What I did to get my South African Spousal Visa

 


This article follows the steps I followed in applying for a spousal visa to South Africa. There are companies that will gladly help you through this process for a fee, but there is no magic involved so you can easily do it yourself.


No matter which route you choose there will still be things that only you can do (getting Police clearance; don't worry - nothing scary, a Radiological Report; solely to prove you don't have TB and a Medical Report; getting your doctor to say you are of decent health and not a carrier of any contagious nasties.


The following steps are in suggested order.


 
  • » Make sure that you have a valid passport for the duration of the visa
    •   Must be valid for 2 years and a month and have 2 blank pages
  • » Download the official form "Application for Temporary Residence Permit" here BI-1738.pdf (97KB)
    •   Print it out - it will save you the journey to pick it up from Home Affairs.
  • » Police Clearance Certificate(s)
    •   You must provide a certificate from any country you have lived in over the last 10 years.
    •   Just go to a police station and tell them what you are after. There might be a small admin fee.
  • » Go to your doctor
    •   Tell him you need him/her to sign a Medical Certificate (18KB)
    •   Ask him/her on how to proceed with booking a scan and get the Radiological Report (319KB) signed.
      The scan is likely to cost some money, but you must have it.
  • » Next you need a few documents from your partner
    •   You will need a copy of their South African ID book
    •   You will need a copy of your Wedding Certificate (or Sworn Affidavit if not married)
    •   You will need a letter of support from your partner (saying they support your application)
  • » Proof of financial means
    •   Any document to proove you have financial means
    •   Bank Statements from current account or a savings account should do
  • » Book the appointment with Home Affairs to submit your application
    • Your appointment might be anything from 3-30 days from when you book

Putting the application together, for me, took 3 weeks; mainly waiting for Police Clearance. When I submitted my application I brought with me a full set of originals and a full set of copies, they only asked for the Police Clearance to be originals.

You never hand over your passport - leaving you are free to travel while you await the outcome

After 19 days they told me to come back and pick up my Visa

Please note that this article is for information purposes only.
They are based on personal experiences and not intended as professional advice.

Garden Route Images

from flickr.com


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