Spousal Visa South Africa: How to Apply [2026]

If you are married to (or in a permanent relationship with) a South African citizen or permanent resident, the South African spousal visa is the legal route to live in the country with your partner. It sits inside a wider South African immigration framework that includes the work visa, the permanent residence permit, and the various temporary residence options for foreign nationals within the wider DHA visa and permit framework in South Africa.

This 2026 guide walks through every part of a spousal visa application — the DHA-1738 form, the documents the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) demands, the R8,500-per-month financial requirement, processing times, fees, and the routes from spousal visa to permanent residence and citizenship by marriage. Once your foreign spouse is on a valid visa, you can use our free South African ID number checker on the SA partner's ID to confirm format and validity for any document set you submit.

What Is a Spousal Visa for South Africa?

A South African spousal visa is a temporary residence visa issued under the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. It allows the foreign spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident to live in South Africa for up to three years at a time, with the option to renew or convert to permanent residence after five years.

The phrase "spousal visa" is the everyday term. In the Immigration Act itself, the same status appears under two different sections:

• Section 11(6) — a visitor's visa with a spousal endorsement, issued for the duration of the relationship. This is what most people mean when they say "spousal visa."
• Section 18 — the formal Relative's Visa, used by spouses, life partners and immediate family members of South African citizens and permanent residents. Some attorneys still call this the "Relative's Visa" even when it is issued to a spouse.

Both routes use the same DHA-1738 application form, the same evidence base, and (in 2026) the same fee structure. The practical difference is that a Section 11(6) visa is renewable in 2-3 year cycles while the holder is in South Africa, and a Section 18 Relative's Visa is more commonly used when the foreign spouse is also bringing other family members into the country.

Who Qualifies: Spouses, Life Partners, and Permanent Relationships

A spousal visa is available to a foreign national whose South African partner is either a citizen or a permanent resident. Same-sex and opposite-sex relationships qualify on identical terms — the Civil Union Act 17 of 2006 gives all marriages the same legal status.

Married Couples (Civil, Customary, Religious)

Marriages registered in South Africa appear on the National Population Register and are evidenced by an unabridged marriage certificate. If you were married outside South Africa, you must have the foreign marriage certificate apostilled or authenticated for use in South Africa. Customary marriages must be registered with the Department of Home Affairs under the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 before a spousal visa can be issued. For the documentary trail on this, see our guide to South African marriage certificates.

Life Partners (Cohabitation 2+ Years)

If you are not legally married, you can still apply on the basis of a life partnership. To qualify, you and your South African partner must demonstrate that you have lived together in a permanent, monogamous relationship for at least two years. Acceptable evidence includes a joint lease agreement, joint bank accounts, joint utility accounts, joint life or medical insurance, and supporting affidavits from family members or friends. A notarial cohabitation agreement is strongly recommended — DHA case officers ask for one routinely.

Spousal Visa vs Section 11(6) vs Section 18

The naming is a constant source of confusion. The three labels below all describe routes that allow a foreign spouse to live with their South African partner; they differ in scope and renewal cycle.

Section 11(6) — The Visitor's Visa with Spousal Endorsement

A Section 11(6) is, technically, a visitor's visa. It is issued to "the spouse of a South African citizen or permanent resident holder" and is valid for the duration of the marriage or partnership. The default Section 11(6) does not allow work, business or study — but the holder can apply for an additional endorsement that authorises any one (or more) of those activities. Most spousal visa holders today operate on Section 11(6) plus an endorsement.

Section 18 — The Relative's Visa

A Section 18 Relative's Visa is for any "first-, second- or third-degree" relative of a South African citizen or permanent resident — spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent. When issued to a spouse it functions identically to Section 11(6) but is more commonly used when the foreign national wants to bring dependent children or other relatives onto the same application family. Section 18 holders also need a separate work, business or study endorsement before doing anything beyond simple residence.

Spousal Visa Requirements (DHA-1738 Form, Documents, Fees)

Every spousal visa application starts with the DHA-1738 form (Application for Visa). Whether you apply through VFS Global in South Africa or at a South African mission abroad, the form is the same. Alongside the form, the Department of Home Affairs requires the following:

• Passport valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended departure, with at least two blank pages.
• Two recent passport-sized photographs that meet the SA passport photo standard.
• Proof of payment of the application fee (currently R425 plus the VFS Global service fee — see fee table below).
• An unabridged marriage certificate, or a notarial cohabitation agreement plus 2+ years of joint-life evidence for life partners.
• Proof of financial means — the South African partner's bank statements covering at least the last three months and showing they can support the foreign spouse to a minimum of R8,500 per month. If the foreign spouse is independently funded, their own statements can substitute.
• A radiological (chest X-ray) report and a medical report, both less than six months old. These can be done by any registered medical practitioner; specific DHA medical and radiological forms must be used.
• A police clearance certificate from every country in which you have lived for 12 months or more in the last five years, including South Africa if applicable.
• A certified copy of the South African spouse's smart ID card or green ID book.
• Yellow fever certificate, if you have travelled through a yellow fever risk country.

The financial-means requirement is the most commonly missed step. R8,500 per month is the minimum the DHA expects to see in the South African spouse's account; in practice, providing more (and a covering letter explaining the household budget) accelerates adjudication. If the SA spouse has been issued a smart ID, see our 2026 smart ID card cost guide for the document fee schedule and how to verify the card's validity.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Confirm the qualifying relationship. Marriage certificate ready, or 2+ years of life-partner evidence and a notarial cohabitation agreement signed and commissioned.
2. Gather supporting documents. Passport, photos, financial proof, medical and radiological reports, police clearances, certified copy of the SA spouse's ID.
3. Complete the DHA-1738 form. Sections 1-5 cover personal details, the type of visa applied for, the SA spouse, financial support and the relationship history. Use the same dates and addresses across the form and the supporting documents — discrepancies are the single biggest reason for refusal.
4. Book a VFS Global appointment. If you are inside South Africa, book an appointment at one of the VFS Global Visa Application Centres in Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth or East London. If you are abroad, book at the South African mission for your country.
5. Pay the fees. The DHA application fee plus the VFS Global service fee.
6. Attend the appointment. Submit the form, supporting documents, biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), and have the file accepted. You will receive a tracking reference.
7. Wait for adjudication. Standard processing is 8–10 weeks for in-South-Africa applications and 4–10 weeks abroad. Track your application via the VFS Global tracking portal.
8. Collect your visa. Once adjudicated, you collect your passport at the same VFS centre or mission. The spousal visa is endorsed in the passport.

2026 Spousal Visa Fees

The following 2026 fee schedule applies to in-South-Africa applications via VFS Global. Mission fees abroad vary by country and are usually paid in local currency to a South African Consulate-General or Embassy.

Most spousal visa applicants spend around R3,000–R8,000 in total when professional fees, medicals and certification are included. Endorsement fees are only payable if you want to work, run a business or study.

Working, Studying or Running a Business on a Spousal Visa

The default spousal visa allows residence only. If you intend to work, run a business or study, you need an endorsement attached to your visa under Regulation 11(6). The endorsement is requested as part of the same DHA-1738 application — there is a tick-box section labelled "endorsement applied for" — and the supporting documents differ by activity.

• Work endorsement — letter from the prospective employer, proof of qualification, and a SAQA evaluation if your qualification is foreign. The DHA-1738 work-endorsement section replaces a separate general work visa application.
• Business endorsement — business plan, proof of capital contribution, financial statements (if the business already exists), and a tax clearance from SARS for the SA spouse if the business will be in their name jointly.
• Study endorsement — letter of provisional acceptance from a registered institution and proof of medical aid covering the period of study. For the underlying visa category and a comparison between an endorsement and a standalone South African study visa, see our dedicated guide.

Endorsements are issued at the discretion of the DHA. They do not extend the visa beyond the spousal partner's underlying status — if the marriage or partnership ends, the endorsement falls away with the visa.

Applying from Inside or Outside South Africa (the Nandutu Ruling)

For many years, foreign spouses on a visitor's visa had to leave South Africa to apply for a spousal visa from their country of origin. That changed in 2019. In Nandutu and Others v Minister of Home Affairs and Others [2019] ZACC 24, the Constitutional Court ruled that requiring the spouses of South Africans to depart and re-apply was unconstitutional under Section 9 (equality) and Section 10 (dignity) of the Bill of Rights.

Since the Nandutu judgment, foreign spouses on a valid visitor's visa can convert to a spousal visa from inside South Africa without leaving. The application is still lodged via VFS Global, but the visa is issued and endorsed in your passport while you remain in the country. This is now the most common application pathway for foreign spouses already in South Africa.

How Long a Spousal Visa Lasts and Renewals

A spousal visa is normally issued for two to three years at a time. Renewals must be applied for at least 60 days before the existing visa expires, again on a DHA-1738 form, with up-to-date evidence of the relationship and financial means. Each renewal can be granted for a further 2-3 years.

Continuous, uninterrupted spousal visa coverage matters because it builds the eligibility clock for permanent residence. If your visa lapses for even a single day, the clock typically restarts — apply for renewal early.

From Spousal Visa to Permanent Residence (Section 26(b))

After five years of being married to (or in a registered life partnership with) the same South African citizen or permanent resident, the foreign spouse becomes eligible to apply for permanent residence under Section 26(b) of the Immigration Act. The five-year clock runs from the date of marriage or formal life-partnership recognition, not from the date the spousal visa was first issued.

