Relative Visa In South Africa

Relative visa is in South Africa gives you the opportunity to travel to South Africa with your family. It gives you the access to enjoy the country as they visit their relatives. To get relative Visas, you are required to have a valid passport and also have sufficient funds for living, transportation and food.

Relative Visa is something used by foreigners who have foreign spouses or children and are applying for a home visa in South Africa. It allows the spouse and children of the foreigner to live with them in South Africa as well. This visa also gives them work opportunities and also study opportunities in South Africa. The Relative visa is meant for legitimate family members only and therefore you will have to complete a number of steps if you want to apply for this type of visa.

A relative visa allows a foreigner to travel to South Africa as an escort to that person’s family member. The relative in this case is defined as a spouse, ascendant or descendent of the visitor. The relative must be legally sponsored by the citizen or by a South African citizen with permanent residence (PR) status.

An Estimated 1,5 million South Africans live in Australia, 2 million in the US or 4 million Canadians and over 40o thousand Britons in South Africa. All have their families in South Africa and would like to bring them over to spend time with then.

Relative Visa In South Africa

Determining the outcome of a relative visa application is a complex and challenging process. While following the legal requirements, it’s critical that a decision maker assesses all relevant factors in an objective manner so as to ensure that a correct decision is reached.

Relative’s Visa

This is a permit issued to relatives/spouses of South African citizens or residents intending to move to South Africa with an intention of taking up permanent residence.

As an immediate family member of a South African citizen or permanent resident, you may be issued a relative’s permit once the financial means as contemplated in the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002) have been complied with. Relative’s permits are valid for a minimum period of 24 months and may be extended. For a spouse and/or dependent child of a South African citizen or permanent resident, the permit is issued free of charge, whilst there is a fee for other relatives wishing to join their family members in South Africa.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, visits to our offices for civic services are strictly by appointment only.
Applicants are reminded to kindly ensure they make an appointment before presenting at the Embassy/Consulate General.

PLEASE NOTE:
IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH REGULATION 2(1) (A) OF THE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 2014, ONLY MACHINE READABLE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS (MRTDs) WILL BE ACCEPTED ON SUBMISSION OF VISA APPLICATIONS AND AT PORT OF ENTRY. THEREFORE, NO EXTENDED PASSPORTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Checklist of Documents to be Submitted:

• Machine readable valid passport with at least two (2) unused (blank) pages labeled Visa when presented at the Embassy or Consulate; one page for affixing the visa or permit by the embassy/consulate and the other page for endorsement of entry/departure stamp by the South African Immigration Services. Passport must be valid for 30 more days after the intended return date from South Africa.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: In order to comply with Regulation 2(1) (A) of the Immigration Act of 2014, only machine readable travel documents (MRTDs) will be accepted on submission of visa applications and at Port of Entry. Therefore, no extended passports will be accepted.
• A duly completed application form DHA-1738 signed by applicant
• Certified/notarized copy of bio page of the passport
• Two (2) passport photos with white or light background
• Proof of itinerary/reservation of round trip air tickets. Please do not purchase air tickets until you obtain a South African visa.
• Proof of sufficient fund (in the form of three months recent bank statements stamped by bank) for own maintenance for the duration of stay
• Proof of legal status for non-U.S. citizens (Certified/notarized copy of greencard, H1B, F1, J1, etc.)
• Proof of hotel accommodation (confirmed hotel reservation) or a letter of invitation from the host with proof of address (relative or friend) in South Africa
• Proof of host’s legal status in South Africa (copy of I.D. Book/ passport if South African citizen) or copy of passport and a copy of visa or residence status in South Africa, certified by the South African Police Service.
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if the applicant traveled or intends traveling from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic area.
• Medical report on prescribed form (physical). The certificate must not be older than six (6) months at the time the applicant submits an application.
• Radiological report on prescribed form (chest X-ray). Radiological report is not required in respect of children under the age of 12 years or a pregnant woman. The certificate must not be older than six (6) months at the time the applicant submits an application.
• Original FBI certificate (full criminal background check report) and original police clearance certificate from each country where the relevant applicant resided for 12 months or longer after attaining the age of 18 years in respect of criminal records or the character of that applicant, which certificate shall not be older than six months at the time of its submission.
• Marriage certificate or in the case of a foreign spousal relationship, proof of official recognition thereof issued by the authorities of the foreign country of the applicant, where applicable
• The affidavit where a spousal relationship to a South African citizen or permanent resident is applicable, as well as documentation proving cohabitation and the extent to which the related financial responsibilities are shared by the parties and setting out the particulars of children in the spousal relationship
• Divorce decree, where applicable
• Court order granting full or specific parental responsibilities and rights, where applicable
• Death certificate, in respect of late spouse, where applicable
• Written consent from both parents and full parental responsibilities, where applicable
• Proof of adoption, where applicable
• Legal separation order, where applicable
• Proof of kinship, within the second step, between the applicant and the citizen or permanent resident in the form of
  • an unabridged birth certificate; and
  • where necessary, paternity test results

• Proof of South African citizenship/Permanent residence of relative in the Republic of South Africa in the form of an identity document and passport
• The financial assurance contemplated in section 18(1) of the Act shall be an amount, per person per month, as determined from time to time by the Minister by notice in the Gazette, to be proven by means of a current salary advice or a certified bank statement not older than three months at the time of application. Provided that the financial assurance shall not be required where the South African citizen or permanent resident is a dependent child. Currently, it is R8,500 per person per month.
• No fee is required from spouses/ dependent of a South African citizen
• $16.00 money order for overnight mailing (only applicable in Washington, DC)
• Attention New York Applicants: The South African Consulate General in New York will no longer accept prepaid envelope/labels from FedEx and UPS with immediate effect. Applicants are welcome to enclose only US Postal Service self-addressed, pre-paid courier envelope for this office to facilitate return services.
• Attention Washington, DC Applicants:  With immediate effect, the South African Embassy in Washington, DC will no longer accept a $16.00 fee to facilitate return services, but will accept a prepaid envelope with a tracking number from either FedEx or US Postal Service.
• Processing time for long visas exceeding 90 days may take up to 3 to 4 weeks.
• Where to submit your application