<div id="sa-spousevisa"> <style> @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Newsreader:ital,opsz,wght@0,6..72,400;0,6..72,500;0,6..72,600;0,6..72,700;0,6..72,800;1,6..72,400;1,6..72,500&family=Instrument+Sans:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;1,400&display=swap'); #sa-spousevisa *{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;padding:0} #sa-spousevisa{ /* Palette: dusk. Warm-ivory ground with a faint plum cast; a deep plum leads for editorial gravitas and trust; warm apricot-amber marks milestones and the documents that unlock each step; a dusty teal-blue carries calm information and burnt sienna flags cost and caution. Body text is a deep aubergine-granite. Full variable set, WCAG AA throughout. Kept consistent with the family-immigration series. */ --bg:#faf7f5; --ink:#2a2230; --slate:#5b5262; --muted:#f4eef1; --line:#e8dfe5; --card:#ffffff; --link:#6e2a52; --accent:#6e2a52; --accent-light:#f3e6ee; --accent-dark:#48183a; --wine:#a8452a; --wine-light:#f9ece6; --gold:#8f6410; --gold-light:#fbf2df; --sky:#2f6f86; --sky-light:#e6f1f5; --danger:#a8271d; --danger-light:#fbeeec; --warm:#8a4a23; --good:#2f6b4e; --good-light:#e6f1ea; color:var(--ink); background:var(--bg); font-family:'Instrument Sans',system-ui,sans-serif; font-size:1.04rem; line-height:1.68; -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased; } #sa-spousevisa .wrap{max-width:1100px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 24px} #sa-spousevisa a{color:var(--link);text-decoration:none} #sa-spousevisa a:hover{text-decoration:underline} #sa-spousevisa h2{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:700;font-size:clamp(1.45rem,2.5vw + 0.7rem,1.9rem);line-height:1.18;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin-bottom:.9rem} #sa-spousevisa h3{font-size:1.15rem;font-weight:700;margin:1.4rem 0 .6rem} #sa-spousevisa h4{font-size:1.02rem;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:.3rem} #sa-spousevisa p{margin-bottom:1.35rem} #sa-spousevisa strong{font-weight:600} #sa-spousevisa .hl{background:linear-gradient(transparent 58%,#f7e2ae 58%);padding:0 .05em;font-weight:500} #sa-spousevisa .hl-p{background:linear-gradient(transparent 58%,#ecd6e2 58%);padding:0 .05em;font-weight:500;color:var(--accent-dark)} #sa-spousevisa .hl-c{background:linear-gradient(transparent 58%,#d3e7ee 58%);padding:0 .05em;font-weight:500;color:var(--sky)} #sa-spousevisa .hero{ position:relative;overflow:hidden;color:#fff; background: radial-gradient(120% 90% at 16% 6%, rgba(110,42,82,.55) 0%, rgba(110,42,82,0) 55%), radial-gradient(90% 80% at 94% 100%, rgba(169,118,27,.42) 0%, rgba(169,118,27,0) 60%), linear-gradient(135deg,#2a1424 0%,#42203a 44%,#4c2340 100%); } #sa-spousevisa .hero::before{ content:"";position:absolute;inset:0;opacity:.5;mix-blend-mode:overlay;pointer-events:none; background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='160' height='160'%3E%3Cfilter id='n'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='0.8' numOctaves='2'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23n)' opacity='0.35'/%3E%3C/svg%3E"); } #sa-spousevisa .hero-inner{position:relative;z-index:2;padding:4.5rem 24px 3.5rem;max-width:1100px;margin:0 auto} #sa-spousevisa .badge-hero{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:.5rem;font-size:.72rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#f0c89a;background:rgba(255,255,255,.08);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.16);padding:.4rem .8rem;border-radius:30px;margin-bottom:1.2rem} #sa-spousevisa .pulse{width:8px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;background:#e8a04e;box-shadow:0 0 0 0 rgba(232,160,78,.7);animation:pulse 2s infinite} @keyframes pulse{0%{box-shadow:0 0 0 0 rgba(232,160,78,.6)}70%{box-shadow:0 0 0 9px rgba(232,160,78,0)}100%{box-shadow:0 0 0 0 rgba(232,160,78,0)}} #sa-spousevisa .hero h1{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:800;font-size:clamp(2rem,4.5vw + 0.8rem,3.2rem);line-height:1.07;letter-spacing:-.02em;margin-bottom:1rem;max-width:22ch} #sa-spousevisa .hero .deck{font-size:1.1rem;line-height:1.6;max-width:60ch;color:rgba(255,255,255,.9);margin-bottom:2rem} #sa-spousevisa .hero-grid{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:1rem;align-items:stretch} #sa-spousevisa .risk-badge{display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;background:rgba(255,255,255,.08);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.16);border-radius:14px;padding:1rem 1.3rem;min-width:188px} #sa-spousevisa .risk-badge .score{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:800;font-size:2.4rem;line-height:1;color:#fff} #sa-spousevisa .risk-badge .rl{font-size:.74rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#f0c89a;margin-top:.4rem} #sa-spousevisa .risk-badge .rs{font-size:.82rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.7);margin-top:.15rem} #sa-spousevisa .kpis{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:1rem;flex:1} #sa-spousevisa .kpi{flex:1;min-width:120px;background:rgba(255,255,255,.06);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.12);border-radius:14px;padding:1rem 1.1rem;transition:transform .15s ease} #sa-spousevisa .kpi:hover{transform:translateY(-3px)} #sa-spousevisa .kpi .n{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:700;font-size:1.7rem;line-height:1;color:#fff} #sa-spousevisa .kpi .l{font-size:.76rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.72);margin-top:.4rem;line-height:1.35} #sa-spousevisa .hero .meta{margin-top:2rem;font-size:.82rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);display:flex;gap:1.2rem;flex-wrap:wrap} #sa-spousevisa .quicklinks{position:relative;z-index:3;margin-top:-1.5rem} #sa-spousevisa .ql-inner{background:var(--card);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:14px;box-shadow:0 8px 30px rgba(19,36,32,.08);padding:.9rem 1rem;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:.5rem} #sa-spousevisa .chip{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:.4rem;font-size:.82rem;font-weight:600;padding:6px 14px;border-radius:30px;background:var(--muted);color:var(--ink);border:1px solid var(--line);transition:all .15s} #sa-spousevisa .chip:hover{background:var(--accent);color:#fff;text-decoration:none;border-color:var(--accent)} #sa-spousevisa .chip.wine{background:var(--wine-light);color:var(--wine);border-color:#f0d5cf} #sa-spousevisa .chip.wine:hover{background:var(--wine);color:#fff} #sa-spousevisa .chip.sky{background:var(--sky-light);color:var(--sky);border-color:#d3e7ef} #sa-spousevisa .chip.sky:hover{background:var(--sky);color:#fff} #sa-spousevisa .chip.gold{background:var(--gold-light);color:var(--gold);border-color:#ecdcae} #sa-spousevisa .chip.gold:hover{background:var(--gold);color:#fff} #sa-spousevisa .share{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:.5rem;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:1.4rem 0 0} #sa-spousevisa .share span.lbl{font-size:.74rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--slate)} #sa-spousevisa .share button,#sa-spousevisa .share a.sh{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;width:38px;height:38px;border-radius:10px;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--card);color:var(--slate);cursor:pointer;transition:all .15s} #sa-spousevisa .share button:hover,#sa-spousevisa .share a.sh:hover{background:var(--accent);color:#fff;border-color:var(--accent);text-decoration:none} #sa-spousevisa .share .copied{font-size:.78rem;color:var(--good);font-weight:600;opacity:0;transition:opacity .2s} #sa-spousevisa .share .copied.on{opacity:1} #sa-spousevisa main{padding:2.4rem 0 1rem} #sa-spousevisa article.content{max-width:76ch;margin:0 auto} #sa-spousevisa .section-label{display:inline-block;font-size:.7rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.12em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:.25rem .6rem;border-radius:5px;margin-bottom:.6rem} #sa-spousevisa .lbl-wine{background:var(--wine-light);color:var(--wine)} #sa-spousevisa .lbl-sky{background:var(--sky-light);color:var(--sky)} #sa-spousevisa .lbl-gold{background:var(--gold-light);color:var(--gold)} #sa-spousevisa .lbl-accent{background:var(--accent-light);color:var(--accent)} #sa-spousevisa h2.divider{border-top:2px solid var(--line);padding-top:2rem;margin-top:2.6rem} #sa-spousevisa .highlight-box{background:var(--muted);border:1px solid var(--line);border-left:4px solid var(--accent);border-radius:10px;padding:1.25rem 1.4rem;margin:1.75rem 0;line-height:1.72} #sa-spousevisa .highlight-box h4{margin-bottom:.5rem} #sa-spousevisa .highlight-box ul{margin:.5rem 0 0;padding-left:1.1rem} #sa-spousevisa .highlight-box li{margin-bottom:.35rem} #sa-spousevisa .req-box{background:var(--card);border:1px solid var(--line);border-top:3px solid var(--accent);border-radius:14px;padding:1.4rem 1.5rem;margin:1.75rem 0;box-shadow:0 4px 18px rgba(74,24,58,.06)} #sa-spousevisa .req-box .req-head{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:700;font-size:1.2rem;margin-bottom:.3rem} #sa-spousevisa .req-box .req-intro{font-size:.92rem;color:var(--slate);margin-bottom:1rem} #sa-spousevisa .req-list{list-style:none;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:.6rem} #sa-spousevisa .req-list li{position:relative;padding-left:2rem;font-size:.97rem;line-height:1.5} #sa-spousevisa .req-list li::before{content:"";position:absolute;left:0;top:1px;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--accent-light) url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='%236e2a52' stroke-width='3.2' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M20 6 9 17l-5-5'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center/12px no-repeat} #sa-spousevisa .req-list li.req-flag{background:var(--gold-light);border:1px solid #ecd9a3;border-radius:9px;padding:.75rem .9rem .75rem 2.5rem;margin:.2rem 0} #sa-spousevisa .req-list li.req-flag::before{left:.7rem;top:.85rem;background:#fff url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='%238f6410' stroke-width='3.2' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M12 9v4M12 17h.01M10.29 3.86 1.82 18a2 2 0 0 0 1.71 3h16.94a2 2 0 0 0 1.71-3L13.71 3.86a2 2 0 0 0-3.42 0z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center/13px no-repeat} #sa-spousevisa .req-tag{display:inline-block;font-size:.6rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.07em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#fff;background:var(--gold);padding:.12rem .42rem;border-radius:4px;margin-right:.45rem;vertical-align:1px} #sa-spousevisa .req-list li.req-flag strong{color:#6b520f} #sa-spousevisa .toc{background:var(--card);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:14px;padding:1.3rem 1.4rem;margin:1.75rem 0} #sa-spousevisa .toc .toc-head{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;cursor:pointer} #sa-spousevisa .toc .toc-head h4{font-size:.78rem;letter-spacing:.