Visitor's Visa (Spousal)
South Africa
Last updated: December 30, 2025
2-3 years (renewable)
Unknown
8-12 weeks
Medium
About this Visa
This visa lets you live and work in South Africa if you're married to a South African citizen or permanent resident. You can work, study, and run a business without getting extra permission. It's the best family visa option because you get work rights automatically included. The visa is completely free. No application fee, no hidden costs, nothing. You can apply from any country in the world as long as you meet the marriage or partnership requirements.
Key Benefits
- Work in any job without a work permit
- Study at any school or university
- Start and run your own business
- Bring your dependent children
- Travel in and out of South Africa
- Apply for permanent residence after 5 years of marriage
- Access private healthcare
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be legally married to a South African citizen or permanent resident, or in a recognized life partnership
- Permanent life partnership must have lasted 2+ years if unmarried
- Relationship must be genuine (not fake marriage)
- No serious criminal record
- Must pass basic medical check
- Spouse must have at least ZAR 8,500/month income
Financial Requirement
Your South African spouse must have at least ZAR 8,500/month (~USD 507). You need to show 3 months of bank statements proving this.
Documents
- Valid passportMust be valid for 30+ days after you leave SA
- Passport photos2 photos, 4cm x 4cm, white background
- Medical exam (BI-811)Done by doctor, less than 6 months old
- Police clearanceFrom every country you lived in for more than 1 year since age 18
- Yellow fever vaccinationOnly if you traveled through yellow fever countries
- Marriage certificateIf from another country, must be officially translated to English
- Spouse's bank statementsLast 3 months, stamped by bank
- Support letter from spouseConfirming financial support and accommodation
- Spouse's ID or passportRecent copy
- Spouse's income proofRecent payslips or business registration
- DHA-1738 formCompleted visa application
- Children's birth certificatesIf you have dependent children
- Document authenticationAll foreign documents must be translated to English and certified with apostille stamp
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Please verify all information with official government sources and consult a qualified immigration attorney before making decisions.