NSFAS Registered (nsfas_registered) — What It Means, How to Fix It and How to Appeal (not_nsfas_registered)
At a Glance: What To Do First
Confirm the exact month that shows nsfas_registered on your SRD status portal. Check whether you were actively registered or funded by NSFAS during that specific month. If you were not, request official written confirmation from NSFAS covering that period and submit your appeal using not_nsfas_registered. Each declined month must be treated separately — your proof must match the month you are disputing, not just your current status.
What NSFAS Registered Means on the SRD Portal
When your SRD application shows NSFAS Registered, the automated SRD check detected an NSFAS-related registration or funding record linked to your ID for the assessed month. Because NSFAS is a form of government financial support, any active NSFAS link on your ID makes you ineligible for the SRD grant for that month.
The wording appears differently depending on which portal you are using:
SRD status portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status): NSFAS Registered
SRD appeals portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals/appeal): nsfas_registered
Your appeal reason on the appeals portal: not_nsfas_registered
The critical factor for this decline reason is not your current NSFAS status — it is whether the NSFAS record applied to the specific month that was declined. A record from a previous academic year can still trigger this decline if it was not properly closed in the NSFAS system.
Why This Decline Reason Occurs
Active NSFAS funding during the assessed month. If you were receiving NSFAS funding during the month in question, the decline is correct and you do not qualify for SRD for that period. NSFAS and SRD cannot be received simultaneously.
Academic period overlap. NSFAS records are often linked to academic periods rather than calendar months. A registration period can overlap into a month where you may not have been actively studying, triggering the flag even if your practical funding had already ended.
Record not closed after graduation. When a student graduates or completes their qualification, NSFAS should close the funding record. Many records remain open in the system after graduation, continuing to flag former students as NSFAS registered long after they are no longer receiving funding.
Record not closed after dropping out. If you left your institution without completing your qualification, your NSFAS record may still show as active if the institution did not correctly update your enrolment status with NSFAS.
Gap year or study interruption. If you deferred your studies or took a gap year, your NSFAS registration may still appear active in the system even though you were not receiving funding during that period.
Incorrect ID linkage. Your ID number is incorrectly linked to another person’s NSFAS record. Less common but it does happen, particularly where ID numbers were incorrectly captured during institution registration.
Record update lag. A recent change to your NSFAS status — such as a funding cancellation or graduation confirmation — may not yet have reflected across all linked systems at the time of the SRD assessment.
NSFAS Follow-Up: Get Month-Relevant Proof for Your Appeal
The strongest evidence for a not_nsfas_registered appeal is official written confirmation from NSFAS showing your registration and funding status for the specific period covering the assessed month. Generic or undated confirmation is not sufficient — ITSAA reviews each month separately.
What To Ask For So the Proof Works for SRD
Ask NSFAS to confirm your funding and registration status specifically for the month and year that was declined. Include the academic period that covers that month. Ask for the response in writing by email so you can attach it directly to your appeal. Specify your full name, ID number, and myNSFAS username if you have one. Ask them to confirm whether any active funding or registration record exists on your ID for that period.
Copy and Paste Email Template
Subject: Request for NSFAS Status Confirmation — [Month Year] (SRD Decline: nsfas_registered)
Dear NSFAS Support,
I am writing to request official written confirmation of my NSFAS registration and funding status for [Month Year]. My SRD R370 grant application was declined for this month with the reason NSFAS Registered (nsfas_registered). I believe this may be an error and require official confirmation to support my appeal to ITSAA.
Full name: [Your full name as on your ID] ID number: [Your 13-digit ID number] myNSFAS username: [If applicable] Month in question: [Month and Year] Academic institution: [Name of institution, if relevant]
Please confirm in writing whether I was actively registered with NSFAS and whether any funding was disbursed to me during [Month Year] or the academic period covering that month. I require this confirmation to submit as supporting evidence with my SRD appeal.
Thank you.
NSFAS Official Contact Channels
General email: info@nsfas.org.za
General enquiries: 0800 067 327 (free)
WhatsApp: +27 63 093 5671
USSD: *120*67327#
NSFAS contact page: nsfas.org.za/content/contact.html
If you use WhatsApp or phone to contact NSFAS, always ask them to follow up in writing by email so you have a document to attach to your appeal. A verbal confirmation cannot be uploaded to the SRD appeals portal.