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--slate);margin:0} #sa-spousevisa .toc .chev{transition:transform .25s} #sa-spousevisa .toc.collapsed .chev{transform:rotate(-90deg)} #sa-spousevisa .toc ol{list-style:none;display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:.55rem 1.4rem;margin-top:1rem;counter-reset:toc} #sa-spousevisa .toc.collapsed ol{display:none} #sa-spousevisa .toc li{counter-increment:toc} #sa-spousevisa .toc a{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:.6rem;font-size:.93rem;color:var(--ink)} #sa-spousevisa .toc a::before{content:counter(toc);flex:0 0 auto;width:26px;height:26px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--accent-light);color:var(--accent);font-size:.78rem;font-weight:700;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center} #sa-spousevisa .toc a:hover{text-decoration:none;color:var(--accent)} #sa-spousevisa .alert{border-radius:10px;padding:1.1rem 1.2rem 1.1rem 1.15rem;margin:1.6rem 0;border:1px solid;display:flex;gap:.8rem;line-height:1.62} #sa-spousevisa .alert svg{flex:0 0 auto;margin-top:2px} #sa-spousevisa .alert h4{margin-bottom:.3rem} #sa-spousevisa .alert p:last-child{margin-bottom:0} #sa-spousevisa .alert-danger{background:var(--danger-light);border-color:#f3ccc7;color:#5e1812} #sa-spousevisa .alert-danger h4{color:var(--danger)} #sa-spousevisa .alert-warn{background:var(--gold-light);border-color:#ecd9a3;color:#5c4410} #sa-spousevisa .alert-warn h4{color:var(--gold)} #sa-spousevisa .alert-info{background:var(--sky-light);border-color:#cfe4ed;color:#173f4f} #sa-spousevisa .alert-info h4{color:var(--sky)} #sa-spousevisa .alert-good{background:var(--good-light);border-color:#c4e0cf;color:#163f2b} #sa-spousevisa .alert-good h4{color:var(--good)} #sa-spousevisa .key-takeaway{background:var(--accent-light);border-left:4px solid var(--accent);border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;padding:.85rem 1.1rem;margin:1.5rem 0;font-size:.97rem;line-height:1.6} #sa-spousevisa .key-takeaway strong{color:var(--accent)} #sa-spousevisa .pull-quote{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-size:1.32rem;line-height:1.4;font-weight:500;text-align:center;color:var(--ink);border-top:2px solid var(--line);border-bottom:2px solid var(--line);padding:1.5rem 1rem;margin:2rem 0;font-style:italic} #sa-spousevisa .pull-quote .pq-source{display:block;font-family:'Instrument Sans',sans-serif;font-size:.78rem;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--slate);margin-top:.8rem} #sa-spousevisa .stats-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(140px,1fr));gap:.85rem;margin:1.75rem 0} #sa-spousevisa .stat-card{background:var(--card);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:12px;padding:1.15rem;transition:transform .15s ease,box-shadow .15s ease} #sa-spousevisa .stat-card:hover{transform:translateY(-2px);box-shadow:0 6px 18px rgba(74,24,58,.07)} #sa-spousevisa .stat-card .n{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:700;font-size:2rem;line-height:1;color:var(--ink)} #sa-spousevisa .stat-card .l{font-size:.82rem;color:var(--slate);margin-top:.45rem;line-height:1.35} #sa-spousevisa .grid-2{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:.85rem;margin:1.75rem 0} #sa-spousevisa .s-card{background:var(--card);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:12px;padding:1.15rem;transition:transform .15s ease,box-shadow .15s ease} #sa-spousevisa .s-card:hover{transform:translateY(-2px);box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(74,24,58,.08)} #sa-spousevisa .s-card .ic{display:inline-flex;width:34px;height:34px;border-radius:9px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;background:var(--accent-light);color:var(--accent);margin-bottom:.6rem} #sa-spousevisa .s-card.r .ic{background:var(--wine-light);color:var(--wine)} #sa-spousevisa .s-card.b .ic{background:var(--sky-light);color:var(--sky)} #sa-spousevisa .s-card.g .ic{background:var(--good-light);color:var(--good)} #sa-spousevisa .s-card.gd .ic{background:var(--gold-light);color:var(--gold)} #sa-spousevisa .s-card .sub{font-size:.93rem;color:var(--slate);margin-top:.3rem} #sa-spousevisa .s-card .tagline{font-size:.72rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--accent);float:right;margin-top:.15rem} #sa-spousevisa .s-card.r .tagline{color:var(--wine)} #sa-spousevisa .s-card.b .tagline{color:var(--sky)} #sa-spousevisa .s-card.g .tagline{color:var(--good)} #sa-spousevisa .badge{display:inline-block;font-size:.68rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.04em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:.2rem .5rem;border-radius:5px;margin-top:.5rem} #sa-spousevisa .badge-green{background:var(--good-light);color:var(--good)} #sa-spousevisa .badge-blue{background:var(--sky-light);color:var(--sky)} #sa-spousevisa .badge-red{background:var(--danger-light);color:var(--danger)} #sa-spousevisa .badge-gold{background:var(--gold-light);color:var(--gold)} #sa-spousevisa .duty-scale{margin:1.6rem 0;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;background:var(--card)} #sa-spousevisa .duty-row{display:flex;align-items:baseline;justify-content:space-between;gap:1rem;padding:.7rem 1.1rem;border-top:1px solid var(--line);font-size:.95rem} #sa-spousevisa .duty-row:first-child{border-top:none} #sa-spousevisa .duty-row.head{background:var(--muted);font-size:.72rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.07em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--slate)} #sa-spousevisa .duty-row .band{color:var(--slate)} #sa-spousevisa .duty-row .rate{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:700;color:var(--accent-dark);flex:0 0 auto;text-align:right} #sa-spousevisa .duty-row .rate .fx{display:block;font-family:'Instrument Sans',sans-serif;font-weight:500;font-size:.72rem;color:var(--slate)} #sa-spousevisa .duty-row.zero .rate{color:var(--good)} #sa-spousevisa .chart-wrap{position:relative;background:var(--card);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:14px;padding:1.3rem 1.3rem 2.2rem;margin:1.9rem 0;box-shadow:0 4px 20px rgba(74,24,58,.05)} #sa-spousevisa .chart-wrap::after{content:"capetowndata.com";position:absolute;right:14px;bottom:10px;font-size:.64rem;color:#b8b2a6;letter-spacing:.03em} #sa-spousevisa .chart-title{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:700;font-size:1.12rem;margin-bottom:.2rem} #sa-spousevisa .chart-sub{font-size:.82rem;color:var(--slate);margin-bottom:1rem} #sa-spousevisa .chart-wrap svg{width:100%;height:auto;display:block} #sa-spousevisa .chart-zoom-btn{position:absolute;top:12px;right:12px;width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:8px;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--card);color:var(--slate);cursor:pointer;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;z-index:2} #sa-spousevisa .chart-zoom-btn:hover{background:var(--accent);color:#fff;border-color:var(--accent)} #sa-spousevisa .chart-overlay{display:none;position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(18,24,22,.88);z-index:9999;padding:24px;align-items:center;justify-content:center} #sa-spousevisa .chart-overlay.on{display:flex} #sa-spousevisa .chart-overlay .ov-inner{background:var(--card);border-radius:14px;padding:1.4rem;max-width:980px;width:100%;max-height:92vh;overflow:auto;position:relative} #sa-spousevisa .chart-overlay .ov-close{position:absolute;top:10px;right:10px;width:36px;height:36px;border-radius:9px;border:none;background:var(--muted);color:var(--ink);font-size:1.2rem;cursor:pointer} #sa-spousevisa .chart-overlay svg{width:100%;height:auto} #sa-spousevisa .timeline{margin:1.75rem 0;border-left:2px solid var(--line);padding-left:1.4rem;counter-reset:step} #sa-spousevisa .tl-item{position:relative;padding-bottom:1.5rem} #sa-spousevisa .tl-item::before{counter-increment:step;content:counter(step);position:absolute;left:-2.05rem;top:-.1rem;width:24px;height:24px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--accent);color:#fff;font-size:.74rem;font-weight:700;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:2px solid var(--card)} #sa-spousevisa .tl-item .d{font-size:.72rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold)} #sa-spousevisa .tl-item h4{margin:.15rem 0 .2rem} #sa-spousevisa .tl-item p{font-size:.95rem;margin-bottom:0;color:var(--slate)} #sa-spousevisa .compliance{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:.7rem;margin:1.6rem 0} #sa-spousevisa .comp-cert{background:var(--card);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;padding:.85rem 1rem;transition:transform .15s ease,box-shadow .15s ease} #sa-spousevisa .comp-cert:hover{transform:translateY(-2px);box-shadow:0 6px 18px rgba(74,24,58,.07)} #sa-spousevisa .comp-cert .ct{font-weight:700;font-size:.95rem} #sa-spousevisa .comp-cert .cc{font-size:.8rem;color:var(--slate);margin-top:.2rem} #sa-spousevisa .comp-cert .cp{font-family:'Newsreader',serif;font-weight:700;color:var(--accent-dark);font-size:.88rem;margin-top:.35rem} #sa-spousevisa .faq{margin:1.5rem 0} #sa-spousevisa .faq-item{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;margin-bottom:.6rem;background:var(--card);overflow:hidden} #sa-spousevisa .faq-q{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:1rem;padding:1rem 1.15rem;cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;font-size:1rem} #sa-spousevisa .faq-q .fc{transition:transform .25s;flex:0 0 auto} #sa-spousevisa .faq-item.open .fc{transform:rotate(45deg)} #sa-spousevisa .faq-a{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:max-height .3s ease;padding:0 1.15rem} #sa-spousevisa .faq-item.open .faq-a{max-height:640px;padding-bottom:1.1rem} #sa-spousevisa .faq-a p{font-size:.95rem;color:var(--slate);margin:0} #sa-spousevisa .pc-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:.85rem;margin:1.75rem 0} #sa-spousevisa .pros-card,#sa-spousevisa .cons-card{border-radius:12px;padding:1.2rem 1.3rem;border:1px solid} #sa-spousevisa .pros-card{background:var(--good-light);border-color:#c4e0cf} #sa-spousevisa .cons-card{background:var(--gold-light);border-color:#ecd9a3} 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h4{font-size:.82rem;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--slate);margin:.9rem 0 .4rem} #sa-spousevisa .sources-box h4:first-child{margin-top:0} #sa-spousevisa .sources-box ul{list-style:none;font-size:.86rem;line-height:1.5} #sa-spousevisa .sources-box li{margin-bottom:.3rem;color:var(--slate)} #sa-spousevisa .legal{font-size:.78rem;color:#9a948a;line-height:1.6;border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding-top:1.3rem;margin-top:2rem} #sa-spousevisa footer.ft{border-top:1px solid var(--line);margin-top:1.5rem;padding:1.5rem 0;font-size:.84rem;color:var(--slate);display:flex;justify-content:space-between;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:.6rem} /* ---------- Lead figure ---------- */ #sa-spousevisa .lead-figure{margin:0 auto 2rem;max-width:600px;text-align:center} #sa-spousevisa .lead-figure img{width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:14px;border:1px solid var(--line);box-shadow:0 10px 34px rgba(74,24,58,.14);display:block} #sa-spousevisa .lead-figure figcaption{font-size:.78rem;color:var(--slate);margin-top:.55rem;font-style:italic} @media (max-width:640px){#sa-spousevisa .lead-figure{max-width:100%}} @media (max-width:680px){ #sa-spousevisa .grid-2,#sa-spousevisa .pc-grid,#sa-spousevisa .compliance{grid-template-columns:1fr} #sa-spousevisa .toc ol{grid-template-columns:1fr} } @media (max-width:640px){ #sa-spousevisa{font-size:1rem} #sa-spousevisa article.content{max-width:100%} #sa-spousevisa .wrap{padding:0 16px} #sa-spousevisa .hero-inner{padding:3rem 16px 2.5rem} #sa-spousevisa .hero .deck{font-size:1rem} #sa-spousevisa .risk-badge .score{font-size:2rem} #sa-spousevisa .stat-card .n{font-size:1.7rem} #sa-spousevisa .sum-item{flex-direction:column;gap:.3rem} #sa-spousevisa .sum-item .sl{flex:none} #sa-spousevisa .duty-row{flex-wrap:wrap;gap:.2rem} } @media (max-width:480px){ #sa-spousevisa .stats-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr} } </style> <!-- ===================== HERO ===================== --> <header class="hero"> <div class="hero-inner"> <span class="badge-hero"><span class="pulse"></span>Spousal Visa &middot; South Africa</span> <h1>The Spousal Visa That Lets You Work in South Africa</h1> <p class="deck">The spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident does not need a general work visa to take a job, run a business or study. A single provision, section 11(6) of the Immigration Act, lets the spousal visa be endorsed for work, with none of the Points-Based System, critical-skills list or quotas a normal work visa demands, and none of the multi-million-rand capital a business visa requires. Here is how it works in 2026, step by step, with the documents and the numbers that matter.</p> <div class="hero-grid"> <div class="risk-badge"> <div class="score">R0</div> <div class="rl">Business capital required</div> <div class="rs">A business visa demands R5 million; this route, nothing</div> </div> <div class="kpis"> <div class="kpi"><div class="n">No PBS</div><div class="l">Work rights skip the Points-Based System, critical-skills list and quotas</div></div> <div class="kpi"><div class="n">6 to 12 wks</div><div class="l">Typical processing, often faster when applied for inside South Africa</div></div> <div class="kpi"><div class="n">5 years</div><div class="l">Continuous relationship after which you can apply for permanent residence</div></div> </div> </div> <div class="meta"> <span>Updated 6 July 2026</span> <span>About a 15 minute read</span> <span>By Cape Town Data</span> </div> </div> </header> <nav class="quicklinks" aria-label="Section quick links"> <div class="wrap"><div class="ql-inner"> <a class="chip" href="#what">What It Is</a> <a class="chip gold" href="#advantage">Why It Beats a Work Visa</a> <a class="chip" href="#qualify">Who Qualifies</a> <a class="chip wine" href="#documents">Documents</a> <a class="chip sky" href="#timeline">Time &amp; Cost</a> <a class="chip" href="#process">The Process</a> <a class="chip" href="#after">After Approval</a> <a class="chip" href="#pr">Road to PR</a> <a class="chip" href="#developments">2026 Changes</a> <a class="chip" href="#faq">Questions</a> </div></div> </nav> <main> <div class="wrap"> <article class="content"> <!-- Lead image --> <figure class="lead-figure"> <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Couple_Destination_Wedding_-_Dubai.jpg/960px-Couple_Destination_Wedding_-_Dubai.jpg" width="1500" height="1001" loading="lazy" alt="A newly married couple at a destination wedding."> <figcaption>A marriage is the whole foundation of the section 11(6) route: you qualify through your relationship, not the labour market.</figcaption> </figure> <!-- Social share --> <div class="share"> <span class="lbl">Share</span> <a class="sh" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The%20Spousal%20Visa%20That%20Lets%20You%20Work%20in%20South%20Africa&url=https://capetowndata.com" aria-label="Share on X"> <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor"><path d="M18.244 2.25h3.308l-7.227 8.26 8.502 11.24h-6.66l-5.214-6.817L4.99 21.75H1.68l7.73-8.835L1.254 2.25H8.08l4.713 6.231 5.45-6.231Zm-1.161 17.52h1.833L7.084 4.126H5.117L17.083 19.77Z"/></svg> </a> <a class="sh" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://capetowndata.com" aria-label="Share on Facebook"> <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor"><path d="M24 12.07C24 5.4 18.63 0 12 0S0 5.4 0 12.07C0 18.1 4.39 23.1 10.13 24v-8.44H7.08v-3.49h3.05V9.41c0-3.02 1.79-4.69 4.53-4.69 1.31 0 2.68.24 2.68.24v2.97h-1.51c-1.49 0-1.96.93-1.96 1.89v2.25h3.33l-.53 3.49h-2.8V24C19.61 23.1 24 18.1 24 12.07Z"/></svg> </a> <a class="sh" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://wa.me/?text=The%20Spousal%20Visa%20That%20Lets%20You%20Work%20in%20South%20Africa%20https://capetowndata.com" aria-label="Share on WhatsApp"> <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor"><path d="M.057 24l1.687-6.163a11.867 11.867 0 01-1.587-5.946C.16 5.335 5.495 0 12.05 0a11.82 11.82 0 018.413 3.488 11.82 11.82 0 013.48 8.414c-.003 6.557-5.338 11.892-11.893 11.892a11.9 11.9 0 01-5.688-1.448L.057 24zm6.597-3.807c1.676.995 3.276 1.591 5.392 1.592 5.448 0 9.886-4.434 9.889-9.885.002-5.462-4.415-9.89-9.881-9.892-5.452 0-9.887 4.434-9.889 9.884a9.86 9.86 0 001.51 5.26l-.999 