Temporary Residency
Temporary residence for South Africa
Foreign visitors, labourers, and students are permitted to stay in South Africa for more than ninety days with a temporary residence permit. You can apply for a visitors’ visa if you want to stay in South Africa for less than 90 days as a tourist or to visit family.
Permanent residency
Permanent residency for South Africa
five-year work permits and a permanent job offer;
• having spent at least five years in the arms of a South African;
• being a citizen or permanent resident’s child (the age is irrelevant);
• in light of exceptional abilities (limited to the Critical Skills List);
• based on a financial investment and ownership in a South African company;
demonstrating pensions, annuities, and income streams derived from assets totaling at least 37,000 rand per month as a retiree;
• having been a certified emigrant during the previous five years and an unrestricted escapee;
• possessing a minimum net worth of 12 million rand, contingent on a 120,000 rand payment to the DHA); and
• having a first-degree relative who is a South African citizen or permanent resident.
How to apply for a South African permission of permanent residence
Both a residency-on-other-grounds permit and a straight residency permission are available for application. However, you must prove to the Minister of Home Affairs that you are not a prohibited or undesirable person before you may apply for either. These are those with certain infectious diseases, a large number of offenders, bankruptcies, and anyone connected to an organisation that promotes racial hatred. Once your application is accepted, you can apply to become a permanent resident of South Africa.
Direct residence permit
If you or your spouse have been living and working in the nation for at least five years, or if you are the spouse or dependent of a South African citizen or someone with a permanent residence visa, you may apply for a direct residency permit.
Permission of residency-on-other-grounds
You can apply for a permission of residency-on-other-grounds if you have a permanent work offer in the country or want to start up a business, have unique skills and qualifications, are a expatriate, are retired, are relatives of a citizen of South African or someone holding a permanent residence permit and are independent in case of financial situations.
Citizenship
Citizenship for South Africa:
If you meet specific requirements and you and your spouse have been living and working in South Africa for at least five years, you may apply for permanent residency in the country. Unless you were born in South Africa or have South African parents, you can apply for South African citizenship after being granted permission to live there permanently for five years, if you marry a South African citizen, or if you are a minor with a permanent residency visa.
Birthright citizenship cannot be revoked unless you join the military forces of a nation at war with South Africa, or you acquire a new nationality without first seeking to keep your South African citizenship.
How to apply for South African citizenship by descent
You must present the following documents to the Department of Home Affairs:
• Form DHA-24 to record your birth,
• Form BI-24, signed by both parents if your parents were unmarried at the time of your birth, to confirm paternity,
• Forms DHA-529,
• Birth certificate,
• Marriage certificate of your parents’,
• Form DHA-9, the application form for an identity document, along with 2 ID photos,
• Proof of your parents’ identity,
• Proof of your parents’ foreign citizenship, if applicable,
• If applicable adoption order.
How to apply for South African citizenship by naturalization
You must pay the fee for naturalization and present the following documents to the Department of Home Affairs:
• Forms DHA-63 and DHA-757,
• Your original South African non-citizen identity document,
• If applicable, your marriage certificate,
• If applicable, your divorce decree,
• An application for the re-issue of your identity document (including 2 ID photos),
• Proof of permanent residence or exemption,
• The fee for the re-issue of your identity document,
• Form SAP 91 with a full set of fingerprints,
• If you are under 18 years old, your parents or legal guardian need to sign the form of the application.
Work Permit
Work Permit for South Africa
Applications for this visa need to involve a certificate from the Department of Labor confirming the following:
o Despite doing a comprehensive search, the potential employer was unable to locate a South African worker possessing the knowledge and expertise that would match the applicant’s.
o The applicant have demonstrated abilities and experience relevant to the position.
o The candidate’s earnings and pay are comparable to those of citizens or long-term residents.
The terms of the agreement, which is signed by the candidate and the employer, are compliant with South African labour regulations.
•A document attesting to the South African Qualifications Authority’s (SAQA) acceptance of your qualifications is also required. An experienced translator is required to translate this document into one of the official languages of South Africa.
•The maximum duration of the work visa is five years.
Work Visa for Critical Skills
•A list of jobs deemed essential in South Africa forms the basis of this visa.
