Minimum income
$2,000/mo
ZAR 37,000 a month
Stay
48
months, renewable
Application fee
—
Tax
Worldwide
SA progressive tax (18-45%)
Path to staying
- Residence permit48 months
- Renew48 months at a time
- Permanent residencyafter 5 years
- Citizenshipafter 10 years
- Permanent residency 5 years
- Citizenship 10 years
- Dual citizenship allowed
Overview
- Country
- South Africa
- Program
- South Africa Retired Persons Visa
- Type
- Retirement
- Status
- Active
- Initial duration
- 48 months
- Renewable
- Yes (48 mo)
Temporary residence visa for retirees with guaranteed monthly income of ZAR 37,000+ from pension, annuities, or investments.
Financial requirements
- Income requirement
- ZAR 37,000/mo (~$2,000 USD)
- Pension requirement
- $2,000/mo
Eligibility
- Criminal record check required
- Health check required
- Health insurance required
Work rights
- Employment not allowed
- Self-employment not allowed
- Own a business not allowed
- Work permit included no
Family and dependents
- Dependents allowed
- Yes
- Spouse included
- Yes
- Max child age
- 21
- Parents allowed
- No
Benefits and mobility
- Bank account can open
- Property purchase allowed
- Public healthcare no access
Tax
- Tax regime
- Worldwide
- Regime name
- SA progressive tax (18-45%)
- Foreign income taxed
- Yes
- Capital gains taxed
- Yes
How to apply
- Method
- in country
- Processing time
- 30–90 days
- Apply from abroad
- Yes
Notes
No age requirement (unlike most retirement visas). ZAR 37,000/month from pension, annuity, rental, dividends, or investments. Private health insurance required. If guaranteed income is for life, can apply directly for PR under Section 27(e). Also: Financial Independence Permit requires ZAR 12M net worth for immediate PR.
Also in South Africa
South Africa also offers a digital nomad visa for remote workers