South African Immigration FAQs

Different factors may impact visa application processing time, for example, where you submit, which visa you are applying for and, the number of pending applications.

On average, visa applications submitted to South African missions abroad take between six to twelve weeks to be processed.

Since mid-2025, Lee and Truter Attorneys have observed significant delays in South African visa processing times, with temporary residence applications now taking a minimum of six months. Furthermore, South African visa appeals face extreme backlogs, with waiting periods often exceeding 12 months for a decision from the Department of Home Affairs.

Current processing times suggest that applicants can anticipate a wait of one to two years for a final decision. If your PR application remains pending for over eight months, litigation against the Department of Home Affairs may be a viable option to force a faster response.

There is no formal way to expedite a visa or permanent residence applications and the Department of Home Affairs is often unresponsive to status inquiries. In cases of extended delays, litigation is the most effective legal tool to force a decision on long pending applications.

Spouses or life partners of South African citizens and permanent residents may apply for a visa with an endorsement to work. Similarly, relatives' visas issued to the parents of dependant South African or permanent resident children may also be endorsed for work.

However, accompanying spouses or partners of foreign nationals holding work, business, or study visas are not eligible to work in South Africa.

A retired person’s visa may be endorsed to allow work in limited circumstances.

For example, when you are retained on a consultancy basis by a former employer.

Yes! The Department of Home Affairs has introduced a remote work visa.

You will need to have a contract of employment with a foreign employer and a gross income of at least ZAR R650 796, 00 per annum. The visa may be issued for up to 3 years, and depending on its length, you may have to register as a taxpayer in South Africa.

Yes! You will need to apply for a long-term visitor visa, which may be issued for up to 3 years.

Most importantly, you will need a formal invitation from the organisation where you will be volunteering.

Yes! South Africa offers permanent residence based on financial independence.

You will need to show a net worth of ZAR 12 million and, upon approval, undertake to pay ZAR 120, 000 to the Department of Home Affairs.

A visa based on a life partnership requires a notarised agreement rather than a marriage certificate.

In addition, you will need to show proof of shared financial responsibility for at least two years.

Yes! You may appeal to the Director-General against a negative outcome on your application. If this appeal also results in a negative outcome, you may appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs. Finally, you may consider litigating if you have exhausted all appeal remedies or your application has been unlawfully or unfairly rejected.

Yes! If you have a valid visa in South Africa, you may apply to renew your visa at VFS in South Africa. However, certain visa categories have limitations on the number of renewals.

You have 10 working days from the date you receive the rejection to lodge an appeal via VFS. This is a "hard" deadline; missing it usually requires a brand-new application.

Yes! Most visas allow you to apply for a different visa category from within South Africa.

However, if you have a visitor’s visa, medical treatment visa, or intra-company transfer visa, you may not change your visa category in South Africa. Importantly, this does not apply to spouses (married or life partner) of South African citizens or permanent residents.

While the Department of Home Affairs suggests applying 60 days before your visa expires, Lee and Truter Attorneys recommend submitting your application at least six months in advance.

Most importantly, this helps prevent situations where your current visa expires before a decision is reached, leaving you without a valid visa in South Africa.