Temporary Residency Visa South Africa

Types of Temporary Visa

Where can I apply for a Temporary Residency Visa?

Temporary residency visa in South Africa are applied for through a Department of Home Affairs service point. The obtaining of a temporary visa is the normal way that an immigrant will enter South Africa and obtain their first visa to allow them to reside in South Africa and carry out an activity or retire. This is due to the fact that permanent residency takes anywhere between 12 and 30 months to obtain (in some cases longer).

Intergate Immigration Service, South Africa largest independent immigration practitioner; offers a complete advice, preparation and submission service for prospective immigrants wherever they may be based in the world.

Learn more about Intergate Immigrations comprehensive immigration services here

Types of Temporary Residency Visa – Periods Issued For:

Temporary residency visa are issued for a period of time of between 12 and 48 months depending on what type of temporary visa is applied for.

Temporary business visa – issued for time periods that range from a 12 month period to the expiry date of the applicant’s passport.
Temporary work visa – typically issued for a two year period of time but this does depend upon the period the offer of employment is made for.
Temporary retired persons visa – these visa are issued in accordance with the prospective immigrant’s financial situation but are for a maximum of 4 years.
Temporary study visa – normally issued for the period of the study course.
Temporary spousal visa – issued for a three year period of time.
Temporary life partner visa – issued for a three year period of time.
Temporary relative visa – typically issued for between 2 and 4 years.
Temporary financially independent visa – applicants under this category are able to apply immediately for permanent residency, in the event that this process is not quick enough an application for temporary residency can be made under the retired persons visa.

For more information about particular temporary visa please just click on the name of the visa above.

What happens when a Temporary Visa expires?

Many prospective immigrants are concerned about immigrating to South Africa with a temporary visa and fear what happens at the expiry date.

In the first instance, it is possible in most cases, for the individual to apply for permanent residency at the same time they apply for temporary residency. The Department of Home Affairs currently has a backlog of permanent residency applications and therefore the processing of these can take anywhere between 12 and 30 months. However, in many cases the permanent residency will be issued before the temporary residency expires, therefore negating the issue of an expired temporary visa.

In the event that permanent residency cannot be applied for by the individual or it has not been issued by the Department of Home Affairs prior to the temporary visa expiring, then a renewal needs to be applied for.

What must I do to obtain a Renewal or Extension to my Temporary Visa?

Renewing a temporary visa is in most cases a relatively simple exercise. Depending upon the type of temporary visa you hold different criteria will apply.

For example:

In the case of renewing or extending a temporary business visa the application to the Department Of Home Affairs will need to demonstrate the capital and number of employees, which were specified in the original business plan, has been adhered to and that the business is making, or on track to, make profit. The importance therefore of the original application and its accompanying business plan is of paramount importance.

Extending/renewing a temporary retired persons visa is a financial consideration in the main. The holder of the existing temporary retired persons visa needs to demonstrate they have sufficient finances to support themselves (as per Home Affairs regulations) for the period they are applying to extend/renew by.

Spousal and life partner visa are dependent on the relationship still being in place and satisfactorily proving that this is the case.

For information on obtaining permanent residency please see here.