The Department of Home Affairs has approved about 41000 permits for Zimbabwean immigrants.
About 242 000 Zimbabweans still in possession of the expired permits - called the dispensation of Zimbabweans project - are eligible for new permits.
The new special dispensation permit, which is valid for three years, is for Zimbabweans working, studying or operating businesses in South Africa.
VSF Global , the company mandated by the South African government to process the permits, said 41446 permit renewals by Zimbabweans had been approved and were ready for collection.
Only immigrants who benefited from the dispensation for Zimbabweans project in 2010 - provided they do not have criminal records - are eligible for the new permits.
Home Affairs director-general Mkuseni Apleni said Zimbabweans who did not qualify for permits in 2010 were in the country illegally and could be deported.
''Those who failed to acquire permits in 2010 face deportation and this is in line with our new immigration regulations,'' he said.
It is estimated that there are almost 2million Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
Most of them are understood to be economic refugees.
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