The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is advertising vacancies for the Cadet Learnership Programme 2026/27, giving unemployed South African youth theoretical and practical experience in Immigration Services.
The learnership is supplied in collaboration with the Public Service Education and Training Authority (PSETA) and will include a 12-month contract.
Applications close on 18 September 2026 at 16:00.
The vacancy notice is open to unemployed youth who have received a Grade 12 or NQF Level 4 qualification and will include a monthly stipend for the duration of the 12-month learnership.
What Is the Home Affairs Cadet Learnership?
The Cadet Learnership Programme is a youth development initiative offering unemployed young people the opportunity to obtain theory and practical knowledge.
The programme includes:
Theoretical training
Practical exposure
Occupational skills development
Exposure to the Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration Services function
Applicants will receive training towards the National Certificate: Immigration Services, and exposure to this aspect of the DHA’s work.
The Importance of the Home Affairs Learnership
For young people entering the workforce, obtaining a qualification but without practical experience can make obtaining employment difficult.
The advantage of the Home Affairs programme is that it provides theoretical knowledge and practical exposure, which makes it easier for participants to understand the demands of a workplace.
In addition, the programme is consistent with the youth development goals stated in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, which identifies the need for enhanced state capacity and greater economic participation.
The programme will be available to unemployed South African youth, and the official notice states that preference will be given to those who are based in the locality of the position.
Applicants must ensure that they identify the correct post and job title before submitting their application.
The Length of the Programme
The programme consists of a 12-month contract, during which successful applicants will be exposed to the theory and practicality component.
The intention is for them to receive exposure to the National Certificate: Immigration Services and the DHA’s Immigration Services function.
Monthly Stipend
A monthly stipend will be paid to successful applicants for the duration of their 12-month learnership.
The government notice supplied for this vacancy does not specify the stipend amount, and applicants should be wary of any advertisement or social media post claiming a stipend amount unless that information can be found in the official vacancy notice.
In addition, a stipend should not be confused with a permanent government salary.
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the application information before the 18 September 2026 closing date.
The application must consist of:
A completed New Z83 Application for Employment Form
A comprehensive CV
The CV must include full employment history, with start and ending dates, the relevant job title, work performed and reason for leaving, as well as at least two contactable employment references.
Shortlisted applicants will then be asked to provide copies of their:
ID document
Grade 12 certificate
Applicants with foreign qualifications will need to provide the relevant SAQA evaluation results.
The Application Process for the Home Affairs Cadet Learnership
Applicants must submit their application using the email address or physical address at the bottom of the relevant Home Affairs vacancy post.
Applicants should ensure they have:
Identified the correct Cadet Learnership post, and post number
Completed the New Z83 application form
Prepared a comprehensive CV with the required employment information and references
Cited the correct post number and job title
Submitted the application to the correct email or address specified in the vacancy notice
Submitted the application before 16:00 on 18 September 2026
The application must reach the DHA by the closing date and via the correct email or physical address. If an incorrect email is used, the application may not be received.
What Is the New Z83 Form?
The New Z83 is an Application for Employment form required when applying for positions within the South African Public Service.
Applicants for this learnership must apply using the New Z83 form that became effective from 1 January 2021.
The form can be found on the Department of Public Service and Administration’s (DPSA) website, and applicants should complete the form accurately, supplying the information requested in the vacancy advertisement.
Important Conditions in the Shortlisting Process
The DHA states that successful applicants will have to undergo pre-employment screening and security checks.
In addition, the DHA states that they reserve the right to place or reject applications according to service delivery needs and requirements.
Because the DHA anticipates a high volume of applications, they state that applications will not be acknowledged.
Only a specific number of successful applicants will be selected through the DHA’s shortlisting process.
Who Is Not Eligible?
Important restrictions are in place, and applicants should be aware of these before applying.
Applicants who participated in a Public Service Youth Development Programme as identified in the relevant directive may not be considered for this programme.
In addition, any applicant receiving any form of financial assistance from government for participating in a youth development programme is not eligible to apply.
This means that before applying, applicants should consider whether they are receiving financial assistance from government in relation to a youth development programme.
Do Not Apply if You Have Participated in a Public Service Youth Development Programme
The restriction is particularly important, as simply supplying a Grade 12 qualification will not be sufficient.
Applicants should consider their previous participation in Public Service youth-development programmes and their current government-funded youth programme status before applying.
Inaccurate information supplied in a government recruitment process can lead to complications in the screening process.
The Post-Application Process
Applicants will go through the DHA’s shortlisting process, and if shortlisted, will be asked to supply their ID and qualification documents and will undergo the necessary screening and security checks.
The DHA does not guarantee that every applicant will receive a response, so applicants should keep copies of everything they supply and should follow up using the contact details supplied on their application.
Why You Should Apply Before the Deadline
The closing date is 18 September 2026 at 16:00, and applicants should not leave it to the last minute, particularly as the application must be sent to the correct email or physical address specified in the relevant vacancy post.
Before submitting the application, applicants should check the following information:
The New Z83 form is completed
The correct post number is cited
The correct job title is supplied
The CV includes all the required information
At least two employment references are supplied
The application is submitted to the correct email or physical address
The New Z83 form must be completed, and the correct post number and job title must be cited.
The CV must be supplied with all the relevant employment history, and at least two contactable employment references must be supplied.
The application must be submitted to the correct email or physical address as specified in the relevant vacancy post. After the deadline has passed, the application will no longer be considered.
Final Thoughts
The Department of Home Affairs’ Cadet Learnership Programme 2026/27 offers unemployed South African youth the opportunity to gain theoretical and practical experience in the Immigration Services.
The programme will run for 12 months in collaboration with PSETA and will involve training towards the National Certificate: Immigration Services, and a monthly stipend will be supplied during the programme.
Applicants must have a Grade 12 or NQF Level 4 qualification and should read the restrictions before applying.
The deadline is 18 September 2026 at 16:00, and the application must be submitted to the correct address supplied in the relevant Home Affairs vacancy.
Source and reporting note
This article was independently written from the Department of Home Affairs Cadet Learnership Programme 2026/27 notice supplied for publication.
The article does not specify a stipend amount because the supplied official notice only confirms that a monthly stipend will be supplied to successful applicants.
Editorial policy
We provide independently written information about South African government jobs, learnerships, internships, bursaries and skills-development programmes.
We distinguish between confirmed requirements and information that has not been specified in an official notice. We do not present participation in a learnership as a guarantee of permanent employment.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and public awareness. It is not an official recruitment notice from the Department of Home Affairs or PSETA.
Applicants should refer to the official vacancy notice for the applicable post number, location, submission address and any additional requirements before applying.
