South Africa · Business / Startup
South Africa PR · Business
Investment needed: ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k
Permanent residence on business grounds (Immigration Act s27(c))
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
PR · Business is a business / startup route for South Africa. Applicants need an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Money needed
- ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k
- Government fees
- ZAR 1,520 ≈ $92
- Processing
- 8 months
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee ZAR 1,520 ≈ $92; investment ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k; decision: 8 months. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesZAR 1,520 ≈ $92
- ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92)Permanent residence permit fee.
Invested and heldZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k
- ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000)Cash originating from outside South Africa, invested in a business to be established or an existing business; any capital contribution must be new machinery or equipment (Gazette notice 560 of 15 July 2014). The Director-General may waive or reduce it for national-interest businesses; the holder must prove within two years and again after three years that it is still invested.
Permanent residenceConditions
This route grants permanent residence directly under section 27(c), based on the prescribed investment in a business.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years
After permanent residence you can apply for naturalisation once you have five continuous years of ordinary residence and have not been absent from South Africa for more than 90 days in any year of that period.
Government of South AfricaDepartment of Home Affairs, South Africa
Processing8 months
Home Affairs turnaround time: 8 months. Working days only; this applies to applications submitted inside South Africa and processed at Home Affairs head office.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply in person on the permanent residence form, either at the South African mission abroad for your country of usual residence or inside South Africa while you hold a valid temporary visa.
Presence rulesAbsence limits
The permit lapses if you cannot prove within two years of issue, and again three years later, that the required investment is still in place. Permanent residence can be withdrawn if you are absent from South Africa for more than three years (the Director-General can extend this on application) or do not take up residence within one year of the permit being issued.
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant intends to establish, or has, a business in South Africa (section 27(c), Regulation 24(4)).
- An established business shows proof that at least 60 percent of staff are citizens or permanent residents.
- A new business undertakes that at least 60 percent of its staff are citizens or permanent residents, with proof due within 12 months.
What you must show2
- Cash of ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000) from outside South Africa, or a capital contribution of new machinery or equipment, must be invested.
- The permanent residence permit fee is ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92).
Documents1
- A business plan and an undertaking to register with SARS.
Steps1
- Apply on form BI-947 with a police clearance certificate and a medical report.
When you become tax resident
How South Africa decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 91 days in a tax year and each of the 5 preceding tax yearsPhysical presence test: more than 91 days in the current year and in each of the five preceding years.
- More than 915 days in 5 tax years preceding the current yearPhysical presence test: more than 915 days in total over the five preceding years.
- At least 330 days in a continuous period outside South AfricaA physical-presence resident outside the country for at least 330 continuous full days ceases to be resident from the day of departure.
- Foreign-source income
South African tax residents, whether ordinarily resident or meeting the physical presence test, are taxed on worldwide income at 18% to 45% for the 2027 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027); non-residents are taxed only on South African-source income.
All tax rules for South Africa Tax records checked
Full official text
Permanent residence for a foreigner who intends to establish or has established a business in South Africa. 1 2 3 4 5
What you must show and pay
- An investment of at least ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000) · Cash originating from outside South Africa, invested in a business to be established or an existing business; any capital contribution must be new machinery or equipment (Gazette notice 560 of 15 July 2014). The Director-General may waive or reduce it for national-interest businesses; the holder must prove within two years and again after three years that it is still invested. 4 6
- A fee of ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92) · Permanent residence permit fee. 3
Requirements
- The applicant intends to establish, or has, a business in South Africa (section 27(c), Regulation 24(4)). 5
- An established business shows proof that at least 60 percent of staff are citizens or permanent residents. 2
- A new business undertakes that at least 60 percent of its staff are citizens or permanent residents, with proof due within 12 months. 2
- Cash of ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000) from outside South Africa, or a capital contribution of new machinery or equipment, must be invested. 4
- The permanent residence permit fee is ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92). 3
- A business plan and an undertaking to register with SARS. 2
- Apply on form BI-947 with a police clearance certificate and a medical report. 5
Stay
- Permanent residence.
Work
Full work rights as a permanent resident.
Family
The permit extends to the holder's immediate family members.
Official sources
- Permanent Residency · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- Immigration Regulations (updated to 2018) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
- Regulation Gazette 55209: First amendment of the regulations on fees (Immigration Act) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-08-17
- Notice 560: Financial or capital contribution for business in respect of business visa and permanent residence permit · Department of Home Affairs, Government Gazette No. 37837 (15 July 2014) · checked 2026-10-11
- Permanent Residency (categories, form BI-947, documents) · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (consolidated to 2014) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- South African Citizenship Amendment Act 17 of 2010 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- Regulations on the South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Government Notice 1122 of 2012) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- Turnaround times for visa and permit related services · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
PR · Business and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR · Business | Needs an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k | – | Yes |
| Business visa | Needs an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Self-employed card Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Innovator Occupation Permit Mauritius | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| Freelancer residence Cabo Verde | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the PR · Business?
An investment of at least ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000). Cash originating from outside South Africa, invested in a business to be established or an existing business; any capital contribution must be new machinery or equipment (Gazette notice 560 of 15 July 2014). A fee of ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92). Permanent residence permit fee.
How long can I stay on the PR · Business?
Permanent residence.
How long does the PR · Business take to process?
Home Affairs turnaround time: 8 months.
Can I work on the PR · Business?
Yes. Full work rights as a permanent resident.
Can I bring my family on the PR · Business?
The permit extends to the holder's immediate family members.
Does the PR · Business lead to permanent residence in South Africa?
This route grants permanent residence directly under section 27(c), based on the prescribed investment in a business. Time on the PR · Business counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years.
How are PR · Business holders taxed in South Africa?
No special regime in our records is tied to the PR · Business. The standard rules apply: South African tax residents, whether ordinarily resident or meeting the physical presence test, are taxed on worldwide income at 18% to 45% for the 2027 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027); non-residents are taxed only on South African-source income.
More in South Africa
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 9 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Permanent Residency · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- Immigration Regulations (updated to 2018) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
- Regulation Gazette 55209: First amendment of the regulations on fees (Immigration Act) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- Notice 560: Financial or capital contribution for business in respect of business visa and permanent residence permit · Department of Home Affairs, Government Gazette No. 37837 (15 July 2014) · checked 2026-10-11
- Permanent Residency (categories, form BI-947, documents) · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (consolidated to 2014) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- South African Citizenship Amendment Act 17 of 2010 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- Regulations on the South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Government Notice 1122 of 2012) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- Turnaround times for visa and permit related services · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.