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5 Basic steps of emigrating to South Africa

On February 28, 2019 / by Andrew Wicks / Leave a comment

Emigration to South Africa, or any other country can be a bit frustrating. However, if you get the basics right, your emigration is bound to cause you far less stress. Here are our 5 basics steps of emigration to South Africa that will help you understand where to start, how to proceed and what you should do after you’ve received your visa.

Determine whether you eligible to live in South Africa

There is no point in spending your hard-earned savings on a visa application when you don’t actually qualify to live in South Africa. It is important to start your emigration process by completing a thorough assessment to see if you are indeed eligible to emigrate to South Africa. You can start by taking our free emigration assessment by clicking through the link.

Know which South African visa you should apply for

Make sure you explore all your options in order to ensure that you apply for the correct visa. Your visa application could be denied if you apply for the incorrect visa. South African visas include work visas, spousal of life partner visas, relatives’ visas, retirement visas, business visas and spousal visas. Click through to our blog post on 4 best visa options for South Africa to learn more about the most popular visa options.

Apply for relevant documentation as soon as possible

It could take months for required documentation to be issued, so it’s always better to apply for documents such as police clearance certificates as soon as possible. The sooner you apply, the sooner you’ll be able to lodge your visa application.

Ensure that your passport is valid for long enough

Your passport must be valid for 30 days longer than your intended stay for temporary residence. For example, if you want to apply for a 3-year study visa, your passport must be valid for 3 years and 30 days at a minimum.

Maintain your legal status at all times while in South Africa

You have your South African visa, you’re in South Africa – now ensure that you stay legal at all times. Make sure you adhere to the conditions of your visa at all times and by planning renewals of change of status well in advance to avoid running out of time on your existing South African visa. This means submitting at least 60 days before the expiry of your visa. Start renewals or new applications as soon as possible!

If you are ready to explore emigration to South Africa further, you’re at the right place. Our Consultants can do an eligibility assessment with you and advise you on which visa you should apply for. Please feel free to get in touch with one of Immigration Consultants today. We look forward help making your visa process a seamless one.

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Andrew Wicks

Andrew Wicks

Over the past 11 years, Andrew’s entrepreneurial spirit, as well as his business acumen, has led to the establishment of small to medium enterprises worldwide. Promising opportunities in the fields of IT, mobile distribution and advertising (amongst others) have been converted into successful business units in a variety of global markets. Andrew returned to South Africa after seven years in Europe to found Initiate International. He remains totally hands-on and has expanded the company across three continents.

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