What's the difference between a visa and a temporary residence permit?
A visa allows you to proceed to a South African port of entry. A temporary residence permit will be issued to you at the port of entry. It replaces your visa, and regulates the duration and purpose of your stay in South Africa.

What if I want to stay in SA for longer?
It is best to request the full duration of your intended visit when you first arrive, as extensions are subject to additional fees. If you wish to extend your stay further, you must keep your temporary residence permit valid by applying for an extension. You should do this well BEFORE your permit expires, in general a minimum of 30 days prior to the expiry date of your current permit. It is possible to change the status of an existing permit, should you meet with the Departments requirements.

Please contact us for assistance with extensions or changes to your existing permit

What if I plan to work or study in SA?
If you intend to be professionally active in South Africa or to undertake any voluntary or paid employment or studies, you must apply for a work, work-seeker's or study permit. These permits are also issued outside South Africa, and function as valid visas in allowing their holders to proceed to a South African port of entry. (In other words, if you're applying for one of these permits, you do not have to apply for a visa separately.)

May I do part time work to pay for/toward my studies in South Africa?
No, a foreigner may only be granted a study permit once he/she provides adequate financial means to pay for his/her studies.

May I commence employment/study/business while I wait for my application to be processed?
No. An application for a permit does not automatically entitle an applicant to any status pending the decision of the Department, thus the applicant may not commence work/study or business prior to the outcome of his/her application.

May a foreigner change his/her status (purpose) of entry from within South Africa if he/she initially entered for a visit and received an offer of employment?
Yes, a foreigner may apply for a change of status whilst inside the Republic and must submit his/her application at least 30 days prior to the date of expiry of his/her permit. You must provide full details of the reasons requesting a change of status, and good cause must exist necessitating a change of status. Applicants will not be allowed to change status or stay in the Republic through mis-representation of the original application.

May a foreigner who is a spouse/life partner of a South African Citizen /Permanent Resident holder apply for a work/study or business permit from within the Republic?
Yes, a foreigner may apply for a change of status and must submit the application at least 30 days prior to the expiry date of his/her permit.

I wish to tour South Africa for 8 months. May I accept employment to finance my visit?
No, in terms of the immigration Act 0f 2002, the holder of a visitors permit may not conduct work. You will be required to submit proof of financial means to cover envisaged living expenses for the period you are in the Republic.

Can a candidate on a work permit be accompanied by his/her family?
Yes, however additional documentation will be required.

May I extend my visitors permit whilst in South Africa?
Yes you may, however your application must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the expiry date on your current permit. You will have to prove that you have enough financial means i.e. bank statements, cash, credit cards, traveler’s cheques, undertaking by hosts in South Africa during your stay as well as a valid return air ticket.

Who can immigrate to SA?
South African immigration law aims to protect the health and security of South Africans, as well as their rights to employment opportunities in the country.

Protecting & creating job opportunities
South Africa has a vast reserve of unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Generally, a prospective immigrant to South Africa should not follow an occupation for which there are already sufficient people available to meet the country's needs. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers, in particular, will not usually be accepted as immigrant workers in South Africa.
Conversely, immigrants who are in a position to contribute to the broadening of South Africa's economic base will be welcomed. Applications by skilled workers in occupations for which there is a shortage in the country are encouraged - particularly applications by industrialists and other entrepreneurs who wish to relocate their existing businesses or establish new concerns in South Africa.

Commitment to the country
Because of the need to create job opportunities for South African workers, prospective immigrants should be seriously committed to investing their assets, skills and experience for the benefit of themselves and the people of South Africa.

Basic requirements
All applications for permanent residence are considered individually on merit by an autonomous statutory body, the Immigrants Selection Board. If you wish to immigrate permanently to South Africa, you should:

• Be of good character.
• Be a desirable inhabitant.
• Not be likely to be harmful to the welfare of the country.
• Not follow an occupation in which there are already sufficient people available to meet the country's needs.

