FAQ: South African Spousal Visa

Do you and your South African partner need to settle in sunny SA? Then this text concerning the South African spousal visa is for you!

Proceed studying for an in depth have a look at the spousal visa’s necessities and the applying course of.

1. What’s a spousal visa for South Africa?

A spousal visa is a visa that permits overseas nationals to reside with their South African husband or spouse in South Africa. 

It is usually a short lived visa, and it falls beneath the relations’ part of South Africa’s Immigration Act.

The spousal visa is to not be confused with the accompanying partner visa. This visa is for overseas nationwide {couples} the place one accomplice holds a piece visa.

2. For the way lengthy is a spousal visa legitimate?

Dwelling Affairs subject spousal visas for 2 to a few years at a time. You may apply for a spousal visa as quickly as you’re married. When you’ve been married for 5 years, you’ll be able to apply for everlasting residency.

You might also apply for everlasting residency straight away when you’ve already been married for 5 years on the time of your utility.

As a everlasting resident, your residence standing in South Africa is indefinite. With that stated, it’s a must to proceed to meet some standards to take care of PR.

3. What comes first – The wedding or visa?

Shoppers usually ask us whether or not the visa or the wedding comes first. The principle requirement for a spousal visa is proof of a civil marriage union proven utilizing a wedding certificates.

Due to this fact, the visa utility comes after marriage.

No marriage plans but?

You may apply for a South African life accomplice visa when you and your accomplice aren’t married but or don’t have speedy plans to marry.

To use for a life accomplice visa, you’ll should show to Dwelling Affairs that you just’ve been in a relationship for a minimum of two years. You’ll should submit proof within the type of proof of joint cohabitation and shared monetary accountability.

It’s best, although, to debate your state of affairs with an immigration skilled so that you could get readability about the most effective visa route for you as a pair.

4. What are the South African spousal visa necessities?

As talked about above, Dwelling Affairs desires to see that your marriage is a reliable civil union and requires a legitimate marriage certificates as proof. 

It doesn’t should be a South African marriage certificates. Dwelling Affairs settle for marriage certificates from anyplace around the globe – so long as the wedding is registered with the related authorities authorities.

You may talk about the remainder of the necessities with considered one of our immigration consultants.

5. Are you able to submit your spousal visa utility from inside South Africa?

Sure, you could apply for a spousal visa from inside South Africa. Dwelling Affairs made it potential for spouses to vary from customer’s visas to spousal visas in 2019. 

6. Can you’re employed on a spousal visa in South Africa?

Sure, you’ll be able to. The spousal visa for South Africa could be very versatile! It means that you can work, research or begin a enterprise whereas dwelling in South Africa. Nonetheless, you would need to add an endorsement to the visa.

There are three choices out there when it comes to endorsements:

• Work endorsement: You’ll want a job supply
• Enterprise endorsement: You need to have proof of a registered enterprise in South Africa. Alternatively, you’ll be able to function as a sole proprietor.
• Research endorsement: You need to show that you’ve provisional acceptance into an academic establishment inside South Africa.

You may learn extra about endorsements on our weblog.

7. How lengthy does Dwelling Affairs take to course of spousal visas?

While you submit your spousal visa utility inside South Africa, you’ll be able to count on an 8 to 12 weeks anticipate an final result. When you submit your utility overseas, you’ll solely have to attend 4 to six weeks as a result of the Embassies have decrease volumes of purposes.

Relating to everlasting residency, the wait is for much longer! It pains us to say that the Division of Dwelling Affairs presently takes round two to 4 years to course of PR purposes.

It’s vital to notice that you should maintain your momentary residency visa legitimate always when you’re ready on the end result of your everlasting residence.

8. What occurs if the wedding ends?

Dwelling Affairs grants spousal visas based mostly on the truth that a legitimate marriage exists. Your marriage should thus proceed to remain authorized and legitimate so that you can retain your spousal visa.

Within the eyes of Dwelling Affairs, when the wedding ends, the visa is deemed null and void.

The identical is true if the wedding ends throughout the first two years of receiving everlasting residency. There’s a situation to your PR standing that it’s a must to show {that a} good-faith marriage nonetheless exists two years from the date of issuance.

Get began with an utility for a spousal visa for South Africa

Get the ball rolling right away when you can’t wait to hitch your partner in South Africa!

Step one is doing an immigration evaluation. Ours takes solely a few minutes, is freed from cost, and you are able to do it on-line.

As soon as we’ve obtained your particulars, considered one of our consultants will contact you to debate your eligibility and one of the best ways ahead.