MORE ABOUT South Africa

South Africa's Independent Means Visas

Visa program for retirees with stable income seeking residence in South Africa.

MOBILITY ASSSET SNAPSHOT

Discover South Africa - Independent Means Visas

Live your retirement years in South Africa's diverse landscapes from coastal havens to safari country

South Africa
Mobility Asset Index Score
74.30%
Mobilità Tipo di risorsa
Visti di Mezzi Indipendenti
Official Name
Retired Person’s Visa
Launched in:
2002
Online Submission:
No
Residency Privileges
(in months)
4
Adjudication Time
(in months)
2
Minimum Stay Requirement
(in days)
183
In-Country Presence Requirement
(in months)
12

Panoramica

A Snapshot of South Africa - Independent Means Visas

A retirement visa for individuals with independent means to live in South Africa's diverse landscape

Requisiti di idoneità

Individuals with sufficient passive income or foreign financial resources.

Restrizioni degli antenati di ancoraggio

Mesi alla cittadinanza

Durata del visto

4 year visa

Mesi al visto

2 months

Requisito della presenza fisica

Must live in the country for at least 183 per year

Disponibilità

In-person application

Assegno familiare

Coniuge e figli

Panoramica

How to Apply for South Africa - Independent Means Visas

Submit application through VFS Global service center + Complete medical examination and police clearance

Panoramica

Discover How GlobalPassport Simplifies the Application Process for South Africa's Independent Means Visas

Guida passo dopo passo

Il nostro team di esperti vi guiderà in ogni fase del processo di candidatura, offrendovi un'assistenza personalizzata e adatta alle vostre esigenze.

Preparazione del documento

Vi aiuteremo a raccogliere e organizzare i documenti necessari per fare domanda.

Presentazione della domanda

Una volta pronti i documenti, vi comunicheremo dove e come presentare la domanda alle autorità competenti.

Domande?

FAQ's

Find answers to common questions about GlobalPassport™ and our services.

What is the minimum income requirement?

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Can I work in South Africa?

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How often must I renew the visa?

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Is there a physical presence requirement?

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Can my spouse join me?

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benefits

Benefits South Africa - Independent Means Visas

  • Access to high-quality private healthcare system and established retirement communities
  • No age restrictions and indefinitely renewable visa with clear path to permanent residence
  • Freedom to own property and access local financial system
  • Low monthly income requirement
  • Long term program (compared to other Independent Means Visas)
  • Very fast processing time

Access to high-quality private healthcare system and established retirement communities

No age restrictions and indefinitely renewable visa with clear path to permanent residence

Freedom to own property and access local financial system

Low monthly income requirement

Long term program (compared to other Independent Means Visas)

Very fast processing time

Paesi in cui si viaggia senza visto

96

Passport Validity

10 years, 5 for children

Panoramica

Domande?

FAQ's

Find answers to common questions about GlobalPassport™ and our services.

What is the minimum income requirement?

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Can I work in South Africa?

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How often must I renew the visa?

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Is there a physical presence requirement?

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Can my spouse join me?

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REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for South Africa - Independent Means Visas

Check if you qualify based on your family history

Direct Ancestral Connection

Not applicable

Documentation

Minimum Income or Savings: Pensions, Investments, Rental income+Regular Income Stream: Monthly pension payments, Annuities, Proof of Financial Independence

Unbroken Chain of Citizenship

Not applicable

Legal Compliance

Criminal Record: A clean criminal record is required

REQUIREMENTS

Requirements South Africa - Independent Means Visas

  • Minimum Income or Savings: Pensions, Investments, Rental income+Regular Income Stream: Monthly pension payments, Annuities, Proof of Financial Independence
  • Criminal Record: A clean criminal record is required
  • Proof of financial means in the form of a pension with a minimum value of R37,000 ($2,085 as of 2024) per month or an irrevocable retirement annuity or retirement account to the equivalent amount, or a net worth providing an income of at least R37,000 per month
  • Tax Obligations: Residents staying more than 183 days per year will be considered tax residents+Personal Income Tax: 18%-45%

