South Africa Visa
Welcome to the World’s leading specialists on South African immigration.
Our expert group of qualified immigration consultants are on hand to provide you with your FREE South African Immigration consultation today.
We aim to secure you the South African visa most suited to your needs in the swiftest and most prompt fashion. Our offices in Canada, South Africa and across the world mean we are the first choice for South African immigration matters.
Start Your Free Visa Assessment
As specialists in South African immigration, Global Visas offers everything from short term visit visas through to specialist study visas and work permits for those who wish to live and work in South Africa. To find out whether you qualify for a South African visa visit the online assessment area today.
South African Visitor Visas and Medical Visas
South Africa visa options include temporary residence permits for those entering the country as tourists, to visit family and friends or to undergo medical treatment. As short stay visas, visitor permits and medical permits do not allow their holders to work in South Africa (although short-term study is permitted). For specific groups of people relocating to South Africa for research or charity work, South Africa also offers the extended visitor visa which is granted for up to three years.
Visas for Studying in South Africa
South African study permits are granted to those individuals who have a letter of confirmation from a legitimate South African educational institution which offers them a place on a course of study. A South African study visa is granted for the duration of the course being undertaken and although it does not permit the candidate to live and work in South Africa on a permanent basis or to apply for permanent residency, limited work may be permitted in part time positions and the spouse and/or dependents of an applicant may join them in South Africa for the duration of the study permit.
Visas for Working in South Africa – South African Work Permits
A South African work permit requires an applicant to have a definite offer of full time employment from a South Africa-based company and permits the holder to begin living and working in South Africa for this specific company in a pre-arranged position. Work permit applications are employer-led and the offer of a job is the key prerequisite for a successful application. Although a South African work permit is not issued as a permanent residence permit, it may offer the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after five years, ultimately leading to the possibility of naturalising as a South African citizen.
Visas for Family Immigration Services – The Life Partner Permit and Relatives Permit
Existing South African citizens and permanent residents may sponsor their spouse or life partner to immigrate to South Africa on a permanent basis. Other categories of relative may also be sponsored through a temporary or permanent relatives permit, depending on their relationship to their sponsor.
Visas for Retirement in South Africa
An increasingly popular South African immigration route is the retirement permit which allows a person of any age to retire in South Africa based on their access to a pension or other fund which amounts to 20,000 Rand or more per month. Candidates may choose whether to live in South Africa continuously or seasonally and may apply for a South African retirement visa as a temporary residence permit, granted for four years at a time, or as a permanent immigration service.
Living in South Africa – Temporary or Permanent Residence?
A key feature of South African immigration services and visas is that many routes offer both a temporary and permanent option. In some cases the eligibility for each depends upon specific criteria, for example life partner visa applicants whose immigration to South Africa depends upon their marriage to a South African citizen must demonstrate that their marriage has existed for 2 years when making a application for a temporary permit, but the requirement for a permanent visa is 5 years. However, in some cases, such as the retirement visa the choice is left to the applicant. As a rule, temporary permits are much quicker to process, but permanent permits offer more rights and privileges to the holder.
You can begin your application for a South African visa, or find out whether you qualify for a new life in South Africa today by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area. Just take a moment to complete one of our assessment forms and one of our highly qualified South African immigration consultants will contact you.
