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Permanent Residence — child of a South African citizen (section 26(d))

South AfricaFamily

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

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Explore pathways in South Africa Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

The qualifying relationship is being a child of a South African citizen; the DIRCO permanent-residence guidance describes this category as a child of a citizen above the age of 21.

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Limits of the record
  • The age statement comes from a DIRCO consular guidance document, not from the Act or the Regulations.

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor is the South African citizen parent of the applicant. The Act requires that the parent be a citizen; permanent resident status is not sufficient for section 26(d).

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What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The permanent residence application must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's birth certificate, which must be an original or a copy apostilled by the issuing authority of the country of origin and, where applicable, translated into an official language of the Republic with a sworn translator's certification.

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Limits of the record
  • The captured sources name no document specifically proving the parent's South African citizenship.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The South African citizen parent or parents must give an undertaking to provide the required financial support to the applicant.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured sources do not state the amount or form of the required financial support.

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

The application is made on Form 18 and submitted by the applicant in person. A permanent residence permit holder has all the rights, privileges, duties and obligations of a citizen, save those a law or the Constitution explicitly ascribes to citizenship. The grounds on which the Director-General may withdraw the permit include absence from the Republic for more than three years and not taking up residence in the Republic within one year of the permit's issue.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The three-year absence rule has exceptions and an extension procedure in section 28(c) that are not reproduced here.

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

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