South African Retirement Visa

A retirement visa can be granted for 4 years to someone with a monthly pension, irrevocable annuity or retirement account of R37 000 from a net worth/combination of assets realizing R37 000 per month and wishes to retire temporarily or permanently in South Africa.

A South African Retired Person's permit is ideal for people wishing to retire in South Africa temporarily or permanently subject to the financial criteria or parameters being satisfied. This South African visa category is designed for those intending to retire in the country or wishing to have a long stay in South Africa with the need to renew the visa or permit. This retirement visa is not based on age but rather on assets, rental income and / or bank accounts generating income. It is based upon foreigner providing proof that such foreigner has the right to a pension or an annuity or retirement account which will give such foreigner a prescribed minimum payment for the rest of his or her life from the country of his or her origin; or a minimum prescribed net worth generating income for life.

This South African immigration visa is a popular option for seasonal visitors, i.e. those visiting the country for a period of six months or more. An important point to observe is that successful applicants are under no obligation to apply for permanent residence.

The temporary grant may be renewed indefinitely so long as the requirements continue to be met. However, permanent residency does bestow additional benefits upon its holder. In South Africa, immigration through the retired person's route can be either a temporary visa permit or a permanent residence visa as outlined in the eligibility criteria summarized below.

• The temporary route is granted for four years and is renewable indefinitely for four-year periods.
• The permanent route offers permanent residents the same rights and privileges as those with South African citizenship, with a few key exceptions, most notably the right to vote.

In both the temporary and permanent residence category the, South African Retired Persons Visa is based upon financial criteria and unlike a South African Work Visa, no prior job offer needs to be in place before an application can be made. Although unlike temporary South African visit visas, retired people can permitted to work if they wish, provided they apply under the correct visa category – Retirement plus Work Visa We wish to stress that the category “retired person", does not confer a maximum or minimum age limit for this class of visa for South Africa. Retired person's visas may be awarded to people of all ages, provided that the eligibility requirements below are met.

• A pension, retirement account or irrevocable annuity which has a value of at least R37, 000 per month. This requirement applies to each person making an application.
• Alternatively, candidates may obtain a South African visa of this kind by demonstrating a "net worth" through a combination of assets which equates to a minimum of R37, 000 per month. Once again, this criterion applies to each person making an application.

Work Conditions
The nature of this type of immigration to South Africa is such that no specific stipulations are in place regarding a candidate's ability to work in South Africa. In most cases, it may be assumed that people embarking upon this route, based as it is upon a steady income from a source other than employment will not be entering the country to work. However, each case will be considered individually and candidates may be able to work during their time in the country.

Applicants wishing to work will need to submit an employment contract and is not required to demonstrate that a South African citizen or resident is available for the position. The idea here is that applicants under this category can supplement their income and that the rules have been relaxed significantly from the stringent work visa requirements.

Accompanying Dependents

Spouse immigration and dependent immigration are now provided through temporary South African Retired person's visas. This route to South Africa is based upon the financial security of each applicant and unlike work permit visas or business visas, the dependent family members of retired applicants automatically qualify for visit visa status to accompany the principle applicant and does not have to meet the same criteria for temporary residence but for the purposes of permanent residence they are treated as one family unit.

However, in cases where an applicant successfully obtains permanent residence as a retired person, their spouse and/or dependent children, i.e. those aged under 21 will also qualify for permanent residency.

Financially Independent

An alternative route exists in the financially independent visa for which candidates would need to be able to demonstrate a net asset value totalling not less than R12 million.

In addition, it would also be necessary to demonstrate proof of payment of R120,000 as a non-refundable sum to the Director General of Home Affairs. The application for a financially independent visa will lead to permanent residence.

• A retired persons visa may be issued for a period exceeding three months to a foreigner who intends to retire in the Republic, provided that the foreigner provide proof that such foreigner has the right to a pension or an annuity or retirement account which will give such foreigner a prescribed minimum payment for the rest of his or her life from the country of his or her origin; or a minimum prescribed net worth.
• The Department may authorise the holder of a retired person permit to conduct work under terms and conditions as the Department may deem fit to determine under the circumstances.
• A retired person visa may allow its holder to sojourn in the Republic on a seasonal or continuous basis; and not exceed a four-year period, at the expiry of which it may be renewed one or more times.

A Relative's Visa may be issued by the Department to a foreigner who is a member of the immediate family of a citizen or a resident, providing that such citizen or resident provides the prescribed financial assurances.

This only applies to first level of kinship i.e: Brother, Sister, Mother, Father.

The period of validity of the Visa shall be determined by the financial assurance provided, but will not exceed a period of 24 months at a time. A relative Visa issued to a spouse shall lapse upon the dissolution of the spousal relationship and the Department may at any time satisfy itself that a good faith spousal relationship exists and or continues to exist.

Let SA Migration Intl handle your entire case from filling out the documentation to processing the application.

An elderly Limpopo woman wrongfully declared dead wins case against Home Affairs

27 July 2021 0 @SABCNews

The family of an elderly Limpopo woman whose identity was altered after she was wrongfully declared dead, has won a case against the Home Affairs Department at the High Court in Pretoria.

Johanna Adams was declared dead on two occasions in 2005 and 2016. This led to problems with her social grant which was terminated.

She shared the same names and identity number with a woman from Boksburg in Gauteng, who had died.

Adams has expressed relief that she will soon reclaim her identity.

“I am so grateful that my life could now be restored and I would reclaim my original identity. I am eternally grateful, I wish to thank God and all those who made sure that I can put the matter behind me.”