Common Causes Behind This SRD Decline
Active NSFAS funding or registration that applies to the assessed month. An academic period that overlaps the month being assessed. A record that remained open after graduation, dropping out, or study interruption. An incorrect ID linkage to another person’s NSFAS record. A recent status change that had not yet reflected in the system at the time of assessment.
The single most important question to answer before appealing is: does the NSFAS record in the system actually apply to the specific month that was declined?
Fast Checks and Fixes Before You Appeal
Confirm the exact month showing nsfas_registered on your SRD status portal. Note the month precisely — January 2026 and February 2026 are separate assessments requiring separate appeals and separate evidence.
Log in to your myNSFAS account at myNSFAS.nsfas.org.za and check your funding status for the relevant period. Note the academic year and funding dates shown.
If your NSFAS funding ended before the assessed month, confirm that the closure date is reflected correctly in your myNSFAS account. If it is not, contact NSFAS to request a correction and obtain written confirmation.
If you graduated, contact your institution to confirm they submitted your graduation or completion status to NSFAS, which should trigger closure of your funding record.
If you believe the record is not yours, prepare a written dispute statement for inclusion in your appeal.
Only proceed to appeal once you have official documentation supporting your position for the assessed month.
Portal Appeal Option for This Status: not_nsfas_registered
Select not_nsfas_registered on the SRD appeals portal when your evidence clearly shows that the NSFAS record does not apply to the assessed month or is incorrectly linked to your ID for that period.
Evidence Checklist for not_nsfas_registered
All evidence must be date-relevant and specific to the assessed month. Documents covering a different period will not support your appeal for the month in question.
Official NSFAS status confirmation showing you were not registered or funded during the assessed month or the academic period covering it — with dates clearly visible. This is your most important document.
Your myNSFAS account screenshot showing your funding status and dates for the relevant period, if you cannot obtain a formal letter quickly.
Proof of graduation or completion if your record was not closed after you finished studying — your graduation certificate with date, or a letter from your institution confirming your qualification completion date.
Proof of study interruption or dropout if applicable — a letter from your institution confirming your deregistration date and that NSFAS was notified.
A certified copy of your South African ID document if submitting a written appeal.
Your NSFAS reference number or email reply if you contacted NSFAS about this issue.
Portal screenshot showing the exact month and nsfas_registered wording.
Do not submit documents unrelated to the assessed month. ITSAA focuses its review on whether the NSFAS record applied to the specific month being disputed.
How to Submit Your SRD Appeal: not_nsfas_registered
Go to the official SRD appeals portal.
Enter your ID number and the phone number registered to your SRD application. Request the OTP and enter it to verify your identity. Select the specific month you are appealing — each declined month must be appealed separately. Select not_nsfas_registered as your appeal reason. Upload your supporting documents ensuring dates are clearly visible. Accept the declaration and submit. You will receive an SMS confirming your appeal has been received.
Written Appeal for Cases Older Than 90 Days
If the 90-day online window has passed, the SRD appeals portal will block the month you want to appeal. You can still submit a written appeal directly to SASSA.
Download the official SASSA appeal form from sassa.gov.za. Complete the form for the specific declined month. Attach certified copies of your supporting documents with dates clearly visible. Submit in person at your nearest SASSA office or send by registered post to your provincial SASSA office. Keep your proof of submission — an office receipt or registered post slip. Include a covering letter explaining why the online deadline was missed and which month you are appealing.
Written appeals follow the same ITSAA review process and carry the same weight as online submissions. The key is that your evidence must still match the specific assessed month you are challenging.
If Your SRD Appeal Is Declined
If ITSAA declines your appeal the outcome for that specific month is final through the internal process. Two further options remain.
Judicial review through the High Court. You have 180 days from the final ITSAA decision to apply for judicial review under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA). This is a formal legal process and requires legal assistance to pursue effectively.
Free legal assistance. Legal Aid South Africa and Black Sash both provide free advice and assistance to grant applicants who believe a decline was incorrect. Contact either organisation before pursuing a court process to understand whether your case is viable.
If your NSFAS record was genuinely active during the assessed month, the decline is correct and an appeal is unlikely to succeed for that period.