PROCESS

Independent Means Visas Process

#1

Initial Assessment

• Verify passive income sources

• Confirm income thresholds

• Review healthcare requirements

• Complete financial documentation

#2

Selection Phase

• Choose destination country

• Review residency requirements

• Assess tax implications

• Select optimal visa category

#3

Application Preparation

• Gather proof of income

• Obtain health insurance

• Prepare bank statements

• Complete background verification

#4

Submission

• Submit residency application

• Pay visa fees

• Schedule interview (if required)

• Provide biometric data

#5

Residency Setup

• Receive residency permit

• Register with local authorities

• Set up banking/utilities

• Complete residency registration

Start now by taking our free assessment

START ASSESSMENT

PROCESS

Timeline for South Africa - Independent Means Visas

DOCUMENTS

Documents Needed for South Africa - Independent Means Visas

Important Notes
• All documents must be original or certified copies
• Non-English documents require certified translations
• Documents must be apostilled where applicable
Personal Identification Documents
Core identity documents required from the applicantis is some text inside of a div block.

Passport+Two passport photos with white or light background

Documenti dei registri vitali
Birth, marriage, and death certificates from applicant and ancestors

Marriage certificate and birth certificates of dependents (if applicable)

Proof of Residence Documents
Evidence of current residence status

Proof of hotel accommodation (confirmed hotel reservation) or a letter of invitation from the host with proof of address (relative or friend) in South Africa

Criminal Clearance Documents
Background check documentation

Original FBI certificate (full criminal background check report) and original police clearance certificate from each country where the relevant applicant resided for 12 months or longer after attaining the age of 18 years (for the last 5 years) in respect of criminal records or the character of that applicant, which certificate shall not be older than six months at the time of its submission

Financial Documents
Proof of payment and financial requirements

Applicants must provide documentation proving they have sufficient financial means to support themselves in South Africa

DOCUMENTS

Costs Associated with South Africa - Independent Means Visas

Pre-Application Costs
Essential document preparation and verification costs

Birth certificates from government archives; Marriage certificates for family dependencies; Police clearance records from current and past residences

Certified translations into official language(s); Apostille certification; Government-issued document legalization

Diploma and transcript verification; Professional certification authentication; Credential evaluation services

Government Application Fees
Official fees charged by government authorities

Initial application submission fee; Processing and handling charges; Administrative review fees

$80

Fingerprint collection fee; Digital photograph requirements; Biometric data processing

Required medical examinations; Vaccination verification; Health certificate processing

Post-Submission Costs
Costs after submitting your application

Document verification fees; Background check processing; Application status updates

Consulate visit expenses; Interview travel costs; Temporary accommodation (if required)

Language proficiency testing; Skills assessment fees; Additional document requests

Professional Services
Optional external support services

Immigration lawyer consultation; Document review services; Legal representation fees

Tax planning consultation; Asset transfer advisory; Investment planning services

Relocation services; Property search assistance; Settlement support services

Post-Acceptance Costs
Costs after approval

Residency card processing; Passport issuance fees; Registration certificates

Oath ceremony fees; Registration charges; Local authority fees

Renewal fees; Status maintenance costs; Annual reporting fees

Rankings

GlobalPassport™ Mobility Asset Index

25

Classifica generale

Cost

Based on application fee

Residency Requirements

Based on residency requirements

Residency Privileges Length

Based on programs’s term

Processing Speed

Based on estimated processing time

Requisiti di idoneità

Based on entry requirements

Program Stability

Based on years of activity

Time to Permanent Residency

Based on permanent residency timeline

Rankings

Global Rankings/ Comparisions

Safety

South Africa

142

Costo della vita

South Africa

78

Quality of Life

South Africa

57

Healthcare Quality

South Africa

125

Internet Speed

South Africa

98

Human Freedom

South Africa

73

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CONSIGLI E TUTORIAL

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