The Department of Home Affairs has launched the first phase of a new Digital Asylum System aimed at reducing lengthy processing delays, clearing decades-old backlogs and tightening controls against the abuse of South Africa’s asylum process.
The online platform, which is currently being tested, will allow individuals seeking asylum to register their intention to apply digitally by submitting personal information, facial biometrics and supporting documents.
The department said public registration would begin after its next scheduled software release this coming weekend.
The launch comes amid growing public frustration over immigration management and tensions surrounding asylum seekers and undocumented foreign nationals, including protests and violence reported last month, during which vehicles were allegedly set alight.
The incidents highlighted the increasingly contentious debate around immigration, asylum applications and the government’s ability to manage migration while enforcing the country’s laws.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the digital platform was part of a broader transformation programme intended to address longstanding weaknesses in the asylum system and eliminate opportunities for corruption.
He said the department wanted to end the delays that had allowed applicants to remain in the country for extended periods while their asylum applications or appeals remained unresolved.
“The end-to-end digitalisation of the asylum seeker process presents a major opportunity to finally end the long-standing abuse of this system,” Schreiber said.
He attributed the backlog partly to years of inadequate funding and staff shortages, revealing that at the beginning of the current administration, Home Affairs had only nine officials responsible for handling thousands of outstanding asylum appeals.
Schreiber said the department was now using biometric technology, machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve processing capacity and speed up decisions.
He said subsequent phases of the system would be rolled out over the coming months, with the ultimate goal of dramatically reducing the time required to adjudicate asylum applications and appeals.
According to the department, the system will also enable the government to identify and deport applicants whose asylum claims have been rejected.
Schreiber said the intention was to ensure protection for people genuinely fleeing persecution while facilitating the swift deportation of those who did not qualify for asylum.
However, the department stressed that the first phase does not amount to an approval of asylum or confer any immigration status on applicants.
Registering an intention to seek asylum does not constitute a formal asylum application and does not automatically grant refugee status, citizenship or permission to remain in South Africa.
Individuals will still have to follow the formal application process in accordance with South African law.
The first phase will help Home Affairs establish how many people intend to apply for asylum, allowing it to estimate demand, allocate resources and plan the next stages of implementation.
Individuals will be able to register through the department’s MyHomeAffairsOnline portal by providing their personal details and biometric information.
Once registration is completed, applicants will receive confirmation of their intention to seek asylum.
Those without access to the internet or digital devices will be assisted at Refugee Reception Offices.
The department said future upgrades would introduce appointment scheduling, additional biometric verification and checks against existing Home Affairs records.
The final system is expected to digitise the entire asylum process, including the adjudication of applications and appeals.
The launch also follows a Constitutional Court judgment delivered on July 7, 2026, which the department said the new platform would help implement sustainably while strengthening national security and protecting Home Affairs’ operational capacity.
The digital asylum initiative forms part of the department’s wider modernisation programme, which includes the Electronic Travel Authorisation system designed to strengthen immigration controls and reduce fraud.
Home Affairs said immigration enforcement would continue in accordance with the law and warned that registering an intention to apply for asylum would not provide blanket protection against deportation.
The department said further phases would be introduced over the coming months as it works towards a fully digital asylum system.
