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Permanent Residence — first-step relative of citizen or permanent resident (section 27(g))

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?

Section 27(g) covers relatives of a South African citizen or permanent resident within the first step of kinship. Current official mission guidance identifies these relationships as parents, children and spouses.

See recorded sources

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

The qualifying South African connection is a citizen or permanent resident who is the applicant's parent, child or spouse. The official guidance does not state further sponsor-status conditions.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Further sponsor-status conditions are not stated in the captured current guidance.

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

Form 18 requires proof of first-step kinship between the applicant and the South African citizen or permanent resident. The official form does not prescribe a different document for each parent, child or spouse relationship.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The exact document used to prove each relationship type is not specified in the captured route-specific checklist.

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

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities for applicants under section 27(g).

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Limits of the record
  • The absence of a separate line in the captured route-specific block is not treated as a waiver of any general obligation elsewhere in law.

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 permanent-residence application is made on Form 18 and submitted in person. A permanent resident has citizen rights, privileges, duties and obligations except those reserved to citizens. The permit may be withdrawn after absence from South Africa for more than three years, subject to statutory exceptions.

See recorded sources
  • Regulation 23(1)
    An application for a permanent residence permit contemplated in section 25(2) of the Act shall be made on Form 18 illustrated in Annexure A and shall be submitted by the applicant in person.
  • Immigration Act section 25(1)
    The holder of a permanent residence permit has all the rights, privileges, duties and obligations of a citizen, save for those rights, privileges, duties and obligations which a law or the Constitution explicitly ascribes to citizenship.
  • Immigration Act section 28(c)
    has been absent from the Republic for more than three years

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

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