In 1902 the Medical Officer of Health, attached to the Local Government and Public Health Branch of the Cape Colonial Office, was charged with administering the Immigration Act, 1902 and subsequently the Chinese Exclusion Act, 1904.

These relevant duties together with that of aided immigration were transferred to a Chief Immigration Officer as from February 1905 when the Immigration and Labour Branch of the Colonial Office was established.

After the formation of the Union of South Africa and as from June 1910 immigration affairs devolved upon the Department of Interior, the responsible officer being the Principal Immigration Officer.