Permanent residency in South Africa allows an applicant to reside in South Africa on a permanent basis without the need to renew a visa every set number of years. Permanent residency may be granted to an applicant who meets all the requirements set out in Sections 26 or 27 of the Immigration Act.
A common misconception is that a person is eligible for permanent residency once they have resided in South Africa for a prescribed number of years. This is not the case. Much like temporary residency, an applicant must choose a single category under which to apply for permanent residency. The categories available are similar to temporary residency and include grounds to apply on the basis of a spouse, work, retirement, financial worth or being the relative to a South African citizen or permanent resident.
An application for permanent residence must be submitted in person preferably within South Africa through VFS Global so that a proper tracking number is given. It is important that the correct category is chosen, as an application for permanent residency should take between eight to twelve months but can vary depending on the category chosen. You can read more about that here.
In terms of the South African Identity Act, once an application for permanent residency is approved, an applicant is obliged to apply for a South African identity book. This is a great document to have, as it makes transacting in South Africa much easier, especially with banks and auto dealerships.
South African permanent residency does NOT allow you South African citizenship, which would include the right to vote or a passport. This is a separate application submitted after obtaining permanent residency and after you have resided in South Africa for the prescribed number of years.
Is permanent residency based on financial independence right for me?
An applicant can apply for permanent residence on the basis of their financial situation if they can show a minimum amount of assets to the Department and are willing to pay a once-off lump sum for their residency.
Read more »Rights and Obligations as a South African Permanent Resident
You've finally received your permanent residency - after months or possibly years of waiting for an outcome. What does this mean for you now?
Read more »Travelling as a South African Permanent Resident
An unspoken discretion has been given to immigration officials at the ports of entry and exit in South Africa to ask a permanent residency holder to 'prove' their status in whichever way they see fit, if at all. Find out how to avoid hassle whilst travelling in and out of South Africa as a permanent residency holder.
Read more »Permanent Residency on the basis of 'Exceptional Skills'
If you fall within the critical skills list and have five years work experience, you may be eligible for permanent residency in South Africa, even if you don't have an offer of permanent employment.
Read more »How do most people get permanent residency in South Africa?
Statistics released by StatsSA give us insight into how many permanent residency applications are being approved annually - and according to which category of submission.
Read more »Obtaining temporary or permanent residency based on a relative
A foreigner who has a relative in South Africa that is either South African or a South African permanent resident, may be eligible for temporary and/or permanent residency. But there can be long turn-around times to receive an outcome, especially for permanent residency permits.
Read more »