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Medical Treatment Visa — treatment over three months

South AfricaMedical treatment

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in South Africa Read the five questions ↓

What medical treatment/purpose does the route cover and which applicant role does it address: patient, donor or another medical purpose?

Act17 covers a foreigner intending to receive medical treatment in South Africa for longer than three months. The application under regulation16 is framed around the patient’s treatment: the local medical letter confirms space, costs, treatability/curability, schedule and intended treatment period. The Act provides direct issuance by the Director-General or issuance through an approved institution subject to safeguards. The amended May2024 Form8 also labels medical treatment as more than three months.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • A donor or medical-research participant as a separate applicant role is not established; identifying accompanying persons does not turn a carer into the patient applicant.
  • https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/IMMIGRATION-ACT-2002---UPDATED-2015.pdf
    17. Medical treatment visa (1) A medical treatment visa may be issued to a foreigner intending to receive medical treatment in the Republic for longer than three months by - (a) the Director-General, as prescribed; or (b) the Director-General through the registrar’s office or a designated official of an institution where the foreigner intends to receive treatment, provided that such institution - (i) has been approved by and is in good standing with the Director-General; (ii) certifies that it has received guarantees to its satisfaction that such foreigner's treatment costs will be paid; (iii) in the case of a minor, provides the name of a person present in South Africa who is, or has accepted to act, as such minor's guardian while in the Republic or certifies that such minor will be accompanied by a parent or guardian to the Republic; (iv) undertakes to provide a prescribed periodic certification that such foreigner is under treatment; and (v) undertakes to notify the Director-General when such foreigner has completed his or her treatment. (Section 17(1) amended by section 47 of Act 19 of 2004) (2) When so requested by and after consultation with the Department of Health, the Director-General shall determine an ad hoc fee for the issuance of medical treatment visas in respect of institutions which are publicly funded or subsidised. (Section 17(2) substituted by section 19 of Act 19 of 2004) (3) A medical treatment visa does not entitle the holder to conduct work.
  • https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf
    16 Medical treatment visa (1) An applicant for a medical treatment visa shall submit- (a) a letter from his or her registered medical practitioner or medical institution within the Republic confirming- (i) that space is available at the medical institution; (ii) the estimated costs of the treatment; (iii) whether or not the disease or ailment is treatable or curable; (iv) the treatment schedule; and (v) the period of intended treatment in the Republic; (b) the details of, and confirmation by, the person or institution responsible for the medical expenses and hospital fees: Provided that in a case where the applicant's medical scheme or employer is not liable for expenses incurred, proof of financial means to cover the medical costs shall be submitted; (c) the particulars of persons accompanying the applicant; (d) valid return air flight tickets, where applicable; and (e) proof of sufficient financial means or provision for the costs indirectly related to the treatment. (2) A medical treatment visa may be issued for a maximum period of six months at a time.
  • https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202405/50675rg11704gon4847.pdf
    Medical Treatment isa (> 3 months)

What acceptance, appointment, referral, treatment plan or healthcare-provider documentation is important?

A letter from the patient’s registered medical practitioner or medical institution in South Africa must confirm available space, estimated treatment costs, whether the disease or ailment is treatable or curable, the treatment schedule and intended treatment period. Act17 separately permits issuance through a registrar/designated official of an institution approved by and in good standing with the Director-General, subject to payment guarantees, minor guardianship arrangements and treatment reporting duties; this is a specific issuance branch rather than a published list of accredited hospitals.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • These provisions do not supply named accredited hospitals, a required foreign-doctor referral or a prescribed treatment-schedule format.
  • https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf
    16 Medical treatment visa (1) An applicant for a medical treatment visa shall submit- (a) a letter from his or her registered medical practitioner or medical institution within the Republic confirming- (i) that space is available at the medical institution; (ii) the estimated costs of the treatment; (iii) whether or not the disease or ailment is treatable or curable; (iv) the treatment schedule; and (v) the period of intended treatment in the Republic; (b) the details of, and confirmation by, the person or institution responsible for the medical expenses and hospital fees: Provided that in a case where the applicant's medical scheme or employer is not liable for expenses incurred, proof of financial means to cover the medical costs shall be submitted; (c) the particulars of persons accompanying the applicant; (d) valid return air flight tickets, where applicable; and (e) proof of sufficient financial means or provision for the costs indirectly related to the treatment. (2) A medical treatment visa may be issued for a maximum period of six months at a time.
  • https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/IMMIGRATION-ACT-2002---UPDATED-2015.pdf
    17. Medical treatment visa (1) A medical treatment visa may be issued to a foreigner intending to receive medical treatment in the Republic for longer than three months by - (a) the Director-General, as prescribed; or (b) the Director-General through the registrar’s office or a designated official of an institution where the foreigner intends to receive treatment, provided that such institution - (i) has been approved by and is in good standing with the Director-General; (ii) certifies that it has received guarantees to its satisfaction that such foreigner's treatment costs will be paid; (iii) in the case of a minor, provides the name of a person present in South Africa who is, or has accepted to act, as such minor's guardian while in the Republic or certifies that such minor will be accompanied by a parent or guardian to the Republic; (iv) undertakes to provide a prescribed periodic certification that such foreigner is under treatment; and (v) undertakes to notify the Director-General when such foreigner has completed his or her treatment. (Section 17(1) amended by section 47 of Act 19 of 2004) (2) When so requested by and after consultation with the Department of Health, the Director-General shall determine an ad hoc fee for the issuance of medical treatment visas in respect of institutions which are publicly funded or subsidised. (Section 17(2) substituted by section 19 of Act 19 of 2004) (3) A medical treatment visa does not entitle the holder to conduct work.