• You do not require a job offer to apply for a visa under this category, but you must demonstrate that you are gainfully employed in your field within a year of receiving your visa.
•The Quota and Exceptional Skills Visas were replaced by this one.
The requirements for work visa applications include:
1.a properly filled-out application according to the guidelines provided by the Department of Home Affairs, embassy, or consulate that is submitting it,
2. The application for a general work visa submitted by SAQA (The South African Qualifications Authority) is one in which SAQA assesses all international qualifications and turns them into an equivalent level of education in South Africa.
3. Police Clearance Certificates: these are official documents issued by the police or security agencies in any nation where you have lived for more than a year, attesting to the fact that you have never been the subject of a prosecution or conviction.
4. Advertisement Proof,
5. Documentation from your employer, which consists of a letter of undertaking for the repatriation deposit and your employment contract,
6. Health and wellness
7. Aliens working in South Africa must register with the professional association that has a presence in the country in order to practise certain professions.
Visa
Visa for South Africa
Types of visas for South Africa
Life Partner and Spousal Visas
•In order to enter South Africa, life partners must provide documentation proving they have been together for two years. In addition, applicants for permanent residence must provide evidence of their five-year relationship.
• Evidence of a prior relationship is not required for partners applying for spousal visas, which allow for temporary residency in South Africa for a set amount of time.If a spouse or partner was in a previous marriage, they must present legal documentation proving the marriage ended by divorce or the death of the other spouse.In order to ascertain the faithfulness of their connection, life partners will also have to attend separate but concurrent interviews, according to the amended regulations.
General Work Visa
Applications for this visa will have to involve a certificate from the Department of Labor confirming the following:
o Despite doing a comprehensive search, the potential employer was unable to locate a South African worker possessing the knowledge and expertise that would match the applicant’s.
o The applicant have demonstrated abilities and experience relevant to the position.
o The candidate’s earnings and pay are comparable to those of citizens or long-term residents.
o The terms of the contract, which must be signed by the candidate and the employer, must comply with South African labour laws.
•A proof of qualifications that has been authorised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is also required. An experienced translator is required to translate this document into one of the official languages of South Africa.
•The maximum duration of the work visa is five years.
Critical Skills Work Visa
•Based on a list of jobs deemed essential in South Africa, this visa is granted.
•You do not require a job offer to apply for a visa under this category, but you must demonstrate that you are gainfully employed in your field within a year of receiving your visa.
•The Quota and Exceptional Skills visas were replaced by this one.
Visitor’s Visa
•Visa for Visitors Owners must submit an application at least 60 days before the current visa expires if they wish to modify the conditions or status of their visa.
•In South Africa, it is not feasible to transfer from a Visitor’s Visa to another type of visa.
Business Passports
•It is a request for a letter of reference from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to enterprises.
•The DTI will conduct a comprehensive forensic evaluation of the corporate entity’s viability and its contribution to South Africa’s national interest.
•A minimum of R5 must be invested in order to maintain the business’s book value.
•The availability of money for a business visa can be verified by any accountant who is enrolled with the South African Chartered Accountants Institute or the Professional Accountants Institute of South Africa. Previously, a chartered accountant—not just any professional accountant—had to complete this.
•Visas for business purposes will be obtained for a maximum of three years.
•Foreign nationals wishing to start or engage in a business that is designated as an undesirable business endeavour will not be granted a business visa.
Intra -Company Visas
•This visa is not available for four years but is non-renewable.
Study Visa/ Exchange Visa
• Study and exchange visas are only granted for the length of the study period or exchange programme; • An exchange visa (for individuals under 25 years old) will not be obtained to conduct work related to an undesirable work as published by the Minister in the paper, after consulting with the Trade and Industry Minister;
• Foreign nationals holding a study visa are not permitted to work part-time for more than 20 hours per week.
Retirement Visa
•The retirement visa has no age restrictions. Applicants must demonstrate that they make R37,000 per month per person from pensions, retirement annuities, or rental income from real estate.
As an alternative, candidates may demonstrate that they have R444,000 in capital in the bank annually (or R1,776,00 for the entire four years).
