How do I get a valid permit if my ZEP has expired and how can I renew my driver’s license?

The long answer

You can book an appointment at VSF Global for a new ZEP permit online, but VSF Global says you can also go to the Visa Application Centre without booking an appointment. You need an appointment as soon as possible. The fee for the ZEP permit would be R1,735.

If you had applied for a waiver or an alternate work visa, your current ZEP would be valid until the outcome of your waiver or alternate visa application. But even then, you could still apply for a new ZEP if you wanted to.

A new ZEP would be valid until 29 November 2025 and there will be no renewal of ZEPs after 29 November 2025. So, you would need to apply for a waiver to apply for a work permit before your new ZEP expired on 29 November 2025.

As for renewing your driver’s license: the Helen Suzman Foundation says there is no legal reason to refuse to renew the driver’s licenses of ZEP holders. (Quote from Helen Suzman Foundation’s director, Nicole Fritz, in a letter to Home Affairs on 9 November 2023: “We are advised that the ZEP is completely valid and that there is no reason in law to deny ZEP holders an opportunity renew and/or apply for a motor vehicle licence disc.”)

To renew your driver's license in South Africa, you can visit your nearest Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC) and complete the DL1 application form. Bring the following documents:

• Identity document (ID) and a copy of your ID (or ZEP permit) 

• Old driving license card  

• Four black-and-white ID photographs 

• Proof of residential address, such as a utility account 

You can renew your driver’s license within a three-month grace period after it expires without facing penalties. The renewal fee is around R250, but you should confirm this with the licensing office. They may require a debit or credit card as they may not take cash.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie