, streamlined immigration and civil-registration framework — including a modern national register and digital ID foundation that could improve service delivery.

• Economic focus: New visa categories for remote work, start-ups, and skilled workers, and a points-based system to attract skills and investment.

• National security aims: Aims to clamp down on fraud and abuse and align policies with broader security goals.

 

Proposed changes that have drawn concern

• Tighter asylum rules: Under the so-called “First Safe Country Principle,” asylum seekers granted protection elsewhere — or who passed through safe third countries — could be declared ineligible for asylum in South Africa. Critics warn this may restrict protection for vulnerable people without ensuring safe alternatives.

• Merit-based citizenship: Naturalisation would rely in part on merit/points criteria rather than solely on years of residence — which could disadvantage some long-term residents.

• Concerns from civil society: Organisations like the Helen Suzman Foundation argue the White Paper fails to define core migration challenges clearly and doesn’t address existing backlogs or legal duties sufficiently.

• Rights and inclusion issues: Some rights groups have warned that policy changes may unintentionally fuel xenophobia or erode socio-economic rights for refugees/migrants, and that consultation windows have been too short.

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Read the White Paper

Why You Should Engage

This is not just a technical policy paper — it sets the direction for:

• how citizenship and migration are understood in law,

• how South Africa engages with global talent and refugees,

• and how South Africans abroad can remain connected to their home country’s policy future.

Your perspective, especially from outside the country, brings valuable insight.

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What You Can Do (Before 15 Feb 2026)

SUBMIT your comments by email to:
 Whitepaper@dha.gov.za

 

Feel free to share your personal experiences, practical concerns, or constructive suggestions — especially on issues like citizenship pathways, asylum protections, or impacts on families and skills mobility.

 

See below for two template emails you may wish to copy, edit and use to make your submission. Your engagement helps shape the future of South Africa’s relationship with its diaspora and the wider world.

 

Thank you for staying informed and making your voice heard.

 

Template 1 (brief)

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To: Whitepaper@dha.gov.za

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Dear Minister and Officials,

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I am submitting public comment on the Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection.

As a South African living abroad, I ask the Department to carefully consider the following specific issues:

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1. Citizenship pathways: Clarify and protect fair routes to citizenship for long-term residents and families, ensuring that any merit- or points-based system does not arbitrarily exclude people with deep and lasting ties to South Africa.

2. Asylum protections: Reconsider the proposed “First Safe Country Principle” to ensure it does not limit access to asylum in ways that conflict with South Africa’s constitutional and international obligations.

3. Implementation capacity: Address existing administrative backlogs, capacity constraints, and accountability mechanisms before introducing complex new systems.

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I respectfully urge the Department to ensure the final policy is clear, rights-based, and practically implementable.

Kind regards,

[Full Name]
[Country of residence]

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Template 2 (Detailed)

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To: Whitepaper@dha.gov.za

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Dear Minister and Officials of the Department of Home Affairs,

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I am writing to submit my comments on the Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, currently open for public comment.

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I am a South African citizen living abroad, and I welcome the opportunity to engage on a policy document that will shape South Africa’s approach to citizenship, migration, refugees, and its relationship with the global community for decades to come.

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General observations

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I welcome the stated intention to modernise South Africa’s immigration system, improve administrative efficiency, and align migration policy with economic development and national security goals. In particular, proposals relating to system modernisation, digitalisation, and attracting skills and investment have the potential to strengthen South Africa’s global competitiveness.

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At the same time, I have concerns about aspects of the White Paper that may have unintended consequences for human rights, social cohesion, and South Africa’s international obligations.

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Specific comments and concerns

1. Citizenship pathways:
   I am concerned about proposals that shift citizenship acquisition toward a merit- or points-based framework without sufficient clarity on safeguards for long-term residents, families, and individuals with deep social ties to South Africa.

2. Asylum and refugee protection:
   Proposals such as the “First Safe Country Principle” may risk limiting access to asylum without adequate guarantees that individuals will have access to effective protection elsewhere, potentially conflicting with South Africa’s constitutional and international commitments.

3. Implementation capacity:
   While the White Paper proposes new systems and structures, it does not sufficiently address existing administrative backlogs, capacity constraints, or accountability mechanisms within the Department of Home Affairs.

4. Consultation and inclusivity:
   Given the far-reaching impact of these reforms, I encourage the Department to ensure ongoing, meaningful consultation with civil society, affected communities, and South Africans abroad as the policy is refined.

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Recommendations

I respectfully request that the Department:

• Provide clearer definitions and impact assessments for major policy shifts;

• Ensure alignment with constitutional values and international human rights obligations;

• Include transitional protections for affected individuals and families;

• Commit to transparency, oversight, and phased implementation.

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Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I trust that these submissions will be carefully considered as the Department finalises this important policy framework.

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Yours sincerely,

[Full Name]
[South African ID or Passport Number – optional]
[Country of residence]
[Email address]