Visa free entry and visitor's permit: US citizens visiting South Africa for ninety days or less for tourism or business purposes do not need visas, per the South African consulates in the United States. The passport must be valid for at least 30 days after the intended departure date and contain at least two blank pages. A visitor's permit allows no work of any kind. The ETA platform launched by Home Affairs is compulsory only for travellers who need a visa; it remains optional for visa exempt nationals such as US citizens.
Country page
Living in South Africa long term
South Africa gives US passport holders 90 days visa free, a remote work visitor's visa of up to three years for people employed abroad who earn at least ZAR 650,796 a year, and a retired person's visa built on ZAR 37,000 a month of pension or annuity income. Permanent residence is unusually direct for retirees with lifelong guaranteed income and for the financially independent with a net worth of ZAR 12 million, while work visa holders reach it after five years. Citizenship follows permanent residence, with the Citizenship Act setting five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident while Home Affairs states that it applies a ten year permanent residence requirement.
Numbers on this page apply to holders of a US passport. Page last verified: 2026-10-15
Rules change. Confirm the current rules with the official source or the consulate for South Africa before you apply, pay a fee, or book travel around a date in this table.
Every route, with the math
Scroll sideways for the full table. The route name stays in view.
| Route | Income required | Investment required | Total cost | Processing time | Days allowed | Renewal rules | Tax residency trigger | Years to permanent residency | Years to citizenship | Last verified | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa free entry and visitor's permit Tourist allowance | Not applicable | Not applicable | No visa fee. US passport holders are visa exempt. The optional Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) carries a ZAR 500 electronic processing fee under Government Notice R.7834 of August 2026, but visa exempt travellers are not required to use it. | Decided at the port of entry. No advance application is required for US passport holders. | 90 days per visit, issued as a visitor's permit at the port of entry | The stay may be extended once from inside South Africa, through VFS Global, for a further period of up to 90 days. The Department of Home Affairs fee for a visitor's visa is ZAR 425. | A 90 day visit does not on its own create tax residence. A person becomes a tax resident if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as their real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the current tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, administered by SARS). Residents are taxed on worldwide income and non-residents only on South African source income. | Visitor time does not count toward permanent residence. | Not from this status. Citizenship by naturalisation requires permanent residence first, then five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Remote work visitor's visa (digital nomad visa) Digital nomad | Gross salary of no less than ZAR 650,796 per year from a foreign employer, evidenced by three months of bank statements, per the Department of Home Affairs checklist for this visa, effective 9 October 2024 | Not applicable | ZAR 425 Department of Home Affairs visitor's visa fee, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026. South African consulates in the United States list a visitor's visa fee of USD 36. Applications lodged through VFS Global inside South Africa add a service fee reported at ZAR 1,350 (reported). | Home Affairs publishes no timeframe. The South African Consulate General states that processing for visas exceeding 90 days may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. Remote work applications are reported to take about 6 to 8 weeks in practice (reported). | More than 3 months and up to 3 years, as granted. The visa is a visitor's visa issued under section 11(1)(b)(iv) of the Immigration Act for the prescribed activity of remote work. | A longer stay requires a new application. The holder may not apply for a change of status to another visa while in South Africa, except under the exceptional circumstances prescribed for visitor's visas, per the Home Affairs checklist. | The visa carries its own tax registration condition, set out in the Home Affairs checklist: because the United States has a double taxation agreement with South Africa, a US tax resident holder must register with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) if present in South Africa for longer than an aggregate of 183 days during any 12 month period. A holder who is not a tax resident of a treaty country must register with SARS regardless of the length of stay. Separately, tax residence itself arises if the person is ordinarily resident in South Africa, or meets the physical presence test of more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years. Residents are taxed on worldwide income. | Not available from this visa. Time on a visitor's visa does not count toward permanent residence, and the visa cannot be converted to another status in South Africa except in exceptional circumstances. Permanent residence requires qualifying separately under section 26 or 27 of the Immigration Act, for example through a work visa, retirement or financial independence. | Not from this status. Citizenship by naturalisation requires permanent residence first, then five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Retired person's visa Retirement | At least ZAR 37,000 per month from a pension fund or an irrevocable retirement annuity, or a net worth or combination of assets realising a minimum monthly income of ZAR 37,000, per the South African consulates' requirements. Where the application rests on a lump sum rather than a monthly payment, the sum must equal ZAR 37,000 multiplied by the number of months of stay applied for. | Not applicable | ZAR 425 Department of Home Affairs fee, including renewals, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026. South African consulates