3.648 3.477-.918zm11.387-5.464c-.074-.124-.272-.198-.57-.347-.297-.149-1.758-.868-2.031-.967-.272-.099-.47-.149-.669.149-.198.297-.768.967-.941 1.165-.173.198-.347.223-.644.074-.297-.149-1.255-.462-2.39-1.475-.883-.788-1.48-1.761-1.653-2.059-.173-.297-.018-.458.13-.606.134-.133.297-.347.446-.521.151-.172.2-.296.3-.495.099-.198.05-.372-.025-.521-.075-.148-.669-1.611-.916-2.206-.242-.579-.487-.501-.669-.51l-.57-.01c-.198 0-.52.074-.792.372s-1.04 1.016-1.04 2.479 1.065 2.876 1.213 3.074c.149.198 2.095 3.2 5.076 4.487.709.306 1.263.489 1.694.626.712.226 1.36.194 1.872.118.571-.085 1.758-.719 2.006-1.413.247-.694.247-1.289.173-1.413z"/></svg> </a> <a class="sh" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="mailto:?subject=The%20Spousal%20Visa%20That%20Lets%20You%20Work%20in%20South%20Africa&body=https://capetowndata.com" aria-label="Share by email"> <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><rect x="2" y="4" width="20" height="16" rx="2"/><path d="m22 7-10 6L2 7"/></svg> </a> <button onclick="svCopy()" aria-label="Copy link"><svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M10 13a5 5 0 0 0 7.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 0 0-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71"/><path d="M14 11a5 5 0 0 0-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 0 0 7.07 7.07l1.71-1.71"/></svg></button> <span class="copied" id="svCopied">Link copied</span> </div> <!-- Requirements checklist --> <div class="req-box"> <div class="req-head">The work-endorsed spousal visa, in brief</div> <p class="req-intro">The full guide is below. If you read nothing else, read this checklist.</p> <ul class="req-list"> <li class="req-flag"><span class="req-tag">The advantage</span><strong>Work rights on a job offer alone.</strong> A section 11(6) work endorsement needs only an employment offer. It skips the Points-Based System, the critical-skills list and the quotas a general work visa demands, and a business endorsement skips the business visa's multi-million-rand capital rule.</li> <li><strong>It is a spousal visa, not a work visa.</strong> The base visa grants residence; you request a work, study or business endorsement on top of it. Only the spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident qualifies.</li> <li><strong>The endorsement is job-specific.</strong> Your visa authorises one named employer and role. Change jobs and you must apply for a new endorsement, though the visa itself stays valid.</li> <li><strong>The visa is tied to the relationship, not the job.</strong> Losing your job does not end the visa, but you must stop working until a new endorsement is granted. If the marriage or partnership ends, the visa lapses.</li> <li><strong>You can now apply inside South Africa.</strong> Since the Nandutu judgment, spouses who entered legally and hold a valid visa can change status without leaving the country.</li> <li><strong>The government visa fee is waived</strong> for a recognised spouse or life partner. You still meet a VFS service fee and small supporting costs.</li> <li><strong>It is a path to permanent residence.</strong> After five years of continuous marriage or partnership, you can apply for permanent residence under section 26(b).</li> </ul> </div> <!-- TOC --> <nav class="toc" id="toc" aria-label="Table of contents"> <div class="toc-head" onclick="document.getElementById('toc').classList.toggle('collapsed')"> <h4>In this guide</h4> <svg class="chev" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="m6 9 6 6 6-6"/></svg> </div> <ol> <li><a href="#what">What the section 11(6) visa is</a></li> <li><a href="#advantage">Why it beats a general work visa</a></li> <li><a href="#qualify">Who qualifies</a></li> <li><a href="#documents">The documents you will need</a></li> <li><a href="#timeline">How long it takes, and what it costs</a></li> <li><a href="#process">The process, step by step</a></li> <li><a href="#after">After you are approved</a></li> <li><a href="#pr">The road to permanent residence</a></li> <li><a href="#abroad">Applying from outside South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="#mistakes">Mistakes that cost time</a></li> <li><a href="#developments">What is changing in 2026</a></li> <li><a href="#faq">Questions answered</a></li> </ol> </nav> <!-- ===================== WHAT ===================== --> <h2 id="what">What the section 11(6) visa is</h2> <p>South African law classifies the spousal visa as a visitor's visa, but it behaves nothing like a tourist visa. Issued under <span class="hl">section 11(6) of the Immigration Act</span> to the spouse or life partner of a citizen or permanent resident, it lets you live in the country, and, with the right endorsement, work, study or run a business. The base visa on its own grants residence only. The right to earn a living is a separate endorsement you request on top of it.</p> <p>That distinction is the whole point. Rather than qualifying for a work visa in your own right, competing on skills and quotas, you qualify through your relationship, and the endorsement simply switches on the activity you want to pursue. There are three: a <span class="hl-p">work</span> endorsement, tied to a job offer; a <span class="hl-p">business</span> endorsement, to run your own company; and a <span class="hl-p">study</span> endorsement, to enrol at an institution.