The Minister of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) recently issued Ministerial Immigration Directive No 10 of 2026, following the waiver of the radiological report requirement under Immigration Directive No 5 of 2023. The 2026 Directive introduced a blanket waiver of the remaining requirement to submit a Medical Certificate in support of visa and permanent residence applications.
Together, these Directives remove the routine requirement for applicants to submit medical documentation as part of their visa and permanent residence applications, marking a notable reduction in the administrative burden placed on foreign nationals.
What does Directive No 10 of 2026 provide?
Issued in terms of section 31(2)(c) of the Immigration Act, the Directive exempts applicants from the requirements prescribed in:
- Regulation 9(1)(c) of the Immigration Regulations, which requires the submission of a medical certificate for South African temporary residence visa applications; and
- Regulation 23(1)(f) of the Immigration Regulations, which requires the submission of a medical certificate for South African permanent residence permit applications.
The waiver came into operation on 8 July 2026, the date on which the Directive was signed. It applies to (i) all future visa and permanent residence applications; and (ii) applications that are currently pending adjudication before the DHA.
Completing the shift away from medical documentation
Directive No 10 of 2026 is particularly significant when viewed alongside Immigration Directive No 5 of 2023, which waived the requirement to submit radiological reports.
With the medical certificate requirement now also waived, applicants are no longer required to obtain or submit either of the medical documents that historically formed part of the standard documentary requirements for most visa and permanent residence applications.
What does this mean for foreign nationals?
The removal of the final remaining medical document offers several practical benefits for applicants and employers.
Applicants will no longer incur the costs associated with obtaining medical certificates, or need to arrange appointments with registered medical practitioners solely for immigration purposes. The change is also expected to reduce the time required to compile application packs and remove one of the more administrative aspects of the immigration process.
A further step towards immigration modernisation
Ministerial Immigration Directive No 10 of 2026 removes documentary requirements that no longer serve a practical purpose. Applicants should, however, note that this waiver applies only to the medical certificate requirement. All other legislative and documentary requirements applicable to the relevant visa or permanent residence category remain in force and must continue to be satisfied.