Where to apply for immigration?
In general, you should apply for immigration to South Africa while in your country of residence, and await the outcome of your application before proceeding to South Africa. In this case, you should apply at your nearest SA office abroad.
However, you may apply for immigration while in South Africa - at your nearest Home Affairs office - if:

• You are in the country on a valid work permit; or
• You are married to, or the child of, a South African citizen or permanent resident, and are in South Africa on a valid temporary residence permit; or
• You are being sponsored for immigration purposes by a blood family member who is permanently and lawfully resident in South Africa (see "sponsored persons" under "categories of immigration" above), and are in South Africa on a valid temporary residence permit; or
• You have been exempted from the requirement to hold a temporary residence permit.

Special arrangements for Chinese citizens
If you're a citizen of the People's Republic of China, and you wish to come to South Africa for business negotiations, feasibility studies, to establish a business, or to take up employment with a South African company which has been financed with foreign capital from Mainland China, you should first approach the Chinese Ministry of Trade and Economic Co-operation. Only after the approval of the Ministry has been obtained and the relevant applications have been lodged with the South African Embassy in Beijing, will the Immigrants Selection Board be able to consider your admission to South Africa.

How long will I have to wait?
The Department of Home Affairs aims to process immigration applications within six to 12 months. However, problematic applications can take up to 18 -24 months to process. The current situation is that there is a large backlog of applications, so a realistic time frame is 24 months.

How much will it cost?
Immigration application fees - these are non-refundable - are subject to change. Check the relevant Home Affairs web page

Will I have to attend an interview?
Yes, once you have completed all the required documentation, you will have to attend a personal interview by a member of the Department of Home Affairs (if you are applying in SA) or the Department of Foreign Affairs (if you are applying outside SA).

What if my application is rejected?
Reasons for the rejection of your application will be supplied in writing, along with details of your right to appeal against the decision, and the time-frame and procedures for an appeal, should you wish to make one.

What if my family or spouse does not want to immigrate to SA?
If this is the case, then you will not normally be allowed to immigrate to South Africa. Immigration applications are considered on the basis of a family unit. If you're divorced or legally separated, you will have to submit proof of this, and state the conditions of your divorce/separation.
If you are separated or estranged from your spouse, your application will not normally be considered. However, if you've been separated or estranged for longer than five years, your application will be considered if your partner submits a sworn affidavit or solemn declaration that he or she is aware of your application, has no objection to it, and is satisfied with the maintenance arrangements, if any, that the two of you have made. He/she will also have to acknowledge that, if he/she wishes in future to immigrate to South Africa, his/her application will be considered purely on its own merits.

How long do I have before I must enter SA?
Once your immigration permit has been granted, you have six months in which to take up permanent residence. If you do not enter the country with the intention of settling permanently within the prescribed period, and you do not apply for an extension, your permit will lapse and may be withdrawn. If you apply for an extension, cognizance will be taken of the reasons for your request and of any assets already transferred to and productively invested in South Africa. Extensions are granted for periods of six months at a time.

I'll be back soon - will I need a re-entry visa?
If you are in South Africa on a valid permanent residence permit, and you leave the country temporarily, you - and your dependents, if any - will NOT need a re-entry visa, so long as your permit remains valid. This holds even though your permit may have "single entry" endorsed on it.

What if I settle in another country after obtaining an immigration permit?

• Generally, once you've obtained your immigration permit, if you leave the country for a period of three years or longer, you stand to lose your right to permanent residence. However, you should explain your situation to the Department of Home Affairs at the earliest opportunity - the Department will then be able to determine what effect your period of absence from the country will have on your permanent residence status.
• If you work for a South African company and the company sends you abroad, your permanent residence status will not be affected.
• If you're working on a contract basis and plan to spend more than three years abroad, you should notify the Department of Home Affairs timorously.
• If you're married to a South African citizen or permanent resident, your permanent residence status will not be affected so long as you remain married.

Can my immigration permit be withdrawn?
Yes. Your immigration permit can be withdrawn, among other reasons, if:

• Any information supplied in your application is found to be incorrect; or
• You change your occupation within three years of being granted permanent residence without being granted permission to do so by the Department of Home Affairs; or
• You obtained your permit on the basis of a marriage entered into less than two years prior to the date of issue of the permit, and the marriage is terminated less than two years subsequent to this date, unless you can persuade the Department that the marriage was not contracted for the purpose of securing permanent residence.