The submission of permanent residence permit applications which have been on hold since the beginning of the lockdown in March 2020, is finally resuming on 1 January 2022. This is great news indeed as there is now more certainty around this matter and it will aid you in preparing your application timeously and sufficiently for submission.
Not having permanent residency in SA means:
- Lack of security for continued stay – you need to continuously renew your temporary visa should you wish to stay longer in SA, and the uncertainty is compounded with the current covid pandemic.
- Continuous renewal of visa – You need to continuously renew your temporary residence visa for your continued legal stay in SA which costs money, time, and a lot of emotional investment as the process can be quite daunting.
- Limited flexibility – There is limited flexibility should you get new job opportunities in SA as it means that you need to apply for a new temporary visa every time you change jobs and having to go through the entire application process again.
- Limited financial benefits – There is limited access to financial benefits for property purchases, e.g., high interest rates on mortgage repayments whilst on a visa with limited duration for your stay in SA.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU NOW THAT PERMANENT RESIDENCE APPLICATIONS ARE RESUMING?
You can now plan with certainty around submission of your permanent residence permit application because;
(1) permanent residency is still part of the SA immigration system, and;
(2) you now know when exactly you can start submitting your application.
You can start preparing your application now, as it is anticipated that when the submissions re-open in January, the Department will be inundated, and you want to find yourself “first in line” to submit your application.
When the visa application submissions resumed late in 2021 for temporary residence applications after the hard lockdown, there was immense pressure on the system which resulted in some people battling to submit their applications timeously. This then resulted in further delays in obtaining their visa outcomes causing pressure on several aspects of their life. You therefore do not want to procrastinate, and plan now so that you can be able to submit your application on time.
USEFUL TIPS FOR PREPARATION
Validity of Temporary Residence Visa
Ensure that your temporary residence visa is valid for at least 12 months or more from 1 January 2022. You will need a visa with a longer duration before submitting your application for permanent residency. Should your visa be less than 12 months when the applications for permanent residency resume, it will be difficult for you to submit the application or if you manage to submit, this can have negative repercussions on your application, therefore, it is advisable to apply for an extension /change of conditions (if required) of your temporary residence visa to ensure that you can submit your PR application.
Passport validity
Also ensure that you have a valid passport, which will be valid for more than 12 months/in line with your temporary visa as mentioned above.
Professional membership
If you will be applying for your permanent residence permit under a category that requires membership with a professional body, ensure that your membership is up to date and in good standing.
Document gathering
Prepare all documentation for your application as far as you possibly can, bearing in mind documents that are valid for a stipulated period such as police reports and medical reports.
BENEFITS OF PERMANENT RESIDENCY
As a foreign national looking to settle permanently in South Africa, having South African permanent residence will mean that:
No need for temporary residence visas anymore
You do not need to continuously apply for temporary residence visas anymore, a process which can be extremely frustrating, time consuming and financially draining.
Access to long-term loans and finance
You gain access to long-term loans and favorable bond conditions for property purchases and business ventures in South Africa.
Greater security
Having a permit that allows you indefinite stay in South Africa gives you greater security as you do not have to constantly worry about the expiry of your temporary visa thus needing renewal and whether any law changes might affect your prospects for any other visa thus impacting on your continued stay in SA.
For the professional who has established a career in SA, permanent residency also gives you great security in terms of your employment and job opportunities. You are also not bound to a single employer and are free to explore employment opportunities that you desire.
Great flexibility
You have the right to work in South Africa with no limitations, to engage in business activities of your choice within the ambits of the law, purchase and own property, study and do all activities that a South African citizen is permitted to do, except the right to vote.
Citizenship
Having permanent residency in SA will not affect your citizenship.
Should you need help with the extension/change of conditions of your current visa, or a detailed assessment to ensure that you understand what category you qualify for permanent residence so that you can prepare adequately, please do feel free to please click on the link below and provide us with your information. One of our consultants will call you for a quick assessment.