Section 26(b) applications use the BI-947 form and have a separate adjudication process — see our 2026 permanent residence guide for the full document checklist, fees and timelines. After a further five years of continuous PR, the foreign spouse can apply for South African citizenship by naturalisation under Section 5 of the Citizenship Act 88 of 1995, or after two years of PR via the marriage route under Section 5(5). For the citizenship route specifically, see South African citizenship: how to apply [2026].

What Happens If the Marriage or Relationship Ends

A spousal visa is invalid the moment the underlying relationship ends. The Immigration Act requires the visa holder to notify the Director-General of Home Affairs in writing within 30 days of:

• Divorce — typically dated from the decree of divorce issued by the High Court.
• Death of the South African spouse.
• Termination of a life partnership — typically by formal cohabitation agreement, or by a court order if disputed.

You then have 90 days to apply for an alternative visa (work, study, business, etc.) or to leave South Africa. The DHA can extend the 90-day grace period in compassionate circumstances — for example, if there are minor children involved or if the foreign spouse is an Section 26(b) PR applicant whose application is pending.

Common Reasons Spousal Visa Applications Are Refused

• Inconsistent dates or addresses across the DHA-1738 form, marriage certificate and supporting documents.
• Insufficient financial proof — bank statements that don't show the R8,500-per-month support level over a sustained period.
• Police clearance gaps — missing certificates from one of the countries the applicant has lived in for 12+ months.
• Medical or radiological reports older than six months — refresh them just before submission.
• Insufficient life-partnership evidence — only one or two pieces of joint-life proof when the DHA expects a coherent two-year-plus record.
• Unregistered customary marriages — the marriage must be registered with the DHA under the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act before a spousal visa is issued.

If your application is refused, you have 10 working days to lodge an internal appeal with the DHA under Section 8(4) of the Immigration Act, and a further appeal to the Director-General is available under Section 8(6). Engaging a registered immigration practitioner at appeal stage is highly recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a spousal visa take to process?

Standard processing is 8–10 weeks for applications submitted at a VFS Global centre inside South Africa, and 4–10 weeks for applications submitted at a South African mission abroad. The Department of Home Affairs publishes service-level standards but actual times vary by mission and time of year.

Can I work on a South African spousal visa?

Not by default. The Section 11(6) spousal visa is a visitor's visa, which means residence only. You can apply for a work, business or study endorsement on the same DHA-1738 form when you submit. The endorsement is issued at the DHA's discretion and is renewed with each spousal visa renewal.

Can I apply for a spousal visa from inside South Africa?

Yes — since the 2019 Constitutional Court ruling in Nandutu and Others v Minister of Home Affairs, foreign spouses on a valid visitor's visa can convert to a spousal visa from inside South Africa. You do not need to leave the country to lodge the application. Apply through any VFS Global centre.

What is the financial requirement for a spousal visa?

The Department of Home Affairs expects the South African spouse to be able to support the foreign spouse to a minimum of R8,500 per month. Proof is provided as bank statements covering at least three months. If the foreign spouse is independently funded, their own bank statements can satisfy the requirement.

Does a spousal visa lead to permanent residence?

Yes, after five years. Once you have been married to (or in a registered life partnership with) the same South African citizen or permanent resident for five continuous years, you can apply for permanent residence under Section 26(b) of the Immigration Act. The full process is covered in our 2026 permanent residence guide.

Do I need an unabridged marriage certificate for a spousal visa?

Yes. The Department of Home Affairs requires a full unabridged marriage certificate (not the abridged "handshake" version). If you were married inside South Africa, you can request an unabridged marriage certificate from any DHA office or via eHomeAffairs. Foreign marriage certificates must be apostilled or authenticated for use in South Africa.

Quick Reference

A spousal visa is the standard South African route for the foreign spouse or life partner of a citizen or permanent resident. It is issued under Section 11(6) (visitor's visa with endorsement) or Section 18 (Relative's Visa), uses the DHA-1738 form, requires R8,500-per-month financial proof, takes 8–10 weeks to adjudicate, and lasts 2–3 years per renewal cycle. After five continuous years, the foreign spouse becomes eligible for permanent residence under Section 26(b); after a further two years of PR, the spouse can apply for citizenship by naturalisation under Section 5(5) of the Citizenship Act.

For broader Home Affairs guidance, see our complete guide to Home Affairs online services. To validate the South African spouse's ID number for the application document set, run it through our free SA ID number checker — it confirms the format, date of birth, citizenship digit and Luhn checksum in seconds.

Where the foreign spouse is also bringing children, parents, or siblings, those family members apply for a separate relative's visa under Section 18(4) with the South African spouse as the sponsoring relative.