South Africa Residence and Family Visas: A Complete Guide

Not every move to South Africa is about a job or a degree. Many foreign nationals come to join a spouse or partner, reunite with immediate family, retire on independent income, or receive specialized medical care. South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) covers these situations through four distinct visa categories: the Retired Person’s Visa, the Spousal/Life Partner Visa, the Relative’s Visa, and the Medical Visa.

Each has its own eligibility rules, financial thresholds, and supporting documents, and choosing the right one from the start avoids unnecessary delays. This guide breaks down each category so you can identify which one applies to your situation. For visa guidance across other African countries, see our Africa visa hub.

Retired Person’s Visa

The Retired Person’s Visa, issued under Section 20 of the Immigration Act, is for foreign nationals who want to live in South Africa on independent means rather than employment. Despite the name, there’s no minimum age requirement – anyone who meets the financial threshold can qualify, which is why this visa is sometimes used by financially independent applicants well below typical retirement age, not just retirees.

Eligibility and Income Requirement

To qualify, applicants must show a minimum monthly income of R37,000, sourced from one or a combination of:

• Pension or retirement fund payments
• Irrevocable annuity income
• Rental income
• Interest or dividend income from investments
• Combined assets that can realistically generate this monthly amount

Importantly, this income must be passive – a salary from active employment does not count toward the threshold. Applicants can also demonstrate eligibility through a lump sum or net worth capable of sustaining the required monthly amount, depending on the South African mission handling the application.

Documents and Process

Retired Person’s Visa applicants generally need:

• A valid passport, with at least 30 days’ validity beyond the intended stay and at least two blank visa pages
• A completed DHA-1738 application form
• Proof of income – pension statements, annuity documentation, or investment and rental income records, along with recent bank statements
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for 12 months or more since age 18
• A medical report and radiological report, both within the validity window required by the DHA (commonly around six months)
• Recent passport-style photographs

The visa is typically issued for up to four years at a time and is renewable as long as the income requirement continues to be met. It does not automatically convert to permanent residence, but it can serve as a pathway toward one under South Africa’s permanent residence provisions for financially independent applicants.

Spousal / Life Partner Visa

Foreign nationals who are married to, or in a committed relationship with, a South African citizen or permanent resident can apply for residence on that basis. In practice, this is handled either as a Section 11(6) visitor’s visa endorsement for spouses and life partners, or through the Section 18 Relative’s Visa route, depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the specific mission’s process.

For Married Couples

Applicants who are legally married need to provide a marriage certificate recognized under South African law, along with a certified copy of their South African spouse’s ID, passport, or permanent residence document. Same-sex and opposite-sex marriages are treated identically under South African law.

For Life Partners

Couples who are not legally married can still qualify on the basis of a permanent life partnership, but the evidentiary bar is higher. Requirements generally include:

• A notarized cohabitation agreement or affidavit confirming the relationship
• Proof of a relationship lasting a minimum of two years
• Proof of cohabitation, such as a joint lease or shared utility bills
• Evidence of shared financial responsibilities, like joint bank accounts

Work, Study, and Business Rights

A Spousal or Life Partner Visa on its own generally grants the right to reside in South Africa but does not automatically authorize work, study, or running a business. To do any of these, applicants need a Section 11(6) endorsement, supported by a confirmed job offer, an acceptance letter from an educational institution, or business registration documents, depending on the intended activity.

These visas are typically issued for two to three years at a time and are renewable for as long as the relationship continues to exist and all requirements are met.

Relative’s Visa

The Relative’s Visa, issued under Section 18 of the Immigration Act, is for foreigners who are members of the immediate family of a South African citizen or permanent resident. This can include spouses, life partners, parents, and dependent or major children, among other close relatives, though the exact scope of “immediate family” and any permanent residence pathway can vary depending on the specific relationship.

Eligibility and Financial Sponsorship

The South African sponsor – the citizen or permanent resident the applicant is joining – generally needs to demonstrate the financial capacity to support the applicant, commonly cited at a minimum of around R8,500 per month per applicant, shown through certified bank statements or salary records covering the preceding months.

Documents Required

Relative’s Visa applicants typically need:

• A valid passport, with at least 30 days’ validity remaining and several blank pages for endorsements
• The completed DHA-1738 form
• Proof of the qualifying relationship – a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or notarized affidavit, depending on the relationship type
• A certified copy of the South African sponsor’s ID, passport, or permanent residence document
• Proof of the sponsor’s financial means to support the applicant
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for 12 months or longer since age 18
• Medical and radiological reports, generally valid for six months from issue

Fees and Validity

Spouses and minor children of South African citizens or permanent residents are typically exempt from the visa application fee, while other qualifying relatives generally pay the standard DHA fee. As with other temporary residence categories, requirements and fees can change, so it’s worth confirming the current position with your nearest South African mission or VFS Global before applying.

