Proof of Permanent Residency ( PR)

Why does one do this 

Obtaining permanent residency is your ticket to securing a full-time residency in South Africa. This alleviates the headache of renewing your visa every few years while still enabling you to enjoy every moment of your stay in South Africa. This is why we call it “Permanent” residency. It is important to make sure that you look after your PR certificate. 

While obtaining your permanent residency is a joyous occasion, it is important to be able to produce a proof of permanent residency (PR) upon request.

A PR certificate is issued upon successful application for your permanent residency. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will only issue you this certificate once, therefore obtaining a certified copy and looking after your original copy is very important. The only time you will need to take your PR Certificate out of its safe place will be upon exiting South Africa and entering a new country. Obtaining a proof of residency letter can confirm your status and the legitimacy thereof. This can also function as a back-up if you lose your original copy saving you loads of stress if things don’t go your way.

If you happen to misplace your certificate, it is not the end of the world. Although you may only receive the certificate once, the application for “confirmation of status” solidifies your status as a permanent resident. This letter comes in the form of a permanent residency letter, which can be applied for before or after misplacing your original proof of permanent residency. You know the saying, better safe than sorry, as this letter can take upwards of 6 months to be approved. Try and obtain your confirmation of status letter as soon as possible!

Once you have obtained permanent residency certificate for South Africa, you need to make sure that you comply with any conditions listed on the bottom of the A4 page. If you are unsure about how to comply with the conditions on your permanent residency certificate, make sure to obtain legal advise so you do not invalidate all of the hard work that you have done to obtain your certificate. You also need to apply for your South African identity book and convert your driver’s license to a South African version.

To apply for naturalization as a South African citizen: If you are a permanent resident of South Africa and you want to apply for naturalization as a South African citizen, you will need to provide proof of your permanent residency status as part of the application process.

If you leave South Africa and do not return after three or more years, your permanent residency is at risk of being revoked.  It is strongly suggested to seek professional legal advice. This is only if you are leaving the country for extended periods at a time.

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