in the United States charge USD 36 for a retired person's visa. | The South African Consulate General states that processing for visas exceeding 90 days may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. Practitioners report decisions in roughly 8 weeks in recent cases (reported). | Up to 4 years per grant under section 20 of the Immigration Act. The consulates describe the visa as covering retirees who live in South Africa for limited or seasonal periods during its validity. | Renewable for further periods while the income requirement continues to be met, at the same ZAR 425 fee. | Resident for tax purposes if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as the person's real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). A retiree living in South Africa most of the year will normally become ordinarily resident. Residents are taxed on worldwide income, subject to the South Africa and United States double taxation agreement; non-residents are taxed only on South African source income. | Permanent residence is available by direct application under section 27(e) of the Immigration Act where the ZAR 37,000 monthly income is a lifelong guaranteed pension or annuity. There is no need to hold the temporary visa first, although many applicants hold the retired person's visa while the permanent residence application is decided. | After permanent residence: five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations, with no absence of more than 90 days in any of those years. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Permanent residence for retired persons (section 27(e)) Retirement | A lifelong guaranteed pension, irrevocable annuity or retirement income of at least ZAR 37,000 per month. Unlike the temporary retired person's visa, capital or a lump sum on its own does not qualify for the permanent category; the income must be payable for life and already payable when the application is lodged. | Not applicable | ZAR 1,520 permanent residence permit application fee, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026. South African missions in the United States list a formal immigration application fee of USD 127. | South African missions in the United States state 12 to 18 months for formal permanent residence applications. Practitioners report that decisions on applications lodged inside South Africa can take about 24 months (reported). | Permanent residence, with no time limit on the stay. The permit lapses if the holder does not take up residence within one year of issue or is absent from South Africa for more than three years. | Not applicable. Permanent residence does not require renewal, but it is lost if the holder is absent from South Africa for more than three years or fails to take up residence within one year of the permit being issued, per the Department of Home Affairs. | Resident for tax purposes if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as the person's real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). A permanent resident retiree living in South Africa will normally be ordinarily resident and taxed on worldwide income, subject to the double taxation agreement with the United States. | This route is permanent residence itself, available by direct application with no prior temporary residence in South Africa required. | Five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations, with no absence of more than 90 days in any of those years. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit, so applicants should plan on the longer period. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Financially independent permanent residence (section 27(f)) Passive income | Not applicable | A net worth of at least ZAR 12,000,000, as prescribed by ministerial notice and set out in the official VFS Global checklist for section 27(f) applications. No investment into South Africa is required; the test is net worth, wherever held. | ZAR 1,520 permanent residence permit application fee, per the Regulations on Fees, plus a once off fee of ZAR 120,000 payable to the Director-General of Home Affairs upon approval of the application. South African missions in the United States list a formal immigration application fee of USD 127. | South African missions in the United States state 12 to 18 months for formal permanent residence applications. Practitioners report that decisions commonly take more than a year (reported). | Permanent residence, with no time limit on the stay. The permit lapses if the holder does not take up residence within one year of issue or is absent from South Africa for more than three years. | Not applicable. Permanent residence does not require renewal, but it is lost if the holder is absent from South Africa for more than three years or fails to take up residence within one year of the permit being issued, per the Department of Home Affairs. | Resident for tax purposes if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as the person's real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). Permanent residence for immigration purposes does not by itself decide tax residence, but a holder who settles in South Africa will normally be ordinarily resident and taxed on worldwide income. | This route is permanent residence itself, available by direct application with no prior visa and no period of residence in South Africa required first. | Five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations, with no absence of more than 90 days in any of those years. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit, so applicants should plan on the longer period. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| General work visa Work | A job offer from a South African employer. There is no separate statutory minimum salary, but since October 2024 applications are scored under the points based system and must reach 100 points: a gross salary above ZAR 976,194 a year scores 50 points and a salary from ZAR 650,976 to ZAR 976,194 scores 20 points, with further points for qualifications, experience, an offer from a Trusted Employer Scheme employer and language proficiency. | Not applicable | ZAR 1,520 Department of Home Affairs work visa fee, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026, plus a VFS Global service fee reported at ZAR 1,350 for applications lodged in South Africa (reported). South African consulates in the United States list USD 127 for a general work visa. | The South African Consulate General states that processing for visas exceeding 90 days may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. Home Affairs publishes no binding timeframe, and applications lodged in South Africa are subject to the Department's backlog. | Issued for the period of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 5 years per grant under section 19(2) of the Immigration Act. | Renewable while the holder remains in qualifying employment and continues to meet the points based criteria, at the same ZAR 1,520 fee. | Resident for tax purposes if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as the person's real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). A full time work visa holder will normally be ordinarily resident and taxed on worldwide income. | 5 years. Permanent residence under section 26(a) of the Immigration Act after holding a work visa for five years, with an offer of permanent employment. | After permanent residence: five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations, with no absence of more than 90 days in any of those years. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Critical skills work visa Work | An offer of employment in an occupation on the official Critical Skills List. Under the points based system in force since October 2024, an occupation on the Critical Skills List scores 100 points on its own, which meets the qualifying threshold. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA, and registration with the relevant South African professional body is required where the occupation is regulated. | Not applicable | ZAR 1,520 Department of Home Affairs work visa fee, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026, plus a VFS Global service fee reported at ZAR 1,350 for applications lodged in South Africa (reported). South African consulates in the United States list USD 127 for a critical skills work visa. | The South African Consulate General states that processing for visas exceeding 90 days may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. Home Affairs publishes no binding timeframe, and applications lodged in South Africa are subject to the Department's backlog. | Up to 5 years per grant under section 19(4) of the Immigration Act, matching the employment contract. | Renewable while the holder remains employed in the listed occupation and continues to meet the requirements, at the same ZAR 1,520 fee. | Resident for tax purposes if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as the person's real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). A full time critical skills holder will normally be ordinarily resident and taxed on worldwide income. | Available under section 27(b) of the Immigration Act once the holder has at least 5 years of post qualification experience in the listed occupation. The five years are experience, not time spent on the visa, so a qualifying critical skills holder can apply for permanent residence without first spending five years in South Africa. Five years on a work visa with a permanent job offer also qualifies under section 26(a). | After permanent residence: five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations, with no absence of more than 90 days in any of those years. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Intra-company transfer work visa Work | No income threshold and no points assessment. The applicant must have been employed by the foreign employer for at least 6 months and be transferred to a branch, subsidiary or affiliate of that employer in South Africa, with a contract and an undertaking by the employer to return the employee on completion of the assignment. | Not applicable | ZAR 1,520 Department of Home Affairs work visa fee, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026, plus a VFS Global service fee reported at ZAR 1,350 for applications lodged in South Africa (reported). South African consulates in the United States list USD 127 for an intra-company transfer work visa. | The South African Consulate General states that processing for visas exceeding 90 days may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. Home Affairs publishes no binding timeframe. | Up to 4 years in total under section 19(5) of the Immigration Act. | Not renewable beyond the 4 year maximum. The holder must leave South Africa or qualify under a different visa category. | Resident for tax purposes if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as the person's real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). A transferee living in South Africa full time will normally be ordinarily resident and taxed on worldwide income. | Intra-company transfer time does not count toward the five years of work visa residence required by section 26(a). A transferee who wants permanent residence must first move to a qualifying category, such as a general work or critical skills visa. | Not from this status. Citizenship by naturalisation requires permanent residence first, then five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Study visa Study | No income threshold. The applicant must show proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition, living expenses and medical cover for the period of study, and hold medical cover recognised in South Africa, per the Immigration Regulations. | Not applicable | ZAR 425 Department of Home Affairs fee, including renewals, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026. South African consulates in the United States list USD 36 for a study visa. | Reported at 4 to 8 weeks depending on the country of submission (reported). The South African Consulate General states that processing for visas exceeding 90 days may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. | Issued for the duration of the course at the learning institution under section 13 of the Immigration Act. For schools, the regulations cap the visa at 8 years for primary school and 6 years for secondary school. | Renewable for further study while the holder remains registered. The