The South African retired person visa is issued under section 20 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 and Regulation 19. It is for a foreign national who intends to retire in South Africa for more than three months and can prove a lifelong pension, an irrevocable annuity or retirement account paying a prescribed monthly minimum, or a prescribed net worth.
There is no minimum age in the Act. The test is financial. The monthly amount is set by Ministerial notice in the Gazette, and South African missions currently quote different figures, so confirm it with the mission that will handle your application.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Qualifying income: a lifelong pension, irrevocable annuity or retirement account paying at least the prescribed monthly minimum from your country of origin, or
- Qualifying net worth: assets that provide at least the prescribed minimum per month
- Police clearance with every application
- Medical and radiological reports: A blanket waiver signed on 8 July 2026 (gazetted on 17 July 2026) removed the requirement to submit a medical report for temporary residence visa and permanent residence permit applications. DHA’s own web pages still list it, and the radiological report may or may not be waived too, so check the current VFS checklist before you apply.
- Medical cover for the full stay
- A valid passport with enough validity and blank pages
- No age requirement. The qualification is financial.
On the amount: the South African Embassy in Washington (updated 2 April 2026) and the Toronto consulate quote R37,000 a month, and Canberra also lists R37,000. The Embassy in Copenhagen (November 2025) states R38,000 a month. Because the Regulations leave the figure to the Gazette and missions disagree, treat the amount as something you must confirm before you apply.
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
You need a machine-readable passport valid for at least 30 days after your intended departure from South Africa. Missions ask for at least two blank pages (Copenhagen and Washington) or three (Canberra), so check your mission’s number.
The visa allows you to stay in South Africa on a seasonal or continuous basis. It may be issued for no more than four years and can be renewed.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
Missions publish their own checklists. The common elements are:
- Application form DHA-1738
- A valid passport and the passport photographs your mission specifies
- Proof of pension income: written confirmation from the pension institution, plus certified bank statements for the last six months showing the payments
- Proof of income from assets: evidence of interest, dividends or rental income, with six months of bank statements
- Net worth confirmation from a South African financial institution (Washington asks for this)
- Police clearance, from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more since age 18, at the missions that publish this rule
- Medical report on form BI-811 and radiological report on form BI-806. The radiological report is not required for children under 12 or pregnant women.
- Proof of a valid return or onward ticket, or its purchase (Copenhagen)
- A yellow fever certificate only if you are travelling from or through an endemic area (Copenhagen)
- Proof of payment of the fee. This differs by mission, for example AUD 37 in Canberra, CAD 32 in Toronto and DKK 246 in Copenhagen.
For a spouse, add a marriage certificate or proof of a permanent relationship. For dependent children, add proof of parental rights or a consent affidavit.
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
Medical cover. Washington requires valid medical cover for the full stay, renewable annually, with a scheme registered under the Medical Schemes Act. See the Washington requirements.
Work. The retired person visa is not a work visa. The Act says the Department may authorise a holder to work on conditions it sets, so ask Home Affairs before you take any paid work.
Tax, exchange control and estate matters are separate from the visa and their rules are not covered here. Ask SARS, your bank (as an authorised dealer) and a qualified adviser before you move money or assets.
Processing time and fee. Ask your mission or its VFS Global centre for the processing time and the rand fee.
How to Prepare or Apply
Apply through the South African mission, or its VFS Global centre, in the country where you live. Start from the Department of Home Affairs and then use your mission’s own page and checklist.
- Ask your mission for the monthly minimum it applies before you assemble any documents.
- Get the pension or annuity confirmation and six months of certified bank statements.
- Arrange police clearance, the BI-811 medical report and the BI-806 radiological report.
- Arrange medical cover with a registered scheme.
- Complete form DHA-1738 and pay your mission’s fee.
- Apply for accompanying family members with their own documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the South African retirement visa requirements?
Prove a lifelong pension, irrevocable annuity, retirement account or net worth producing the prescribed monthly minimum, and supply police clearance, medical and radiological reports, medical cover, a valid passport and form DHA-1738.
How much income do I need for a retired person visa?
The Gazette sets the amount. Washington, Toronto and Canberra quote R37,000 a month, and Copenhagen quotes R38,000. Confirm the current figure with your mission.
Is there a minimum age?
No. The Immigration Act sets no minimum age, only a financial test.
How long is a retired person visa valid?
It is valid for up to four years and can be renewed. It allows seasonal or continuous stay in South Africa.
Can I work on this visa?
Not automatically. The Department may authorise work on conditions it sets, so apply to Home Affairs before you work.
What about medical cover?
Missions such as Washington require valid cover for the full stay, renewed annually, with a scheme registered under the Medical Schemes Act.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Yes, with their own documents: a marriage certificate or proof of a permanent relationship for a spouse, and proof of parental rights or a consent affidavit for dependent children.
Confirm the current monthly minimum, forms and fee with the South African mission handling your application or the Department of Home Affairs. See visa requirements and browse all travel and immigration requirements.