Medical Visa

The Medical Visa (sometimes called the Medical Treatment Visa) is for foreign nationals traveling to South Africa specifically to receive medical treatment, whether that’s a planned procedure, ongoing specialist care, or treatment not readily available in their home country.

Requirements

Applicants generally need to provide:

• A valid passport, with at least 30 days’ validity remaining and at least two blank pages
• The completed DHA-1738 application form
• A letter from the treating South African medical practitioner or institution, confirming that space is available, the estimated cost of treatment, whether the condition is treatable, the treatment schedule, and the expected duration of care
• Confirmation of who is responsible for the medical expenses – this may be the applicant’s medical scheme, an employer, or the applicant themselves, backed by proof of financial means where no scheme or employer is covering the cost
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for 12 months or more since age 18
• A home-country medical report, generally required to be recent (commonly within six months)
• Proof of accommodation in South Africa
• Details of anyone accompanying the applicant, since companions generally need to submit their own supporting documents

Duration

A Medical Visa is typically issued for a period tied to the treatment plan, and applications for stays exceeding three months are handled as a distinct medical treatment visa category rather than a short-stay arrangement. Some missions cap initial issuance at up to six months at a time, with renewal possible if treatment continues beyond that period.

Choosing the Right Visa

Because these four categories can overlap in practice – a retiree might also want to bring a spouse, or a Relative’s Visa applicant might later need a work endorsement – it helps to think about your primary purpose for moving to South Africa first:

• Living independently on pension, investment, or rental income – Retired Person’s Visa
• Joining a South African spouse or life partner – Spousal/Life Partner Visa (Section 11(6) or Section 18)
• Joining other immediate family, such as a parent or dependent child of a citizen or permanent resident – Relative’s Visa
• Traveling specifically for medical treatment – Medical Visa

Because none of these routes automatically grants the right to work, study, or run a business, anyone planning to take up one of those activities alongside their primary reason for residence should confirm the required endorsement or separate visa before applying. If your plans also involve neighboring countries, our Africa visa coverage can help you check entry rules for those destinations too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the minimum income for the Retired Person’s Visa?

Applicants need to show a minimum monthly income of R37,000 from passive sources such as a pension, annuity, rental income, or investment returns. Active salary income doesn’t count toward this threshold, and there’s no minimum age requirement for the visa itself.

Do I need to be married to qualify for a Spousal Visa?

No. Unmarried couples in a genuine, committed relationship can qualify as life partners, provided they can show at least two years of cohabitation along with supporting evidence such as a notarized cohabitation agreement, joint finances, and a shared address.

Can a Spousal or Relative’s Visa holder work in South Africa?

Not automatically. Both visas generally grant the right to reside but not the right to work, study, or run a business. A separate Section 11(6) endorsement, supported by a job offer, study acceptance, or business registration, is required for those activities.

Who counts as “immediate family” for the Relative’s Visa?

The Relative’s Visa generally covers spouses, life partners, parents, and children of a South African citizen or permanent resident, though the exact relationships covered and any permanent residence pathway can differ by relationship type. It’s worth confirming your specific relationship’s eligibility with the DHA or your nearest South African mission.

How long can I stay in South Africa on a Medical Visa?

Duration depends on your treatment plan. Applications for treatment exceeding three months require the medical treatment visa category, and some missions issue it for up to six months at a time, with renewal possible if treatment continues.

Does the Retired Person’s Visa lead to permanent residence?

Not automatically, but it can serve as a pathway. Applicants who continue to meet the income requirement over time may become eligible to apply for permanent residence under South Africa’s financially independent persons category.

Who pays the visa fee for a Relative’s Visa applicant?

Spouses and minor children of South African citizens or permanent residents are typically exempt from the DHA application fee. Other relatives, such as parents or adult children, generally pay the standard fee, which is subject to change, so current amounts should be confirmed directly with the DHA or VFS Global.

Can I bring a companion with me on a Medical Visa?

Yes, in many cases. Anyone accompanying a Medical Visa applicant generally needs to submit their own supporting documents, including a valid passport, financial proof, and police clearance certificates, as part of the same application.