Permanent Residence Permit in South Africa

In January 2022, Permanent Residence Permit Applications in South Africa reopened after COVID paused applications for certain types of visas in the country.

A Permanent Residence Permit in South Africa has several advantages over other long-term types of visas, perhaps the most significant of which include security from future changes to immigration law and fewer banking and financial limitations.

As a South African Permanent Residence Permit holder, you also benefit from having as good a chance as an SA citizen when applying for jobs.

A South African Permanent Residence Permit comes with an RSA ID number, simplifying many administrative activities, like investing in retirement annuities and applying for home loans.

Furthermore, your immediate family can join you in South Africa.
Your spouse or partner can apply for permission to work full-time or part-time.

Currently, the Permanent Residence Permit allows for a path to citizenship. If this changes in the near future, please be sure to look out for updates on this page.

Note: Regulations regarding the path to permanent residence may change.
Check in to our website to stay on top of updates.

Study Visa and ICT Visa holders do not qualify for Permanent Residence.

All Required Application Forms can be found at our Immigration Resources

Requirements to qualify for Direct Permanent Residence include:

• You must have lived in South Africa on a valid Work Visa for a minimum of five years.
• South African Permanent Residence Permit holders’ immediate family/dependants (Partners and Children) can submit applications for Direct Permanent Residence.
• You must have critical skills and qualifications (Critical Skills Work Visa) that South Africa needs.
• You would like to start or have started a business, and will or have invested the prescribed amount into the new or existing business (Investment Visa)
• You are a retired individual (Retirement Visa).
• You are financially independent.
• You are related (biologically or adopted) to a SA citizen/permanent residence permit holder (Family, partner and Relatives Visa).

• The usual forms and documents as listed above
• Proof that your skills fall within the gazetted quota list
• Payment of the application fee
• Contract of employment
• Employer letter confirming your permanent employment in South Africa (not older than six months)
• Proof of registration with the Professional Body
• Proof of qualifications (confirmation from SAQA)
• Proof of post-qualification work experience for a minimum of five years in the same employment class
• Testimonials from previous employers
• Curriculum Vitae

Retirement Visa Holders

• General documentation as listed above.
• A valid Retirement Visa for a sojourn at the time of application (if submitting in South Africa)
• Proof that you have the right to a pension or irrevocable annuity or retirement account, which will give you a prescribed minimum payment of R37 000 per month for the rest of your life.
• Proof that you have a minimum prescribed net worth of R37 000 per month.

Investment Visa holders

• General documentation as listed above
• A certificate issued by a charted accountant registered with the South African Institute of Charted Accountants (SAICA) or a professional accountant registered with the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) that states you have at least R5 million in cash
• R5 million in cash and capital is available to be invested in South Africa
• A letter of recommendation from the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the feasibility of the business and the contribution to the national interest of South Africa
• A commitment that at least 60% of your permanent employees will be South African citizens or permanent residents
• A business plan outlining the feasibility of the business, both in the short- and long-term
• Registration to the South African Revenue Services
• Registration to the Unemployment Insurance Fund
• Registration to the Compensation Fund for Occupational Injuries and Diseases
• Registration to the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission – CIPC, where legally required
• Proof of registration with the relevant professional body, board, or council recognised by SAQA in terms of section 13(2)(i) of the National Qualifications Framework Act, where applicable

• General documentation as listed above
• Payment of the application fee
• A valid South African Spousal Visa instead of applying for Permanent Residence if applying in SA.
• Marriage certificate or proof of relationship
• Divorce decree if you were in a previous marriage
• Proof of financial support
• Unabridged birth certificate or extract from birth record
• Copy of the Permanent Residence Permit of the primary applicant

Accompanying Spouse

• General documentation as listed above
• Payment of the application fee
• A valid South African Spousal Visa when applying for Permanent Residence if applying in South Africa
• Marriage certificate or proof of relationship
• Divorce decree if you were in a previous marriage
• Proof of financial support
• Unabridged birth certificate or extract from birth record

Accompanying Dependant

• General documentation as listed above
• Payment of the application fee
• A valid South Africa Dependant Visa when applying for Permanent Residence if applying in South Africa
• Unabridged birth certificate or extract from birth record
• Written consent forms from both parents where only one of the parents is going to immigrate to South Africa
• Copy of the Identity document of the parent(s) or legal guardian who is the citizen or permanent resident if applicable
• Copy of the Permanent Residence Permit if the parent(s) or legal guardian is a permanent resident, if applicable

General Work Visa holder

• General documentation as listed above
• A valid General Work Visa at the time of application in respect of each applicant if the application is being made in SA
• Payment of the application fee
• Offer of permanent employment or a contract of employment
• Letter from the employer confirming current and permanent employment, not older than six months
• Proof of qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA)
• Work references or certificates of service covering at least the last five years
• Biometrics
• Proof of five years of continuous employment on a valid South African Work Visa

Note: Attach endorsements related to Professional Associations

• VFS appointment letter
• A completed DHA-947 form online
• Payment of the application fee
• Valid, original passport of applicant and a recent, passport-type, full-face photograph with applicant name on the reverse side
• Unabridged birth certificate
• Valid Temporary Residence Visa (TRV), if the application is made in South Africa
• A deed poll in the case of the applicant who has changed their name, surname or sex.
• Original Police Clearance Certificate from relevant authority within the country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or longer
• Medical and Radiological report
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate if applicable
• Biometrics

The costs to apply for a Permanent Resident Permit vary, depending on whether you will add any of the above visa applications to the total submission package.

Contact us, and one of our immigration specialists will provide you with an estimate of the total costs. Your immigration specialist will go through all the fees and expenses with you to ensure there are no hidden costs.

Applying for a Permanent Resident Permit in South Africa has the potential to be tricky, especially if your family is accompanying you and they have different visas that they need to apply for.

Your immigration consultant will guide you through the process, taking all the requirements into account and ensuring that you have all the forms you need to put together a comprehensive application pack.

Once your application pack is complete, your immigration specialist will send it for an in-house quality check to ensure that all requirements have been met and everything is in order. After that, you can submit your application with all its supporting documentation.

Your immigration consultant can give you an estimate of the turnaround time. This estimate is based on the average time to approve a South African Permanent Resident Permit.