Permanent residence

A Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) in South Africa allows foreign nationals to live, work, study, and conduct business in the country indefinitely. While permanent residents enjoy nearly all the rights and privileges of South African citizens—including eligibility for a non-citizen South African ID document—they do not possess voting rights or a South African passport.

Applications are processed by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and fall under two main legislative sections of the Immigration Act: Section 26 (Direct Residence) and Section 27 (Residence on Other Grounds).

REQUIREMENTS: (all forms to be completed in black ink)
• NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE (IF APPLICABLE) IN THE FORM
OF MONEY ORDER / CASHIERS CHECK $127.00
• COMPLETED DHA-947 SIGNED BY APPLICANT.
• TWO PASSPORT PHOTOS.
• CERTIFIED/NOTARIZED COPY BIO PAGE OF PASSPORT.
• CERTIFIED COPY OF VALID PROOF OF RESIDENCE IN US (Green
Card/H1 B/ J1/ L1 etc) (Proof of residence must be valid for duration of
stay in South Africa) (B1/B2 US VISA HOLDERS NOT ELIGIBLE TO
APPLY – MUST APPLY IN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN).
• PROOF OF TENTATIVE TRAVEL ITINERARY OF ROUND-TRIP AIR
TICKETS. DO NOT PURCHASE AIR TICKETS PRIOR TO OBTIANING
SOUTH AFRICAN VISA.
• PROOF OF FINANCIAL MEANS IN THE FORM OF THREE (3) MONTHS OF
THE MOST RECENT BANK STATEMENTS, STAMPED BY THE BANKING
INSTITUTION (NO NOTARY STAMPS) OR WRITTEN CONFIRMATION
FROM BANKING INSTITUTION-ONLINE BANKS.
• PROOF OF TENTATIVE ACCOMMODATION.
• IF HOSTED BY SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZEN OR PERMENANT RESIDENT:
LETTER OF INVITATION, COPY OF CERTIFIED RSA ID DOCUMENT,
PROOF OF RESIDENCE OF HOST (UTILITY BILL).
• IF HOSTED BY NON-SOUTH AFRICAN: LETTER OF INVITATION, COPY
OF CERTIFIED VALID BIO PAGE OF PASSPORT AND VISA, PROOF OF
RESIDENCE OF HOST (UTILITY BILL).
• YELLOW FEVER CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED FOR APPLICANTS
TRAVELING THROUGH YELLOW FEVER BELT AREAS EN ROUTE TO
SOUTH AFRICA.
• MEDICAL REPORT ON PRESCRIBED FORM – DHA-811 (PHYSICAL). 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 (FOR THE
LAST 5 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.

Applications are assessed individually and time frames may vary, therefore you are kindly requested to wait until a decision on your application is taken and is ready for collection, as VFS Global cannot control or influence the processing times in any way.

Visa fees