The spousal visa lets the foreign spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident live in South Africa. It is a visitor’s visa under section 11(6) of the Immigration Act, valid for up to three years. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) charges no application fee, only the R1,750 VFS fee, and you can apply from inside South Africa.
In summary
- Who qualifies: married spouses (civil, customary, religious or civil union) and life partners of at least two years, of a South African citizen or permanent resident. Same sex couples qualify on the same terms.
- Validity: up to three years, renewable.
- DHA fee: none. VFS fee: R1,750.
- Your South African spouse must attend the VFS appointment in person.
- Work, study or business: allowed if your visa is endorsed for it. Apply for the endorsement with your visa.
- Inside South Africa: you can apply while on another valid visa, thanks to the Nandutu ruling (2019).
- No medical or X-ray report for applications inside South Africa.
- Official processing target: 120 working days (about six months) inside South Africa.
- Permanent residence: after five years of marriage or partnership, with no DHA fee.
Who Qualifies for a Spousal Visa
You qualify if you are the spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident, and the relationship is genuine and still exists.
| Relationship | Accepted? | What you prove it with |
|---|---|---|
| Civil marriage | Yes | Marriage certificate (an unabridged certificate is safest) |
| Customary marriage | Yes | Customary marriage registration certificate |
| Religious marriage (not registered with DHA) | Usually, as a spousal relationship | Proof of the religious marriage plus the relationship affidavit. Confirm with VFS before you book |
| Civil union (including same sex) | Yes | Civil union certificate |
| Life partnership | Yes, if at least two years | Notarial agreement or affidavit, plus proof of living together and sharing finances |
| Engaged | No | Marry first, or apply as a life partner if you meet the two year rule |
Life partners: the Immigration Regulations require proof that the partnership has existed for at least two years. DHA’s life partner affidavit is Form DHA-1712A. Couples often add a notarial agreement, joint lease or bond, joint bank accounts, and shared insurance or medical aid.
Customary marriages: register your customary marriage at Home Affairs before applying. An unregistered customary marriage is still valid in law, but the registration certificate is the easiest proof. See customary marriage registration.
Spousal Visa Requirements
Document checklist
- Completed application form (VFS online form)
- Your passport, valid for at least 30 days after your intended departure, plus a certified copy
- Passport photos of both spouses
- Marriage certificate, civil union certificate or proof of life partnership
- A cohabitation affidavit confirming you live together
- Your South African spouse’s ID or permanent residence permit (certified copy)
- A signed letter of support from your South African spouse
- Proof of finances: three months of bank statements
- Birth certificates of your children, if they are included
- Police clearance certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months or more after age 18, in the last five years. Not older than six months
- Yellow fever certificate, if you have travelled through a yellow fever area
- For a work, study or business endorsement: the job offer, school acceptance or business registration
Your South African spouse must attend in person. Since 1 February 2023, VFS requires the citizen or permanent resident spouse to be present on the submission date.
No medical or X-ray report is needed for applications made inside South Africa. The medical report was waived by Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 10 of 2026 (8 July 2026), and the radiology report in April 2023. If you apply at an embassy abroad, check that mission’s checklist.
Is there a minimum income? DHA does not set a fixed rand amount for the spousal visa. You must show that you can be supported, usually through your South African spouse’s bank statements. The R8,500 a month amount that some guides quote is the financial assurance for a relative’s visa, not the spousal visa.
Working, Studying or Running a Business on a Spousal Visa
A spousal visa does not automatically allow you to work. You need it endorsed for work, study or business under section 11(6). Apply for the endorsement together with the visa:
- Work: a job offer or employment contract, and your qualifications. You do not need to meet the full work visa points test.
- Study: a letter of acceptance from the institution.
- Business: proof of the business, such as company registration documents.
Endorsements depend on the spousal relationship. If the relationship ends, the endorsement falls away with the visa.
Applying From Inside South Africa
You can apply for a spousal visa from inside South Africa if you are here on another valid visa. Before 2019, DHA made spouses leave and apply from abroad. The Constitutional Court ruled this unconstitutional in Nandutu and Others v Minister of Home Affairs ([2019] ZACC 24, 28 June 2019).
Two cautions:
- Apply before your current visa expires. If your visa has already lapsed, you are in South Africa illegally and need advice before doing anything.
- Plan your travel. Attorneys report that if you apply inside South Africa, you should not leave until the application is finalised.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Gather your relationship proof first. This is what DHA scrutinises most.
- Get police clearances from each country you lived in for 12 months or more in the last five years.
- Complete the online application on the VFS Global website and pay the R1,750 VFS fee to book.
- Attend VFS together. Both spouses go. VFS takes the applicant’s fingerprints and photo.
- Track your application online.
- Collect the outcome at the same VFS centre.
From abroad, you apply at the South African embassy, high commission or consulate (or its VFS centre) for your country of residence. Missions charge their own fees in local currency.
Spousal Visa Fees in 2026
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Spousal visa, section 11(6) | No DHA fee | DHA |
| VFS service fee | R1,750 | VFS Global |
| VFS Premium Lounge (optional) | R750 | VFS Global |
VFS lists the DHA fee for the section 11(6) spousal visa as zero. The VFS fee went up from R1,550 to R1,750 in June 2026. Fees are not refunded if your application is refused. Budget separately for police clearances, translations, apostilles and a notarial agreement if you are life partners.
