Considering immigrating to and settling in South Africa? Here's information on immigration categories, requirements and application procedures, and the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Please take note: This information is meant to serve as a guide only. Requirements for studying in South Africa are subject to change, and each application is treated as an individual case. Always make inquiries before travelling to South Africa.

Where can I make inquiries about immigration/permanent residence?
You should make inquiries at your nearest Department of Home Affairs office if you're in South Africa, at your nearest SA Embassy, High Commission or Consulate if you're abroad contact:

Department of Home Affairs
Chief Directorate: Immigration Services
Postal address:
Private Bag X114
Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Physical address:
Civitas Building
242 Struben Street
Pretoria
Telephone: +27(0)12 314 8011
Fax: +27(0)12 325 3351

It will also be worth reading the Immigrations Act, 2002. You can call the department's hotlines for inquiries about the Act.

Info & inquiries on the Internet
General information on immigration/permanent residence
Information on immigration/permanent residence by category
Online questions and comments feedback form (select "Directorate: Permanent Residence").
Access/download the relevant application forms online (PDF files requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader, free download available)

Protecting & creating job opportunities
South Africa has a vast reserve of unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Generally, a prospective immigrant to South Africa should not follow an occupation for which there are already sufficient people available to meet the country's needs. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers, in particular, will not usually be accepted as immigrant workers in South Africa.

Conversely, immigrants who are in a position to contribute to the broadening of South Africa's economic base will be welcomed. Applications by skilled workers in occupations for which there is a shortage in the country are encouraged - particularly applications by industrialists and other entrepreneurs who wish to relocate their existing businesses or establish new concerns in South Africa.

Commitment to the country
Because of the need to create job opportunities for South African workers, prospective immigrants should be seriously committed to investing their assets, skills and experience for the benefit of themselves and the people of South Africa.

Basic requirements
All applications for permanent residence are considered individually on merit by an autonomous statutory body, the Immigrants Selection Board. If you wish to immigrate permanently to South Africa, you should:

Be of good character.
Be a desirable inhabitant.
Not be likely to be harmful to the welfare of the country.
Not follow an occupation in which there are already sufficient people available to meet the country's needs.

Where to apply for immigration
In general, you should apply for immigration to South Africa while in your country of residence, and await the outcome of your application before proceeding to South Africa. In this case, you should apply at your nearest SA office abroad However, you may apply for immigration while in South Africa - at your nearest Home Affairs office - if:

You are in the country on a valid work permit; or
You are married to, or the child of, a South African citizen or permanent resident, and are in South Africa on a valid temporary residence permit; or
You are being sponsored for immigration purposes by a blood family member who is permanently and lawfully resident in South Africa (see "sponsored persons" under "categories of immigration" above), and are in South Africa on a valid temporary residence permit; or
You have been exempted from the requirement to hold a temporary residence permit.

Special arrangements for Chinese citizens
If you're a citizen of the People's Republic of China, and you wish to come to South Africa for business negotiations, feasibility studies, to establish a business, or to take up employment with a South African company which has been financed with foreign capital from Mainland China, you should first approach the Chinese Ministry of Trade and Economic Co-operation. Only after the approval of the Ministry has been obtained and the relevant applications have been lodged with the South African Embassy in Beijing, will the Immigrants Selection Board be able to consider your admission to South Africa.

Source: www.southafrica.info