South African Permanent Residence Permits

Applications for South African Permanent Residence Permits are governed in terms of Section 26 and 27 of the Immigration Act (Act 13 of 2002) read together with Regulation 33 of the Immigration Regulations.

Applicants for South African Permanent Residence Permits are required to submit form, DHA-947, which contains a list of all the supporting documents required. Applicants are advised to ensure that all the supporting documents are submitted with the application form, failure which may result in the application being refused.

In addition to completing the application Form DHA-947, you must also provide the following documentation:

• A full set of fingerprints
• A marriage certificate / Proof of spousal relationship, if applicable
• A divorce decree / proof of legal separation, if applicable
• Proof of custody of a minor, if applicable
• A death certificate for a late spouse, if applicable
• The consent of parents in the case of minors
• Proof of judicial adoption of a minor, if applicable
• Police clearance certificates for all countries in which you resided for a period of one year or longer since your 18th birthday
• A valid temporary residency permit (if already in South Africa).

You may be considered a prohibited person if:

• You are infected with an infectious disease – cholera; pestilence, yellow fever and any other disease as determined by the South African Department of Health from time to time;
• You have a warrant of arrest against you or a conviction for genocide, torture, drug trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping, terrorism, or murder secured in South Africa or any country with which South Africa has regular diplomatic relations;
• You are a member or supporter of an organisation practising racial hatred or social violence;
• You are a member of an organisation using crime or terrorism to reach its goals;
• You have previously been deported and have not been rehabilitated by the Department in the prescribed manner.

You may be deemed to be an undesirable person if:

• you are or are likely to become a public charge;
• you are identified by the Minister (after consultation with the Immigration Advisory Board) as undesirable or you have been judicially declared incompetent;
• you are an un-rehabilitated insolvent;
• you are a fugitive from justice;
• you have a previous criminal conviction without the option of a fine for conduct which would be an offence in South Africa (with the exclusion of certain prescribed offences).

You may be deemed to be rehabilitated if:

• you submit a sworn affidavit or solemn declaration that you will comply with the Act;
• the Department has no reason to believe that you are inclined to violate the Act again;
• you have not been inside the Republic of South Africa for a period of 4 years or more;
• alternatively, you may be deemed to be rehabilitated by a forfeiture to the State of R50 000 (which may be reduced to R2000 if you paid for the cost of your deportation as well as the related costs).

For assistance with your South African Permanent Residence Permit contact Arlene Duval & Associates, your friendly South African Immigration Attorneys.