visa lapses automatically if the holder fails to register or is deregistered by the institution, per the Immigration Regulations. | Resident for tax purposes if ordinarily resident in South Africa, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). A student on a multi year course who spends most of each year in South Africa will usually meet the physical presence test by the sixth year, and may be ordinarily resident sooner. | Study time does not count toward permanent residence. A graduate must switch to a qualifying category, such as a work visa, and build time from there. | Not from this status. Citizenship by naturalisation requires permanent residence first, then five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Relative's visa and spousal visa Other | The South African citizen or permanent resident sponsor must furnish financial assurance of ZAR 8,500 per month per person in support of the applicant, proven by bank statements or salary advices, per the official mission checklists for section 18 relative's visas. The assurance is not required where the citizen or permanent resident is a dependent child. | Not applicable | No Department of Home Affairs fee for a spouse or minor child of a citizen or permanent resident. ZAR 425 for other immediate family members, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026. South African consulates in the United States list USD 36. | The South African Consulate General states that processing for visas exceeding 90 days may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. Permanent residence applications in this family category are reported to take up to 2 years (reported). | A relative's visa under section 18 of the Immigration Act is issued for up to 2 years at a time. | Renewable; in practice a renewal is assessed like a fresh application and all criteria must be met again. | Resident for tax purposes if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as the person's real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). A relative who settles in South Africa will normally be ordinarily resident and taxed on worldwide income. | Spouses and life partners of citizens or permanent residents qualify under section 26(b) after 5 years of the relationship. A relative within the first step of kinship, meaning a parent or a child, of a citizen or permanent resident may apply under section 27(g). | After permanent residence: five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations, with no absence of more than 90 days in any of those years. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Permanent residence (sections 26 and 27) Other | Not applicable. Each category carries its own test: the income and net worth tests for retirement and financial independence are set out in those routes, and the work categories turn on employment and skills. | Not applicable at this level. The financially independent category requires a net worth of ZAR 12,000,000; see that route. | ZAR 1,520 for most categories, per the Regulations on Fees as amended in August 2026. No fee is charged for applications by a spouse under section 26(b), a child under section 26(c), or a refugee under section 27(d). | South African missions in the United States state 12 to 18 months for formal permanent residence applications. Home Affairs publishes no timeframe for applications lodged in South Africa, and practitioners report waits of 2 years or more in some categories (reported). | Permanent residence, with no time limit on the stay. | Permanent residence does not require renewal. It may be withdrawn if the holder does not take up residence within one year of the permit being issued, is absent from South Africa for more than three years, or fails to comply with the conditions of the permit, per the Department of Home Affairs. | Permanent residence for immigration purposes does not by itself decide tax residence. A person is a tax resident if ordinarily resident in South Africa, meaning South Africa is the country regarded as their real home, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). Residents are taxed on worldwide income. | Section 26 (direct residence): 5 years on a work visa with an offer of permanent employment; spouse of a citizen or permanent resident for 5 years; child of a citizen or permanent resident. Section 27 (residence on other grounds): a permanent work offer; critical skills and qualifications; an established or invested business; refugee status; retired persons with lifelong guaranteed income of ZAR 37,000 a month; financially independent persons with a net worth of ZAR 12,000,000; and relatives within the first step of kinship. Retired and financially independent applicants may apply directly, with no prior years in South Africa. | Five years of ordinary residence as a permanent resident under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and its regulations, with no absence of more than 90 days in any of those years. Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that it accepts naturalisation applications only after ten years on a permanent residence permit, so applicants should plan on the longer period. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Citizenship by naturalisation Other | Not applicable | Not applicable | ZAR 300 for the issuing of a certificate of naturalisation, per the fee schedule in the Regulations under the South African Citizenship Act. | No official timeframe is published by the Department of Home Affairs. | Citizenship itself, with the right to live and work in South Africa without any time limit. | Not applicable. Citizenship is permanent once granted. | Citizenship on its own does not create tax residence. A person is a tax resident if ordinarily resident in South Africa, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). | Not applicable. Permanent residence is the prerequisite for this route, not its outcome. | Under section 5 of the Citizenship Act and the 2023 Regulations, an applicant must hold a permanent residence permit and have been ordinarily resident in South Africa for the five years immediately before applying, with no absence of more than 90 days in any of those years, and must show good character, knowledge of one official language and the intention to continue residing in South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs states in its published citizenship requirements that applications are only received after ten years on a permanent residence permit, which conflicts with the five year period in the Act and Regulations; both positions are recorded in the research file. South Africa permits dual citizenship, and applicants must provide a letter confirming that their country of origin accepts dual nationality. