The Department of Home Affairs issues permanent resident permits. The department may provide information on how to apply for a permanent residence permit.
Direct residence permits are issued to the following individuals:
Foreigners who have lived in South Africa on the basis of work visas for a minimum of five years
their partners
dependents of South African citizens or holders of permanent residency permits
You can also apply for permanent residency if you meet the following criteria:
are employed in South Africa on a permanent basis
possess extraordinary abilities and characteristics
plan to open a business in South Africa
satisfy the requirements of Section 27(c) of the Refugees Act
qualify for retirement
are financially self-sufficient
are biological or judicially adopted relatives of a South African citizen or permanent resident permit holder
How long does it take to obtain a South African permanent resident permit?
A Permanent Residence application takes on average 4 – 8 months to process from the date of submission, depending on the kind of filing. If your Permanent Resident Permit application has been stalled for an extended period of time, you can request that it be completed and a decision made.
What is the cost of applying for permanent residency in South Africa?
Status of ‘financially independent’ – Permanent residence
Currently, an applicant who can demonstrate a “minimum net worth of R7.5 million” and pay a R75 000 application fee can effectively qualify for permanent residency in South Africa.
How do foreign nationals obtain permanent residency in South Africa?
If you have held a work visa for at least five years and have a permanent job offer in South Africa, you are entitled to apply for permanent residence. A minimum of five years of work permits must be endorsed in a passport.
