"Proof of relationship" for a temporary residents permit

Hi istonyjames,

Most countries that want you to "prove" that a stable union exists will accept documentation such as a joint bank account, property deed or rental contract in both names, life insurance policy naming one party as insured and the other as beneficiary, sworn affidavits by two witnesses that the parties have lived together, publicly, in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. Those are the kind of things they accept. The requirement is that all of the documents (except affidavits) must be at least a year old to prove that longevity of the relationship. Google the country's Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Their homepage will probably have links to ALL of the information regarding visa applications including the documents they require for each kind of application.

Regarding the financial support, bank records or tax records showing the rental payments received; plus a declaration from either your partner or his family that they will support you should be sufficient proof.

  Cheers, 
  William James Woodward – Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team

Hi William,

Thank you very much for your prompt very helpful reply.  Unfortunately, we don't have a joint bank account.  I own the property but have rented to my partner for 4 years now - So no property deeds jointly. no joint rental contract. ( naturally). No life insurance policy.
We can provide bank statements that show his rent coming onto my account regularly some several years ago.  Driving insurance certificates with him as the named driver for several years ago.  Other money transfers coming from his bank account into mine to help me out over the years ( not just rent.  Bills with his name on at my address as he payed the fuels as part of the relationship.  We have a barrister close friend as one of the affidavits whom has know and socialised with us over our relationship period.
we ve been held back fro having a joint mortgage and bank account due to my partner being in a debt management programme and my reluctance due to my  credit rating being effected. 

I will only be allowed to rent my property out once I have the permit. ( catch 22) As I carnt be homeless.... so wont have records of rent coming in.  I do however have a letter from the estate agents quoting how much they will /can rent it out for.  would these forms of "proof be sufficient? And if so how many statements would they need the whole years worth? Or a selection of random months showing a few years period?

I do apologise for reply, asking more questions , but hopefully you can see my plight!

Hi, your best approach is to gather "evidence" from friends and family that knows both of you for at least 2 years, in SA they are very paranoid about that proof of commitment, photos, letters, even proof of address, like the mail coming on same place with both names... They want to see that ... Good luck

Hi istonyjames

My partner and I faced a similar problem but on different visas. He was going to SA on an intra-company transit visa and I was to join him as a 'life-partner', having been engaged since last year (and together for 5 before that) with the intention of marrying in 2015. We were advised by a visa consultancy that we needed a 'Cohabitation Agreement' (which we had to get notarised and legalised) along with proof that we had lived together. We took this evidence along with the rest of our visa documents to the consulate in London and got flatly refused! We were told in no uncertain terms that unless married, I would not be able to join him. I don't know if this is different for different visas but they were adamant that this is the case.

Anyway, months later we are husband and wife (we pushed the wedding forward!) and I now am the proud holder of a spousal visa and heading to SA in a matter of weeks!

I hope this helps, we wish that we had known earlier so it is definitely something to look into. My advice is to go to the consulate with an incomplete application but with your proof of relationship to see what they say, then going from there.

Good luck!

In a situation such as this I would seek legal advice from a professional. How you are viewed in London will not necessarily have anything to do with how you are viewed in RSA. If your partner is a citizen, marriage might be a simple solution. However, I am not an attorney and can only give opinions.

[Moderated: No free ad on the forum]

[Moderated: No free ad on the forum]