South Africa permanent residence permit

Direct residence applies to a foreigner who has held a work visa for five years and has an offer of permanent employment; who has been the spouse of a citizen or permanent resident for five years in a good-faith spousal relationship; who is a child under 18 of a citizen or permanent resident; or who is a child of a citizen.

Section 27 covers a permanent work offer in South Africa, critical skills and qualifications, establishing or owning a business, refugees qualifying under section 27(c) of the Refugees Act, retired persons, financially independent persons, and relatives (biological or adopted) of a citizen or permanent resident. Each category has additional documents listed on form BI-947.

With form BI-947 you submit the fee, your birth certificate, biometrics for applicants over 16, a yellow fever certificate if relevant, police clearance from each country where you lived 12 months or longer during the five years before applying after turning 18, marital-status documents, a deed poll if you changed your name, and, if applying in South Africa, a valid passport and temporary visa. Documents must be originals or apostilled copies with sworn translations. The medical report was waived for permanent residence applications on 8 July 2026.

An application made abroad is submitted to the South African mission in your country of usual residence (country of origin, permanent residence or long-term temporary residence). Inside South Africa, applications go through VFS Global. Anyone considered a prohibited or undesirable person must first make a representation to the Minister before applying.