South Africa to launch biometric asylum registration on November 10

South Africa will introduce online intention-registration and biometric data collection for asylum applicants by November 10, 2026, following a Constitutional Court ruling. The government also plans electronic border controls with visa-expiry reminders and stricter SIM registration rules for foreign nationals.

• Online asylum registration and biometrics start November 10, 2026
• Electronic border system will capture passport, visa and contact data
• Foreign nationals may need passports to register SIM cards
• Improperly registered SIM cards linked to crime may be deactivated