Thinking of settling in South Africa? Here is some information on the immigration categories and requirements of that country.

If you are a prospective immigrant applying for permanent residence and you are still abroad, you can apply at the nearest South African diplomatic office in your country of residence. If you are already residing in South Africa with a legal temporary residence licence, you can apply for immigration at the nearest Regional Office of the Department of Home Affairs in the province in which you intend to permanently reside or take up employment.

Some of the basic requirements for permanent residence are individually considered on merit through the Immigrants Selection Board, an autonomous statutory board. If you desire to permanently emigrate to South Africa, you must be of good character, be a worthy inhabitant, and not likely to be harmful to the country’s welfare. Furthermore, you must also not follow a profession in which there are already adequate people available to fulfil the needs of the country.

Generally, you must apply for immigration to South Africa whilst you are in your country of residence, and wait for the result of application before you proceed to the country. However, you can also apply for immigration whilst you are in the country if you are in the country with a valid work permit; the child of, or married to, a citizen of South Africa, or a permanent resident of South Africa; exempt from the requirement of holding a temporary residence permit; or being sponsored by a blood family member for immigration purposes.

Due to the need to create job opportunities for South African workers, the country has required prospective immigrants to be seriously devoted to investing their skills and experience for their own benefit and the benefit of South African citizens.