Our team recently had someone ask us, “How do I join my children in South Africa?”
The person’s daughter is a South African permanent resident, and their son-in-law is a South African citizen.
It’s guaranteed that there are more people in this position, so we’ll explain how to join your adult children in South Africa.
1. You could apply for a relative visa
Here’s the good news – parents of South African citizens and permanent residents can apply for South African temporary residency.
You’ll apply for a relative visa based on your relationship with your South African child. You must submit your application at an embassy or consulate abroad, as you can’t apply for this visa from within South Africa.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you can expect to wait between six to eight weeks on an outcome. However, this timeframe is not guaranteed, and you could also wait longer.
You can’t work on your relative visa
As a relative visa holder, you can’t work in South Africa.
You can’t study or run a business, either. The South African Immigration Act only allows you to reside in South Africa.
If you must work or you want to study or operate a business, you’ll have to see if you qualify for a visa that allows you to do so.
You could also apply for permanent residence (PR) on the relative visa, which’ll allow you to take up any of these three activities in South Africa.
Your child must sponsor you financially
The Immigration Act stipulates that your child must sponsor your stay in South Africa. The required amount is R8,500 per person per month:
- R8,500 available for the sponsoring child
- R8,500 for the main visa applicant
That means your child must demonstrate a net income of more than R17,000 per month.
Your spouse or life partner can apply for an accompanying spouse
Your spouse or life partner can apply for an accompanying spouse visa to also come to South Africa. In this case, your child must sponsor both parents. The amount for the accompanying spouse is less than for the main applicant:
- R8,500 available for the sponsoring child
- R8,500 for the main visa applicant
- R3,000 for the accompanying spouse applicant
That means your child must demonstrate a net income of more than R20,000 per month to sponsor both parents.
You can renew your visa
The maximum possible duration of relative visas is two years, but the Immigration Act allows you to renew your visa if you want to extend your stay in South Africa.
Just be sure to renew your visa in time. Home Affairs requires applicants to submit applications at least 60 days before their visa’s expiry date.
You can also apply for permanent residence if you meet the requirements
Parents of South Africans can apply for permanent residence as first-kin relatives.
South Africa’s Immigration Act only allows first-kin relatives, i.e. parents, spouses, life partners, and children, to apply for PR through the relative visa category.
Your child will still need to sponsor you financially, and sponsoring amounts are the same as for temporary residence.
The huge advantage of PR is that it does not expire – it’s valid indefinitely. You don’t have to renew it. You’ll also be free to work, study or run a business.
2. Or you could apply for a retired visa
Your child might be unable to sponsor you, meaning you must consider other visa options.
The retired visa could be a great alternative. This visa is for anyone who wants to spend their retirement years in South Africa.
The retired visa is valid for up to four years!
The retired visa has one big advantage over the relative visa – it’s valid for up to four years. The relative visa is only valid for a maximum of two years.
You must meet the financial requirements to apply
The retired visa also has a financial requirement, but the applicant must meet it themselves.
In short, retired visa applicants must have retirement income of more than R37,000 for each month their retired visa is valid. If your spouse or life partner wants to join you, the required amount becomes R40,000 monthly.
To apply for permanent residence, you’ll have to show a lifelong retirement income of more than R37,000 per month, or a life-long income of R40,000 per month if your spouse or life partner is accompanying you.
3. Can’t prove a monthly income? Consider the financially independent permit
There is one more visa you can consider – the financially independent permit.
You don’t need to prove a monthly income to apply for this permit. Instead, you must have a net worth of R12 million or more. That’s a net worth of USD 637 481, GBP 524 019 or EUR 605 278 at the current exchange rate.
You’ll also have to pay a fee of R120,000 to Home Affairs if your application is successful.
You’ll get PR immediately
The financially independent permit grants permanent residence to successful applicants immediately.
The downside is that PR applications take between four and six years to finalise at the moment, as mentioned earlier.
However, if you’re not in a rush and you or your child can’t meet the financial requirements of the retired or relative visas, the wait might be worth it.
In summary
You can join your children in South Africa by applying for a relative visa. This visa grants temporary and permanent residency to the first-kin relatives of South African citizens and permanent residents.
However, if your child can’t meet the financial requirements to sponsor you, you could apply for South African retired visa instead. You’ll have to show that you have R37,000 for each month your retired visa is valid, or R40,000 per month if your spouse or life partner joins you.
If that’s impossible, your other alternative is the financially independent permit. You must show a net worth of R12 million or more to apply for this permit.
Please feel free to contact us to discuss these visas and find out for which one you qualify.
Our immigration assessment is the best place to start – click here to take it.
This assessment is free and non-obligatory, and it’ll enable our consultants to see for which visa you qualify. You’ll hear from us within 24 hours!
