Marriage in South Africa

You can apply for permanent residence as a spouse once you have been together five years. Until then a relative's visa is the usual status, so plan around your five-year date.

Marriage by itself gives no status: the Citizenship Act says nobody gains or loses citizenship merely by marrying. It opens permanent residence for someone who has been the spouse of a citizen or permanent resident for five years in a good faith relationship. Civil and customary marriages, civil unions and registered permanent partnerships all count.

The order is then: five years of relationship, permanent residence, then five years' ordinary residence for citizenship. A permit granted as a spouse lapses if the relationship ends within two years of issue, unless your spouse dies.

Email yourself a summary

Send your result and every answer you gave to your inbox, so you have it when you need it. We're copied on the email, so if you'd like our team to take a closer look, just reply.

Email Address

Notes (Optional)

Email My Summary