South Africa · Spouse visas
South Africa Spouse of a citizen
Spousal visa for the spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident (Immigration Act s11(6))
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for South Africa. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- ZAR 425 ≈ $26
- Processing
- 120 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee ZAR 425 ≈ $26; decision: 120 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesZAR 425 ≈ $26
- ZAR 425 (≈ $26)Application fee for a visitor visa under section 11 of the Immigration Act, which covers the spousal visa (Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026).
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of marriage
After five years as the spouse of a citizen or permanent resident you can apply for permanent residence under section 26(b). That permit lapses if the genuine relationship ends within two years of it being issued.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Naturalisation needs permanent residence first, then five continuous years of ordinary residence. Time on a temporary visa does not count.
Processing120 days
Home Affairs turnaround time for this visitor's visa: 120 days. Working days only; this applies to applications submitted inside South Africa and processed at Home Affairs head office.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply in person at the South African mission where you normally live. People on a visitor's visa in South Africa generally cannot change to another visa inside the country.
Presence rulesStay rule
The visa is valid only while the genuine spousal relationship exists.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Applications are made from outside South Africa, not after arriving
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The applicant is the spouse of a South African citizen or permanent resident, in a marriage or a permanent life partnership.
- The applicant does not qualify for any of the work, study, business, retired person, exchange or relative visa categories.
- A life partnership has existed for at least two years before the application and still exists to the exclusion of any other person.
- Neither life partner is a spouse in an existing marriage or another permanent relationship.
What you must show and pay1
- A fee of ZAR 425 (≈ $26) · Application fee for a visitor visa under section 11 of the Immigration Act, which covers the spousal visa (Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026).
Documents5
- Marriage certificate, civil union certificate, or proof of official recognition of a foreign marriage.
- Notarial agreement and affidavit (Form 12 Part A) confirming a permanent life partnership, where applicable.
- Documents proving cohabitation and the financial support and responsibilities shared by the partners.
- Passport, medical report, radiological report and police clearance certificate.
- Divorce decree or death certificate for a previous spouse, where applicable.
Steps1
- Both life partners may be interviewed separately on the same date and time.
After you arrive4
- The visa is valid only while the good-faith spousal relationship exists.
- The holder may be authorised on application to perform the activities allowed by work, study and other visas.
- A life-partner visa holder submits an affidavit (Form 12 Part B) after two years confirming the relationship.
- Application for permanent residence under section 26(b) follows within three months of qualifying, after five years as a spouse.
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
For the spouse or permanent life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident who does not qualify for another visa category. It lasts while the good-faith spousal relationship exists, and after five years as a spouse the holder can apply for permanent residence under section 26(b). 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of ZAR 425 (≈ $26) · Application fee for a visitor visa under section 11 of the Immigration Act, which covers the spousal visa (Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026). 4
Requirements
- The applicant is the spouse of a South African citizen or permanent resident, in a marriage or a permanent life partnership. 1
- The applicant does not qualify for any of the work, study, business, retired person, exchange or relative visa categories. 1
- A life partnership has existed for at least two years before the application and still exists to the exclusion of any other person. 2
- Neither life partner is a spouse in an existing marriage or another permanent relationship. 2
- Marriage certificate, civil union certificate, or proof of official recognition of a foreign marriage. 2
- Notarial agreement and affidavit (Form 12 Part A) confirming a permanent life partnership, where applicable. 2
- Documents proving cohabitation and the financial support and responsibilities shared by the partners. 2
- Passport, medical report, radiological report and police clearance certificate. 2
- Divorce decree or death certificate for a previous spouse, where applicable. 2
- Both life partners may be interviewed separately on the same date and time. 2
- The visa is valid only while the good-faith spousal relationship exists. 1
- The holder may be authorised on application to perform the activities allowed by work, study and other visas. 1
- A life-partner visa holder submits an affidavit (Form 12 Part B) after two years confirming the relationship. 2
- Application for permanent residence under section 26(b) follows within three months of qualifying, after five years as a spouse. 1
Stay
- Valid only while the good-faith spousal relationship exists; the Act sets no fixed validity period. Permanent residence is available after five years as spouse (section 26(b)), and lapses if the relationship ends within two years of issue.
Work
Work, study and business activities are allowed only where authorised on application by the Director-General.
Official sources
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (consolidated to 2014) · 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
- Permanent Residency · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- 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
- South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- South African Citizenship Amendment Act 17 of 2010 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- Turnaround times for visa and permit related services · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
- South African Visas (types of temporary residence visas) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | Limited |
| Spouse of a citizen Morocco | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Mauritius | – | 2 yr | – |
| Spouse of a resident Cabo Verde | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Kenya | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen?
A fee of ZAR 425 (≈ $26). Application fee for a visitor visa under section 11 of the Immigration Act, which covers the spousal visa (Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026).
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?
Valid only while the good-faith spousal relationship exists; the Act sets no fixed validity period.
How long does the Spouse of a citizen take to process?
Home Affairs turnaround time for this visitor's visa: 120 days.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen?
Limited. Work, study and business activities are allowed only where authorised on application by the Director-General.
Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in South Africa?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in South Africa, which the rules allow after 5 years of marriage. Time on the Spouse of a citizen doesn't count toward citizenship.
How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in South Africa?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. 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
Spouse and partner 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 8 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.
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (consolidated to 2014) · 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
- Permanent Residency · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- Regulation Gazette 55209: First amendment of the regulations on fees (Immigration Act) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- South African Citizenship Amendment Act 17 of 2010 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- Turnaround times for visa and permit related services · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
- South African Visas (types of temporary residence visas) · 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.