Class I Entry Permit

The Class I Entry Permit is Eswatini's residence permit for persons of independent means. It is part of a ten-class entry permit system established under the Immigration Act of 1982 and is the only class specifically designed for individuals who will not work and derive their income from external or passive sources. The permit targets retirees, pensioners, and those with investment income who wish to reside in Eswatini without participating in the local labour market.

• Minimum age of 21 years
• Assured annual income of at least E5,000 (SZL) from non-employment sources, or E7,000 if accompanied by dependants
• Acceptable income sources include: income from outside Eswatini that will be remitted to the country, income from property or pensions within Eswatini, or income from investment capital brought into and invested in Eswatini
• Income must be "assured" and at the applicant's "full and free disposition"
• Must undertake not to accept paid employment of any kind
• Not a prohibited immigrant
• Criminal record clearance from home country
• Medical certificate confirming good health

• Completed Form 3 application
• Valid passport with at least 3 months' validity and 2 blank pages
• Proof of assured annual income (bank statements, pension certificates, investment income documentation)
• Medical certificate
• Passport-sized photographs
• Criminal record clearance from home country

The permit is issued at the discretion of the Chief Immigration Officer for periods ranging from 1 month to a maximum of 5 years. Permits may be renewed for additional periods, with the same fee schedule applying to renewals. Approval lapses if the requisite fee is not paid within 90 days.

Application fees are scaled by duration: E50 for 1-11 months, E100 for 1 year, E200 for 2 years, E300 for 3 years, E400 for 4 years, and E500 for 5 years.

Dependants (spouse, parent, or guardian) of the permit holder may be issued dependant passes at a fee of E10 each. The permit holder must demonstrate sufficient income to maintain the dependant, with the income threshold increasing from E5,000 to E7,000 per annum. A dependant's pass becomes invalid if the dependant is no longer dependent upon the permit holder or engages in any employment.

Eswatini taxes income derived from sources within or deemed to be within the country. Residence is not specifically defined in tax law, but persons in employment or business are regarded as residents. Passive income holders not engaged in local employment may have limited local tax exposure depending on the source of their income.

Applications are submitted to the Chief Immigration Officer using Form 3 and can be filed at the Ministry of Home Affairs headquarters in Mbabane or through Eswatini diplomatic missions abroad. The application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee and supporting documentation. Applications are reviewed by a committee on the basis of merit and stipulated requirements.

If the permit is issued before the applicant enters the country, the holder's passport must be endorsed by an immigration officer within seven days of arrival. Processing time is not specified in legislation but is generally reported to take 7-30 working days.

Permit holders must not accept paid employment of any kind. Engaging in any employment, occupation, trade, business, or profession without written approval from the Chief Immigration Officer invalidates the permit.

The Class I permit is itself a residence permit. Foreign nationals who have resided continuously for at least 5 years and contributed to the country's development may apply for citizenship by naturalisation under the Swaziland Citizenship Act of 1992.