South Africa Relatives Visa

The relative's visa, under section 18 of the Immigration Act, lets immediate family members of South African citizens or permanent residents live in South Africa for longer than a visit (Immigration Act).

• Status: active
• Financial support: ZAR 8,500 per person per month, shown by the sponsor
• Length: up to 24 months at a time
• DHA fee: ZAR 425, not charged to spouses and minor children
• Work allowed: No

The South Africa guide compares it with the other long-stay routes.

• Relationship: a member of the immediate family of a South African citizen or permanent resident, such as a spouse, life partner, child or parent (South African High Commission, Canberra).
• Life partners: the Canberra mission asks for a notarial agreement showing a relationship of at least two years.
• Financial assurance: ZAR 8,500 per person per month, proven with a current certified bank statement. It applies to a South African citizen or permanent resident sponsor and isn't required where the sponsor is a dependent child.
• Checks: police clearances and a medical certificate.

Holders may not work. Spouses of citizens or residents who want to work use a section 11(6) visitor's visa instead (VFS).

The High Commission in Canberra lists these documents; other missions publish their own versions:

1. Form DHA-1738, completed and signed in black ink.
2. A passport valid for at least 30 days after the end of the intended stay, with three blank pages.
3. Two photos.
4. A marriage certificate, or an affidavit or notarial agreement for life partners.
5. Proof of the sponsor's South African citizenship or permanent residence.
6. A current certified bank statement showing ZAR 8,500 per person per month.
7. Police clearance certificates from each country where the applicant lived for 12 months or more in the last five years.
8. A medical certificate.
9. The fee, where it applies.

• DHA fee: ZAR 425 (VFS).
• Who pays: ZAR 425 applies to relatives other than a spouse or minor child; spouses and minor children pay no DHA fee.
• Missions abroad: the fee is charged in local currency. Canberra, for example, waives it for spouses and dependent minor children (Canberra).
• VFS service fee: a private charge on applications lodged through VFS.

Other costs: police certificates, the medical certificate and certified copies.

1. Prepare the documents the mission or VFS lists.
2. Apply in person at the South African mission for the applicant's area, or through a VFS Global center inside South Africa.
3. Pay the fee if it applies.
4. Wait for the decision. No official processing time is published for this visa.

Extensions follow the renewal rule below.

• Length: up to 24 months at a time, set by the financial assurance provided.
• Renewal: Can be extended in South Africa; extension applications go to a VFS center at least 60 days before the visa expires.
• Permanent residence: Relatives within the first step of kinship of a citizen or permanent resident can apply for permanent residence under section 27(g); spouses qualify under section 26(b) after five years of marriage.

The relative's visa has no tax rule of its own, and holders may not work in South Africa.

Tax residence follows the Income Tax Act, not the visa. People ordinarily resident in South Africa are tax resident whatever their day count. Everyone else becomes resident under the physical presence test: more than 91 days in the current tax year and in each of the five previous tax years, plus more than 915 days in total over those five years (SARS Interpretation Note 4).

Residents are taxed on worldwide income, subject to certain exclusions; non-residents are taxed only on income from a South African source. The tax year starts March 1.

A relative who receives a foreign pension or other income from abroad should check any tax treaty between South Africa and that country.