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Citizenship by descent Citizenship by descent | Not applicable | Not applicable | Citizenship by descent is established by registering the birth with the Department of Home Affairs or a South African mission. A certificate or written confirmation of citizenship status costs ZAR 90 under the fee schedule in the Citizenship Regulations. | No official timeframe is published. | Citizenship itself, with the right to live and work in South Africa without any time limit. | Not applicable. Citizenship is permanent once established. | Citizenship on its own does not create tax residence. A person is a tax resident if ordinarily resident in South Africa, or if the physical presence test is met: more than 91 days in the tax year, more than 91 days in each of the five preceding tax years, and more than 915 days in total across those five years (Income Tax Act, SARS). | Not applicable. This route grants citizenship, which goes beyond permanent residence. | 0 years. A person born outside South Africa to a parent who was a South African citizen at the time of the birth is a citizen by descent once the birth is registered with Home Affairs, with no residence in South Africa required. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
Route notes
Remote work visitor's visa (digital nomad visa): Created by the 2024 amendments to the Immigration Regulations, effective 9 October 2024. The applicant must hold a contract of employment with a foreign based employer and conduct that work remotely from South Africa. The holder is not entitled to take up employment in South Africa or work for South African clients. An earlier 2024 proposal set the income test at ZAR 1,000,000 a year; the gazetted figure is ZAR 650,796. Some official fee material for the separate work visa points system prints the similar figure of ZAR 650,976 as a salary band boundary, which is a different provision.
Retired person's visa: There is no minimum age for this visa; the test is financial, not age based. The visa does not authorise work in South Africa, although the Director-General may authorise the holder to conduct work case by case. An FBI clearance and police certificates for countries of residence in the last five years are required, together with a medical report.
Permanent residence for retired persons (section 27(e)): Section 27(e) of the Immigration Act covers permanent residence for a person who qualifies as a retired person. Permanent residents hold the rights of citizens except those reserved to citizens by law, including the right to work without restriction, per section 25 of the Act. Because decisions are slow, many retirees hold the temporary retired person's visa in parallel.
Financially independent permanent residence (section 27(f)): Section 27(f) of the Immigration Act is permanent residence tested on net worth alone: no job offer, business, investment in South Africa or local sponsor is required. There is no minimum age. Once granted, the holder may work, consult or run a business without restriction, because permanent residents hold the rights of citizens except those reserved to citizens. Spouses and dependent children apply in their own right as accompanying family.
General work visa: The points based system, gazetted in October 2024 (Government Notice 5448), replaced the former certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour for general work visas. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA); where the evaluation is still outstanding, a visa of up to 12 months may be issued on proof that it has been applied for.
Critical skills work visa: This is the fastest work route to permanent residence because section 27(b) turns on skills and post qualification experience rather than years spent in South Africa. The occupation must appear on the Critical Skills List in force at the time of application.
Intra-company transfer work visa: The points based system introduced in October 2024 does not apply to intra-company transfer visas. A skills transfer plan, identifying the South African employee who will be trained to take over the role, forms part of the application.
Study visa: Holders studying at a higher education institution may work part time for up to 20 hours per week, per the Immigration Regulations. An official letter of acceptance from the South African learning institution, stating the duration of the course, is required.
Relative's visa and spousal visa: A relative's visa does not by itself authorise work or study. A foreign spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident can instead apply for a visitor's visa under section 11(6) of the Act, issued free of charge by the consulates, with an authorisation to work, study or run a business endorsed on it. Life partners must evidence a relationship of at least two years with a notarial agreement.
Permanent residence (sections 26 and 27): Applications are made on Form BI-947. Under section 25 of the Immigration Act a permanent resident holds all the rights, privileges, duties and obligations of a citizen except those reserved to citizens by the Constitution or other law, such as voting.
Citizenship by naturalisation: Naturalisation is granted at the discretion of the Minister of Home Affairs and is completed with a declaration of allegiance and a naturalisation ceremony. There is no civics examination; the language requirement is the ability to communicate in one of South Africa's official languages.
Citizenship by descent: South Africa permits dual citizenship. Once citizenship is confirmed, the person may apply for a South African identity document and passport, which are separate applications. Registration is done on Form BI-24 through Home Affairs or a South African mission.