</p> <div class="key-takeaway"><strong>Key takeaway:</strong> The section 11(6) visa is relationship-based but purpose-bound. You qualify because of who you are married to, but you must still show a real activity, a job, a business or a course, for the endorsement that lets you pursue it.</div> <div class="alert alert-info"> <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10"/><path d="M12 16v-4M12 8h.01"/></svg> <div> <h4>Section 11(6) is not the relative's visa</h4> <p>These two are often confused. A relative's visa is for family members of a South African and allows no work, study or business at all, and it carries a financial threshold of R8,500 per person per month that the sponsor must prove. The section 11(6) spousal visa is only for a spouse or life partner, carries no such income test, and is the only route that can be endorsed to let that partner work. If you want to earn in South Africa through your relationship, section 11(6) is the visa, not the relative's visa.</p> </div> </div> <!-- ===================== ADVANTAGE ===================== --> <span class="section-label lbl-gold" style="display:block;margin-top:2.6rem">The Core Advantage</span> <h2 id="advantage" class="divider" style="margin-top:.6rem;border-top:none;padding-top:0">Why it beats a general work visa</h2> <p>For most foreign spouses, this route is dramatically easier than the alternatives, and it is worth understanding exactly why before anything else. A general work visa makes you clear the Points-Based System, prove your role sits on the critical-skills list or survive a labour-market test, and compete within quotas. A business visa demands a large capital investment. The spousal endorsement sweeps all of that away.</p> <div class="grid-2"> <div class="s-card g"> <span class="tagline">Spousal route</span> <div class="ic"><svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M20 6 9 17l-5-5"/></svg></div> <h4>Section 11(6) work endorsement</h4> <p class="sub">A job offer is enough. No Points-Based System, no critical-skills list, no quota, no labour-market test. For business, you register a company with no minimum-capital rule. The government visa fee is waived.</p> </div> <div class="s-card r"> <span class="tagline">The alternative</span> <div class="ic"><svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M12 9v4M12 17h.01"/><path d="M10.29 3.86 1.82 18a2 2 0 0 0 1.71 3h16.94a2 2 0 0 0 1.71-3L13.71 3.86a2 2 0 0 0-3.42 0z"/></svg></div> <h4>General work or business visa</h4> <p class="sub">Points-Based System scoring, critical-skills listing or a labour-market test for work; a large capital injection for a business visa. More documents, more scrutiny, longer processing, and a fee to pay.</p> </div> </div> <p>The starkest single difference is capital. Someone building a business in South Africa on a dedicated business visa must generally invest around <span class="hl">R5 million</span>. Through a spousal business endorsement, the same person can register and run a company with no minimum-capital requirement at all. The chart makes the gap plain.</p> <div class="chart-wrap"> <button class="chart-zoom-btn" aria-label="Enlarge chart" onclick="svZoom(this)"><svg width="15" height="15" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8"/><path d="m21 21-4.3-4.3M11 8v6M8 11h6"/></svg></button> <div class="chart-title">The capital barrier the spousal route removes</div> <div class="chart-sub">Minimum business capital typically required. R5 million is about &euro;270,000 or $305,000 at the July 2026 mid-market rate.</div> <!-- scale: max 5,000,000 -> bar area 360px -> px_per_unit = 0.000072 px per rand. Bars start x=176. --> <svg viewBox="0 0 580 150" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-label="Bar chart comparing minimum business capital for a business visa versus the spousal endorsement"> <defs><linearGradient id="svBar" x1="0" x2="1"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#b0562f"/><stop offset="1" stop-color="#8a3a2e"/></linearGradient></defs> <!-- gridlines 0,1m,2m,3m,4m,5m -> x=176,248,320,392,464,536 --> <g stroke="#ece2e6" stroke-width="1"> <line x1="176" y1="16" x2="176" y2="108"/> <line x1="248" y1="16" x2="248" y2="108"/> <line x1="320" y1="16" x2="320" y2="108"/> <line x1="392" y1="16" x2="392" y2="108"/> <line x1="464" y1="16" x2="464" y2="108"/> <line x1="536" y1="16" x2="536" y2="108"/> </g> <g font-family="Instrument Sans" font-size="11" fill="#9a948a" text-anchor="middle"> <text x="176" y="124">R0</text><text x="248" y="124">R1m</text><text x="320" y="124">R2m</text><text x="392" y="124">R3m</text><text x="464" y="124">R4m</text><text x="536" y="124">R5m</text> </g> <g font-family="Instrument Sans" font-size="12.5" fill="#2a2230" text-anchor="end"> <text x="166" y="45">Business visa</text> <text x="166" y="87">Spousal 11(6)</text> </g> <!-- width = value * 0.000072 --> <rect x="176" y="30" width="360.0" height="22" rx="4" fill="url(#svBar)"/> <g font-family="Newsreader" font-size="13" font-weight="700"> <text x="530" y="45" text-anchor="end" fill="#fff">R5,000,000</text> <text x="184" y="87" text-anchor="start" fill="#2f6b4e">R0</text> </g> <text x="214" y="87" font-family="Instrument Sans" font-size="10" font-weight="700" fill="#2f6b4e">no minimum capital</text> </svg> </div> <div class="pull-quote">Qualify through your marriage, not the labour market. A job offer replaces the points test; a marriage certificate replaces the capital.<span class="pq-source">The spousal route in one line</span></div> <!