Home Affairs Rolls Out New Online Asylum Registration System
The Department of Home Affairs has launched the first phase of its new Digital Asylum System, introducing an online portal that allows asylum seekers to register their intention to apply for asylum.
The platform, accessible through Myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za, requires users to submit their personal details, facial biometrics and supporting documents.
The system is currently undergoing initial testing, with wider public access expected following a routine software update this weekend.
According to the department, the digital platform is aimed at reducing processing delays, limiting opportunities for corruption and curbing abuse of the asylum system.
The rollout forms part of Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber’s broader digital transformation programme and follows a Constitutional Court judgment handed down on 7 July 2026.
The department has emphasised that registering on the platform only records an individual’s intention to seek asylum. It does not constitute a formal asylum application, grant refugee status or provide any other legal status. It also does not exempt individuals from immigration enforcement.
Further phases of the system are expected to introduce artificial intelligence and machine learning to help address the long-standing backlog of asylum appeals and speed up decision-making.
Home Affairs has previously indicated that approximately 95% of asylum applications are rejected. The new system is intended to accelerate the processing of applications and the removal of unsuccessful applicants, while ensuring that people with legitimate claims receive protection.
Schreiber said the digital overhaul seeks to address the lengthy delays that have created opportunities for the system to be abused. He also highlighted previous capacity constraints, which left only a handful of officials responsible for handling thousands of appeals.
People without internet access will still be able to receive assistance with registration at Refugee Reception Offices.
The launch follows earlier announcements by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration outlining plans to digitise asylum processes, reduce pressure on physical offices and strengthen identity verification.
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