GENERAL PROCEDURE:  APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM
 

 

An Asylum Seeker

He is a person who has fled his or her country of origin and is seeking recognition and protection as a refugee in the Republic of South Africa, and whose application is still under consideration.

In case of a negative decision on his application, he has to leave the country voluntarily or will be deported.

 

A Refugee

He is a person who has been granted asylum status and protection in terms of thesection 24 of Refugee Act No 130 of 1998.

Under the 1951 United Nations Convention, a refugee can be a “convention refugee” who has left his home country and has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or a membership in a particular social group.

Under the same convention, a refugee can also be a person “in need of protection”whose removal to his home country would subject him personally to a danger of torture or to a risk to his life or a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

Role of the Government of the Republic of South Africa  

The Government of the Republic of South Africa has an obligation to grant protection to refugees and other persons in need of protection under a number of UN Conventions such as the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

However, Convention refugees and persons in need of protection based on a risk to life, or a cruel and unusual treatment must have faced personally the risk all the way throughin the country in question

 

Eligibility Procedure: Asylum Seeker  

  • A person enters the Republic of South Africa through a port of entry (a land border post, airport or harbor), claims to be an asylum seeker and is, therefore, issued with a section 23 Permits which is a non - renewable “asylum transit permit” of the Immigration Act.
  • The permit is valid for a period of 14 days only and authorizes the person to report to the nearest Refugee Reception Office in order to apply for asylum in terms of section 21 of the Refugee Act.
  • The asylum seeker is required to furnish:
A section 23 permit
Any proof of identification from the country of origin
A travel document if in possession of one
 
  • The asylum seeker lodges in person his application at a designated Refugee Reception Office where an admissibility hearing takes place.The following are done:
Applicant’s fingerprints taken in the prescribed manner
Interpreter if secured (if necessary )
First interview conducted by a Refugee Reception Officer (RRO) and BI-1590 form duly completed
Applicant’s data and image captured in the refugee system
An Asylum Seeker’s permit (a section 22 permit) is printed, signed, stamped and issued to the Asylum Seeker
 
  • The section 22 permit which is valid for a period of six monthslegalizes the asylum seeker stay in the Republic of South Africa temporarily pending a final decision on his application. The permit can be extended by an RRO for a further six months while the process of status determination is in progress.
  • The holder of section 22 permit has the right to work and study in South Africa and is protected against deportation to his country of origin.
 
Refugee Status Determination
 

Before the permit expires, the asylum seeker reports to the Refugee Reception Office for:

  • A second interview is conducted by a Refugee Status Determination Officer (RSDO)
  • The RSDO proceed with a fair adjudication of the application, makes a decision on claims for asylum application and provides reasons for the decisions. The RSDO must on conclusion of the status determination hearing grant asylum; or reject the applicationas manifestly unfounded, abusive or fraudulent; or refer any question of law to the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs (SCRA).
  • When granted asylum (written recognition of refugee status), a refugee is generally issued with a section 24 permit, which allows such person to remain for a specified period of 2 years in South Africa, and it is renewable upon expiration of its validity after the review process by an RSDO. In this case, the refugee must write a letter requesting the extension of his or her refugee status
  • He is also allowed to work and study in South Africa whilst the permit is valid.

Refugee Enabling Documents

  • A refugee must apply for a refugee ID  at any Refugee Reception Office within 15 days in the prescribed manner.
  • After being issued with an ID, a refugee can apply for a UNCTD (United Nations Convention Travel Document) at any Refugee Reception Office in the prescribed manner.
  • An ID is free

 

Appeal and Review Process

  • In case of rejection, an asylum seeker or refugee who believes that he has a well-founded fear of persecution but whose claim has been rejected, may decide to appeal against the rejection decision of the RSDO to the Refugee Appeal Board (RAB) in the prescribed manner within 30 days after the decision has been handed over to them.
  • The Appeal Board conducts an appeal hearing during which the appellant who is entitled to a fair hearing have the rights to be heard and to present his case fully. The Refugee Appeal Board is responsible for considering and deciding appeals on decisions made by RSDOs.
  • The RAB may after hearing an appeal confirm or set aside or substitute the decision of the RSDO.
  • In respect of manifestly unfounded applications, the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs (SCRA) reviews or confirms or sets aside decisions taken by the RSDO and refer cases back to RSDO for determination within 14 days as well as monitors in general the decisions of the RSDO.
 
 
Certification
  • Submit a properly completed application for certification (BI 1754), which can be obtained from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at the Refugee Reception Centre. Please ensure the application is fully completed with the date and your signature. The application can be submitted electronically to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by hand to 266 Pretorius street, Centre Walk Building, Office Block East, 7th floor, Pretoria, 0001. Please note that your application must explain in detail why you will remain a refugee indefinitely and why you will not be able to return to your country of origin.
  • You need to submit proof that you have been a refugee for 10 years continuously. In other words, SCRA requires a copy of your valid refugee status (section 24 visa). If you do not have a valid refugee status you cannot apply for certifications as an indefinite refugee.
  • Should your application include dependents (spouse, children,siblings, etc.), please include their refugee status, birth certificates and marriage certificates.
  • SCRA also requires certified copies of all your passports in your possession. If you claim not to have a passport, a police affidavit is required in which you must explain what happened to your travel document and how you came to South Africa. This will apply to your dependents as well.
  • Once you’ve received your certification as an indefinite refugee you can apply for permanent residence at the Department of Home Affairs through the offices of VFS Global

 (More INFORMATION on SCRA)

Legal Instruments

  • Refugee Act, 1998 (No 130 of 19998)
  • 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
  • 1969 OAU Convention Governing The Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa and 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees
  • 1993 Basic Agreement between the Government of South Africa and the UNHCR
  • The Immigration Act

 

Service Standard

Applications may take up to six months

 

Cost

There is no fee payable for eligibility and status determination interviews as well as issuance or renewal of section 22, section 24 and refugee ID. Service to asylum seekers and refugees is free of charge.

All asylum seeker are encouraged to report any person who exhorts money from them