Eswatini-Home Affairs

  The Ministry of Home Affairs, through its Compliance Unit under the Immigration Department, has uncovered more than 51 foreign nationals suspected to be residing in the country without proper documentation. This follows last Friday’s discovery of over 88 foreign nationals found at the Castle Hotel in Mbabane. The individuals involved hail from Mainland China, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Today’s discoveries were made at Woodlands in Mbabane and at Forbes Reef, Piggs Peak, specifically at the Umushi Wenkosazane Guest House. This brings the total number of foreign nationals with questionable legal status found in the country to over 140. Among those uncovered, some possessed passports but lacked entry visas or valid work permits, while others had overstayed their temporary resident permits. A number of them had previously acquired work permits that have now expired. One suspect explained that they were in the process of renewing their work permits for an additional thr...

  Foreign Nationals apprehended at the Cstale hotel In a coordinated operation, the Ministry of Home Affairs, particularly the Compliance Unit within the Immigration department, in partnership with the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), detained 85 foreign nationals at the Castle Hotel in Mbabane yesterday. These individuals are believed to be residing in or entering the country without proper documentation. The arrested nationals reportedly hail from Brazil, China, India, and Thailand. Many were found without passports, while others possessed passports that are believed to lack valid visas for entry into Eswatini. Some individuals claimed that their passports had been taken by an unknown party, further complicating their situations. The Ministry of Home Affairs has commenced a thorough investigation into the entry visas and temporary residence permits of those apprehended. Authorities are committed to ensuring that all immigration regulations are upheld and are working dili...

  The Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), convened a pivotal National Consultation Session on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) at the Siteki Hotel. This session is part of Eswatini’s preparatory process for the upcoming International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), slated to be held in New York in May 2026, where United Nations Member States will evaluate progress on GCM implementation. The consultation brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society organizations, private sector members, academics, migrant representatives, and the United Nations Country Team in Eswatini. Additionally, experts from the IOM Headquarters in Geneva participated virtually, providing valuable technical guidance to support the IMRF process. The session was officially opened by Nhlanhla Nxumalo, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of...