How Long a Spousal Visa Takes
DHA’s official target for a section 11(6) spousal visa, including one with a work or business endorsement, is 120 working days (about six months) for applications submitted inside South Africa (Immigration Circular No. 8 of 2026). This target does not cover applications at embassies abroad.
Renewing Your Spousal Visa
- Apply for renewal at a VFS centre in South Africa at least 60 days before your visa expires.
- You must show the relationship still exists. Updated proof of living together helps.
- Renewal needs the same core documents as a first application.
From Spousal Visa to Permanent Residence
After five years as the spouse or life partner of a citizen or permanent resident, you can apply for permanent residence under section 26(b). There is no DHA fee for this category.
- The five years count from the start of the marriage or the proven life partnership, not from your first visa.
- The permanent residence permit lapses if the relationship ends within two years of the permit being issued, unless your spouse died.
- DHA’s processing target is 240 working days (about 11 to 12 months).
See how to apply for permanent residence.
If the Marriage or Relationship Ends
A spousal visa depends on the relationship. If you divorce or separate, the visa lapses.
If you are the parent of a South African child, the Constitutional Court’s ruling in Rayment and Others v Minister of Home Affairs ([2023] ZACC 40, 4 December 2023) protects you. The court read protections into the law: a spousal visa is treated as remaining valid for a foreign parent of a South African citizen or permanent resident child, subject to the conditions the court set. You can also apply for a relative’s visa with work rights from inside South Africa. See our relative’s visa guide.
If you do not have a South African child, get advice quickly about another visa category before your status lapses.
What You Cannot Do
- You cannot work without a work endorsement on your spousal visa.
- You cannot apply as a fiancé or fiancée. You must be married or in a life partnership of at least two years.
- You cannot use the spousal visa for other family members. Parents, siblings and adult children need a relative’s visa.
- You cannot submit without your South African spouse at VFS.
- You cannot rely on a fake or convenience marriage. DHA investigates, and fraud is a criminal offence under the Immigration Act.
If Your Spousal Visa Is Refused
Appeal to the Director-General within 10 working days of receiving the refusal (section 8(4) of the Immigration Act), through VFS. If that fails, appeal to the Minister within 10 working days (section 8(6)). Most refusals relate to weak relationship evidence, so add stronger proof with your appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a spousal visa in South Africa?
There is no DHA application fee for a section 11(6) spousal visa. You pay the VFS service fee of R1,750. Police clearances, translations and a notarial agreement (for life partners) cost extra.
How long does a spousal visa take in South Africa?
DHA’s official target is 120 working days, about six months, for spousal visas submitted inside South Africa. This includes visas with a work or business endorsement. Embassies abroad set their own timelines.
Can I work on a spousal visa in South Africa?
Yes, if your spousal visa is endorsed for work. Apply for the endorsement with your visa and include your job offer. You do not need to meet the work visa points test.
Can I apply for a spousal visa while I am in South Africa?
Yes, if you are in South Africa on another valid visa. The Constitutional Court’s Nandutu ruling in 2019 ended the rule that spouses had to apply from abroad. Do not let your current visa expire before you apply.
Is there a minimum income for a spousal visa?
DHA does not set a fixed rand amount for the spousal visa. You show you can be supported, usually with three months of your South African spouse’s bank statements. The R8,500 a month figure applies to relative’s visas.
Can unmarried partners get a spousal visa?
Yes, if you have been in a life partnership for at least two years. You prove it with an affidavit (Form DHA-1712A) or notarial agreement, and evidence of living together and sharing finances.
Do same sex couples qualify for a spousal visa?
Yes. Spouses in a civil union and same sex life partners qualify on exactly the same terms as opposite sex couples.
Does my South African spouse need to come to VFS?
Yes. Since 1 February 2023, the South African citizen or permanent resident spouse must attend the VFS appointment in person.
Do I need a medical report for a spousal visa?
Not for applications made inside South Africa. The medical report was waived from 8 July 2026 by Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 10 of 2026. If you apply at an embassy abroad, check its checklist.
How long is a spousal visa valid?
Up to three years. You can renew it from inside South Africa, as long as the relationship continues. Apply at least 60 days before it expires.
When can I get permanent residence through marriage?
After five years as the spouse or life partner of a citizen or permanent resident, under section 26(b). There is no DHA fee. The permit lapses if the relationship ends within two years of being issued, unless your spouse dies.
What happens to my spousal visa if we divorce?
The visa lapses. If you are the parent of a South African child, the Rayment ruling lets you stay and apply for a relative’s visa with work rights from inside South Africa. Otherwise, get advice about another visa quickly.
Related Guides
- How to apply for permanent residence
- Relative’s visa
- Work visas in South Africa
- Customary marriage registration
- Unabridged marriage certificate
- Same sex marriage at Home Affairs
- Marriage certificate apostille
Official Sources
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002, sections 8, 11(6) and 26(b)
- Immigration Regulations, 2014, regulation 3 (spousal and life partner relationships)
- Nandutu and Others v Minister of Home Affairs and Others [2019] ZACC 24
- Rayment and Others v Minister of Home Affairs and Others [2023] ZACC 40
- VFS Global South Africa: section 11(6) spousal visa fees and checklist
- Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 10 of 2026 (medical report waiver)
- Immigration Circular No. 8 of 2026 (published turnaround times)