South Africa

Retired Person's Visa

South Africa's Retired Person's Visa is a temporary residence visa under Section 20 of the Immigration Act No. 13 of 2002, allowing foreign nationals to retire in the country on a seasonal or continuous basis. Applicants must demonstrate a guaranteed minimum monthly income of ZAR 37,000 from passive sources such as pensions, irrevocable annuities, or retirement accounts. The visa is administered by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) with applications processed through VFS Global centres and South African diplomatic missions. There is no minimum age requirement under current law, and the visa does not permit employment or business activity.

• Minimum passive income of ZAR 37,000 per month from a pension fund, irrevocable annuity, retirement account, or combination of assets
• Financial documents must be stamped or certified by the issuing institution
• Pension or annuity applicants must demonstrate payments will continue for life
• No educational or professional qualifications required
• No nationality or age restrictions under current law
• Must not engage in employment or business activity in South Africa

• Completed application form DHA-1738, signed in black ink
• Valid machine-readable passport with at least 2 blank pages and 30+ days validity beyond intended stay
• Two recent passport-sized photographs (white or light background)
• Police clearance certificates from each country of residence (12+ months) since age 18 in the past 5 years
• Medical report on Form BI-811 (not older than 6 months)
• Chest X-ray report (not older than 6 months; waived for children under 12 and pregnant women)
• Proof of financial means: pension fund statement, annuity certificate, or asset documentation showing minimum ZAR 37,000/month
• Proof of accommodation in South Africa
• Return flight itinerary
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate (if applicable)

First-time applications from abroad must be submitted in person at a South African embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of residence. Within South Africa, change of status or renewal applications are processed through VFS Global centres, which handle appointment scheduling, biometric capture, and document submission. The DHA may request additional documentation before making a decision.

Processing time: 3-4 weeks at missions abroad; 4-8 weeks through VFS Global within South Africa.

Fees: Approximately USD 36 at missions abroad, plus VFS Global service fees of USD 36-50 depending on location.

The visa is issued for up to 4 years and may be renewed for successive 4-year periods. Renewal requires continued compliance with the ZAR 37,000/month financial threshold and the same documentation as the initial application. Applications should be submitted before the current visa expires.

The visa does not authorize employment or business activity. However, Section 20(2) of the Immigration Act provides that the Director-General may authorize work under specific terms and conditions at their discretion.

Under Section 20(1A) of the Immigration Act, the spouse and dependent children of a visa holder may be issued accompanying visas. Each dependant must submit a separate application with a passport, photographs, police clearance (if applicable by age), medical report, and proof of relationship. No separate additional income threshold is specified for dependants. Dependant visa validity is tied to the main applicant's visa.

South Africa operates a residence-based tax system. Individuals present for more than 91 days in the current tax year, 91 days in each of the preceding 5 years, and over 915 days in aggregate during the preceding 5 years are considered tax residents and must register with SARS and pay tax on worldwide income. Individuals absent for a continuous period of at least 330 days lose resident status from the date of departure. An extensive network of double taxation agreements is in place.

After holding a temporary visa for 5 consecutive years, the holder may apply for permanent residence under Section 27(e) of the Immigration Act, subject to a chartered accountant certifying the same ZAR 37,000/month financial requirement. Permanent residence is indefinite and does not require renewal. Alternatively, those with a net worth of at least ZAR 12,000,000 may apply under Section 27(f) for financially independent persons at any time.

• Only passive income qualifies; employment income, consulting fees, or other active income do not meet the requirement
• Only machine-readable passports are accepted; manually extended or altered passports are not permitted
• The visa accommodates seasonal retirees who split time between countries
• Overstaying under 30 days results in a 12-month re-entry ban; over 30 days results in a 5-year ban, and the holder may be declared an undesirable person
• A Draft Revised White Paper (December 2025) proposes introducing a minimum age of 55 and increasing financial requirements, but these changes have not been legislated

Links

• https://www.southafrica-newyork.net/retired-persons-visa/
• https://www.saembassy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/RETIRED-PERSON-VISA.pdf
• https://ehome.dha.gov.za/epermit/home
• https://visa.vfsglobal.com/zaf/en/dha/

Other Digital Nomad Visas in Africa