Johanna Adams who was wrongfully declared dead wins her case against Home Affairs:

www.samigration.com

South Africans are using Montenegro to avoid UK red list – here’s why it’s a great option

Business Insider SA – 29 Jul 2021

• South Africans have been among the most restricted travellers in the world during the pandemic.
• And restrictions for those wanting to travel or return to the United Kingdom have been particularly onerous.
• But wily travellers have found loopholes in the system - mostly by choosing to stop over in countries not on the UK's red list.
• Mexico and West Africa quickly emerged as viable options.
• But it's the Balkans, and in particular Montenegro, that seem to be winning out at the moment.
• Here's why Montenegro is worth a visit - whether or not you're planning on using it to dodge red list restrictions.

South Africans have been among the most restricted travellers in the world since the creation of Covid-19 travel "red lists". 

Although most African countries have remained open for leisure travel with no quarantine restrictions, those wishing to visit Europe - or even return home to countries such as the UK - often face at least 11 days of self-funded isolation on arrival.

But those wanting to avoid lengthy and expensive quarantine hotel stays on arrival in England - often in tiny airport hotel rooms - have been looking for loopholes almost since the restrictions began. 

Mexico, the Maldives, and a handful of countries in West Africa have all allowed travellers to holiday for several days without quarantining on arrival in the United Kingdom at various stages in the pandemic. And although governments have been playing a game of whack-a-mole trying to shut these loopholes down, Montenegro has emerged as one of the most popular and reliable stepping stones. 

With its sparkling Adriatic coastline, fjord-like natural features, fascinating history, reasonable prices, and easy access, the Balkan country is also a viable tourism destination in its own right.

Although South Africans with valid Schengen visas can enter Montenegro for 30 days visa-free, it's a destination that has flown under the radar for local travellers - often losing out to more popular coastal destinations like Greece, and even neighbouring Croatia. 

But time it right, and it's a destination that ticks several travel boxes - including one of the most spectacular train rides in Europe that costs just a handful of coins.

Although not the capital (that title belongs to inland Podgorica), Kotor is the primary attraction for most visitors to Montenegro.

Its old town is defined by stone buildings and cobbled streets that hide cosy bars and decent restaurants. The town fronts directly onto a shimmering bay, and small harbour, that's popular among cruise ships. 

Rising up above it all is an old defensive wall, built by the Illyrians, that offers spectacular views of the city and bay.

A short - and cheap - bus ride away from Kotor is photogenic Perast. It has made its way into many Instagram feeds and tourism brochures, and for good reason. There you'll find a selection of tourist-centric restaurants and boats waiting to take you out into the bay.

One of the key attractions in the bay is the artificial islet Our Lady of the Rocks, where you'll find a 17th-century Roman Catholic church.

A walk up the switchback path opposite the old town of Kotor also delivers constantly shifting views - most notably of the fjord-like mountains.

Although often called Europe's southernmost fjord, the Bay of Kotor is instead an ancient drowned river valley that geomorphologists call a ria.

fascinating front - that of its turbulent past. The abandoned Fort Vrmac, built in the late 1800s during the reign of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is beautifully preserved. Although officially closed to the public, entry points exist for those brave enough to explore its dark, damp, and at times, treacherous labyrinthine interior.

Further down the Montenegrin coast are several other resort towns worth visiting - if not for an extended stay, at least for a day trip. Many come to life during the warmer summer months when tourists, most notably from Russia, come to enjoy the sparkling waters and a sense of opulence. At other times, towns like Budva are understated and all but abandoned.

The town of Bar is famous mostly for its train station that is the starting or ending point for one of the country's - and continent's - most sensational train rides. But a day there delivers several underrated attractions, such as an olive tree purported more than 2,000 years old.

From Bar, it's possible to take perhaps one of Europe's most dramatic train journeys inland to the capital, or further into neighbouring Serbia. Often ironically called the Montenegro Express it's not a journey for those in a rush, nor for those concerned about heights, stuffy carriages, and the occasional rusted bridge strut. But for just a handful of coins, the train ride delivers some of the most incredible high-altitude railway scenery imaginable - particularly if you time it during Autumn.

The train route was initially built to run Tito's Blue Train, which now languishes in a storage facility in Belgrade. Over the course of the journey between Bar and Belgrade, the train goes through 254 tunnels and crosses 435 bridges, including the Mala Rijeka Viaduct, which at the time was the highest of its kind in the world.

Getting into Montenegro

South Africans need a passport valid for at least three months after arrival in Montenegro. A visa is required for entry - which can be obtained at the Serbian consulate in Pretoria. But holders of a valid visa issued by Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, or any Schengen member state, are allowed 30 days of visa-free entry.

British nationals are allowed a visa-free stay of up to 90 days.

At the time of publication, arriving travellers in Montenegro must have a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours or travel or have been fully vaccinated 14 days prior to arrival.

Getting to Montenegro

There is no direct flight from South Africa to Montenegro. 

Several airlines route via European hubs, but the fastest route between the two countries is on Turkish Airlines. The best option departs Johannesburg on Saturday evening, requires a connection in Istanbul, and arrives in Podgorica before 9AM the next morning. 

Depending on dates and routes, flights cost between R10,000 and R14,000 return to South Africa - and roughly the same if you continue on to the United Kingdom with no South African return leg.

Avoiding quarantine

Montenegro is currently on the United Kingdom's Amber List. Provided travellers remain in this region for 10 days, it should be enough to avoid South Africa's red list status.

According to UK government regulations, prior to travel unvaccinated travellers arriving in England must have booked and paid for two future Covid-19 tests. On arrival in England unvaccinated travellers must present a negative Covid test. 

Travellers from Amber regions do not have to quarantine at a government-mandated facility - but must quarantine in the place they are staying for 10 days - and take the Covid-19 tests on days two and eight.

www.samigration.com.