Do I Qualify for a Life Partner Visa to South Africa

Hi and welcome on board Chris!

Maybe you could have a look at this article from the SA guide: Immigration to South Africa - Visa and Permits

Hope it helps.
Armand

Thanks Armand,

I have checked that out and I am familiar with most of it. I have a further question but I shall post it on a new subject.

Cheers,

Chris

raidensurfer wrote:

Hello,


I am looking for some advice regarding a life partner permit,  I have been with my partner for about 5 years. She returned to South Africa 2 years ago but previously we lived with one another before she went. However the last few years we have been living apart as I have been working in London.

I am due to go in August to South Africa as I have a job offer and a new position starting mid August and I thought I could qualify on the life partner visa with work endorsement. I am getting married on December 16th 2011 so it's only a few months I will be over there before we are legally married and living together, before that we will not be.

I have since been told if I have not been living with the person for over 2 years that means I won't qualify for the life partner visa, even if I have previously lived with them.

Can anyone shed any light on this situation?

Regards,

Chris

Hello

Once you are married to a South African, you would have a marriage certificate, and so would not need any proof of cohabitation.

If you wish to apply for the Life Partner Permit beforehand, then the key is proof of cohabitation. There is no official timeline in which you would have needed to live together, but one might assume that the Department of Home Affairs would be   suspicious if they saw that you had proof of cohabitation, but have not lived together recently. Once may try to explain the situation to them, but there is no certainty that they will listen.

You mention that you will be coming to SA in August, so I would suggest obtaining proof of cohabitation once you get here. Then refer to my response to your other post, and you should have a map of what you would need to do.

If you have any questions, send me a message, and I will get back to you.

Thanks JoachimS,


That makes a lot of sense and I have further read your reply to my other post. I am going to be focusing on that now that I know a marriage certificate helps my cause greatly.

Cheers,

Chris