How must treatment costs, living costs and insurance be demonstrated?

Treatment and living costs require separate evidence. Regulation16(1)(b) requires details and confirmation from the person or institution paying medical expenses/hospital fees; if neither the medical scheme nor employer is liable, evidence of means covering medical costs is required. Regulation16(1)(e) separately requires means or provision for indirect treatment costs, and return tickets are required where applicable. The medical letter supplies estimated treatment costs. This regulation does not set a fixed monetary amount or expressly impose a separate insurance policy requirement.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No universal funds amount or insurance waiver is inferred from the absence of a figure or separate policy requirement in this provision.
  • https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf
    16 Medical treatment visa (1) An applicant for a medical treatment visa shall submit- (a) a letter from his or her registered medical practitioner or medical institution within the Republic confirming- (i) that space is available at the medical institution; (ii) the estimated costs of the treatment; (iii) whether or not the disease or ailment is treatable or curable; (iv) the treatment schedule; and (v) the period of intended treatment in the Republic; (b) the details of, and confirmation by, the person or institution responsible for the medical expenses and hospital fees: Provided that in a case where the applicant's medical scheme or employer is not liable for expenses incurred, proof of financial means to cover the medical costs shall be submitted; (c) the particulars of persons accompanying the applicant; (d) valid return air flight tickets, where applicable; and (e) proof of sufficient financial means or provision for the costs indirectly related to the treatment. (2) A medical treatment visa may be issued for a maximum period of six months at a time.

Can a carer/companion accompany the patient? Who qualifies and what separate/linked permission applies?

The medical visa application must identify accompanying persons. The May2024 regulation11(4)(c) expressly includes spouses or children accompanying the holder of a medical treatment visa under Act section17 in the linked visitor category. This does not establish an automatic visa or a general carer entitlement for any other relationship. For the patient’s application, accompanying dependent children require parental-rights/consent evidence and a spouse requires marriage/relationship evidence.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • A separate entitlement for an unrelated carer, other eligible companion classes, and companion work rights are not established.
  • https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf
    16 Medical treatment visa (1) An applicant for a medical treatment visa shall submit- (a) a letter from his or her registered medical practitioner or medical institution within the Republic confirming- (i) that space is available at the medical institution; (ii) the estimated costs of the treatment; (iii) whether or not the disease or ailment is treatable or curable; (iv) the treatment schedule; and (v) the period of intended treatment in the Republic; (b) the details of, and confirmation by, the person or institution responsible for the medical expenses and hospital fees: Provided that in a case where the applicant's medical scheme or employer is not liable for expenses incurred, proof of financial means to cover the medical costs shall be submitted; (c) the particulars of persons accompanying the applicant; (d) valid return air flight tickets, where applicable; and (e) proof of sufficient financial means or provision for the costs indirectly related to the treatment. (2) A medical treatment visa may be issued for a maximum period of six months at a time.
  • https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202405/50675rg11704gon4847.pdf
    (c) to accompany the holder of a visa issued in terms of sections 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 22 of the Act: Provided that such a foreigner must be the spouse or child of the holder of such visa; or
  • https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf
    (d) in respect of dependant children accompanying the applicant or joining the applicant in the Republic, proof of parental responsibilities and rights or written consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent or legal guardian, as the case may be; (e) in respect of a spouse accompanying the applicant or joining the applicant in the Republic, a copy of a marriage certificate or proof of a relationship as contemplated in regulation 3; and

How long can the patient stay, what happens if treatment continues longer, and what official extension or follow-up mechanism exists?

A medical treatment visa may be issued for a maximum period of six months at a time. The Director-General may, on application in the prescribed manner and on the prescribed form, extend the period for which a visa for obtaining medical treatment was issued; the extension application is made on Form 10 with an affidavit attesting compliance with the existing visa, its conditions and the laws of the Republic, and is submitted in person at any office of the Department no less than 60 days before the visa expires (or, for a visa issued for less than 30 days, not later than seven working days before expiry). Where the visa is issued through an approved institution, the institution undertakes to provide prescribed periodic certification that the foreigner is under treatment and to notify the Director-General when treatment is completed.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured sources do not state how many times the period may be extended or any maximum total stay for continuing treatment.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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