Tips and Scam Awareness for NSFAS Registered Declines
Practical Tips That Improve Outcomes
Request month-specific confirmation from NSFAS rather than a general status letter. ITSAA reviews each month separately and a letter that does not reference the assessed month is unlikely to be sufficient on its own.
If contacting NSFAS by phone or WhatsApp, always ask them to follow up in writing. Upload the written response with your appeal — verbal confirmations cannot be submitted as evidence.
If your record was not closed after graduation, follow up with both your institution and NSFAS directly. Institutions are responsible for submitting graduation records to NSFAS. A delay on the institution’s side can result in ongoing incorrect declines across multiple months.
Keep your myNSFAS login details accessible. Your account history is useful evidence and can sometimes be used as a supporting screenshot if a formal letter takes time to arrive.
Scam and Fraud Red Flags
Do not pay anyone for an NSFAS status letter. Official confirmation comes directly from NSFAS at no charge. Paid letters are fabricated and will not be accepted by ITSAA.
Never share your SRD OTP or PIN with anyone claiming to be a student funding consultant or appeal helper. These are scammers.
Avoid third-party websites claiming to check your NSFAS or SRD status. Use only myNSFAS.nsfas.org.za and srd.sassa.gov.za.
SRD appeals are completely free. Any service charging a fee to submit your appeal on your behalf is a scam.
Summary: What To Do If You Are Declined for NSFAS Registered
- Confirm the exact month showing nsfas_registered on your SRD status portal.
- Check your myNSFAS account for your funding and registration status during that month.
- Contact NSFAS using the email template above and request written confirmation of your status for the assessed month.
- Gather your supporting documents — ensure all dates are visible and specific to the assessed month.
- Submit your appeal at the SRD appeals portal selecting not_nsfas_registered within 90 days.
- If beyond 90 days, submit a written appeal with your documents at your nearest SASSA office.
- If your appeal is declined and you believe the decision is wrong, contact Legal Aid South Africa or Black Sash for free advice.
NSFAS Registered FAQs
I graduated last year. Why is my SRD still being declined for NSFAS Registered? Your NSFAS record may not have been closed after graduation. Institutions are responsible for submitting graduation records to NSFAS to trigger record closure. Contact your institution to confirm they submitted your completion status and follow up with NSFAS directly to request that your record be closed. Obtain written confirmation and include it in your appeal.
I dropped out of university. Can NSFAS still affect my SRD? Yes, if your institution did not update your enrolment status with NSFAS after you left, your record may still appear active. Contact your institution and NSFAS to ensure your deregistration date is correctly reflected, then appeal with documentation confirming you were no longer enrolled or funded during the assessed month.
I was funded last year — can it affect this month’s application? Records can sometimes remain open or overlap into later periods, particularly around academic year transitions. Date-specific proof from NSFAS covering the assessed month is the clearest way to resolve this.
What is the best proof to submit for not_nsfas_registered? Official written confirmation from NSFAS stating you were not registered or funded during the assessed month, with dates clearly visible. Pair this with a myNSFAS account screenshot if available.
What if the NSFAS record is not mine? Submit a written dispute statement explaining that the record is not linked to you, along with your official ID document and any NSFAS response confirming no record exists on your ID. Contact NSFAS directly to investigate and correct the incorrect linkage.
What if the online portal blocks my month? Submit a written appeal at your nearest SASSA office with your supporting documents. The written process follows the same ITSAA review and carries the same weight.
I am a part-time student. Does NSFAS affect my SRD eligibility? If you are receiving NSFAS funding during the assessed month, regardless of whether you are full-time or part-time, you are ineligible for SRD for that period. If your NSFAS funding has ended, obtain written confirmation of the end date and include it in your appeal.
How do I avoid scams when dealing with this decline? Use official channels only — nsfas.org.za for NSFAS and srd.sassa.gov.za for your appeal. Never pay for letters or appeal services. Never share your OTP or PIN.
Official References
- SRD status portal
- SRD appeals portal
- SRD appeals guidance
- SASSA website
- myNSFAS portal
- NSFAS contact page
- NSFAS general enquiries: 0800 067 327 (free)
- SASSA helpline: 0800 60 10 11 (free, Monday to Friday)
- Legal Aid South Africa
- Black Sash
Information on this page is sourced from official SASSA announcements and verified against www.sassa.gov.za. For official queries contact SASSA directly at www.sassa.gov.za or call 0800 60 10 11.