-- ===================== QUALIFY ===================== --> <h2 id="qualify" class="divider">Who qualifies</h2> <p>Two things must be true. You must be the spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident, and you must have a qualifying activity to endorse. The relationship can be a marriage, opposite-sex or same-sex, or a permanent life partnership that has <span class="hl">existed for at least two years</span>, proven with shared finances, cohabitation and the like. A civil union or a marriage recognised under the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act counts.</p> <p>Because the visa is so valuable, it is also among the most heavily scrutinised applications the Department of Home Affairs handles. Officers assess the authenticity of the relationship closely, precisely because it is a target for marriages of convenience. A certificate and a handful of photographs are not enough; the stronger your evidence of a genuine, shared life, joint accounts, a shared lease or bond, correspondence, a documented history, the smoother the adjudication.</p> <div class="alert alert-warn"> <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M10.29 3.86 1.82 18a2 2 0 0 0 1.71 3h16.94a2 2 0 0 0 1.71-3L13.71 3.86a2 2 0 0 0-3.42 0z"/><path d="M12 9v4M12 17h.01"/></svg> <div> <h4>Genuineness is assessed, not assumed</h4> <p>The South African partner completes a joint questionnaire and affidavit, Form 12 on the DHA-1712A, and must attend the submission in person. Build a credible evidence file of the relationship rather than the bare minimum. Minor inconsistencies across documents, or thin proof of a shared life, are common causes of refusal in this category.</p> </div> </div> <!-- ===================== DOCUMENTS ===================== --> <span class="section-label lbl-wine" style="display:block;margin-top:2.6rem">The Paperwork</span> <h2 id="documents" class="divider" style="margin-top:.6rem;border-top:none;padding-top:0">The documents you will need</h2> <p>You need the base spousal bundle plus the extra proof for whichever endorsement you want. Keep names identical across every document, complete the forms in black ink with no alterations, and have anything not in English translated by a sworn translator and foreign documents apostilled or authenticated by DIRCO.</p> <h3>The base bundle, for everyone</h3> <div class="compliance"> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Application form</div><div class="cc">Form DHA-84, the visitor's visa application, in black ink</div><div class="cp">Signed; original only</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Spousal affidavit</div><div class="cc">Form 12 on the DHA-1712A, completed jointly with your South African partner</div><div class="cp">Both partners sign</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Passport</div><div class="cc">Machine-readable, two blank pages, valid beyond the intended stay</div><div class="cp">Plus a certified bio-page copy</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Marriage or partnership proof</div><div class="cc">Unabridged marriage certificate, or proof of a two-year life partnership</div><div class="cp">Apostilled if foreign</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Proof of a shared life</div><div class="cc">Cohabitation, joint finances, shared responsibilities</div><div class="cp">The authenticity evidence</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Partner's status</div><div class="cc">Certified copy of the South African partner's ID or PR permit</div><div class="cp">Proof of sponsor standing</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Medical report</div><div class="cc">Form BI-811, dated within 6 months</div><div class="cp">Required for all applicants</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Radiological report</div><div class="cc">Form BI-806, the chest X-ray; not required under 12 or if pregnant</div><div class="cp">Adults, within 6 months</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Police clearance</div><div class="cc">From each country lived in for 12 months or more since age 18</div><div class="cp">Not older than 6 months</div></div> <div class="comp-cert"><div class="ct">Two passport photos</div><div class="cc">Recent, on a light background</div><div class="cp">Per specification</div></div> </div> <h3>The endorsement extras</h3> <div class="grid-2"> <div class="s-card b"> <div class="ic"><svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M9 11l3 3L22 4"/><path d="M21 12v7a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h11"/></svg></div> <h4>Work endorsement</h4> <p class="sub">A signed job-offer letter or employment contract on company letterhead. The employer's CIPC registration and SARS tax clearance are good practice even where not demanded. Annotate section 11(6) work on the form and in a cover letter.</p> </div> <div class="s-card gd"> <div class="ic"><svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M3 9l9-7 9 7v11a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2z"/><path d="M9 22V12h6v10"/></svg></div> <h4>Business endorsement</h4> <p class="sub">A comprehensive business plan, CIPC company registration, share certificates and SARS registration, plus proof of funds or financial statements if already trading. No minimum-capital threshold applies.</p> </div> <div class="s-card"> <div class="ic"><svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M22 10L12 5 2 10l10 5 10-5z"/><path d="M6 12v5c3 3 9 3 12 0v-5"/></svg></div> <h4>Study endorsement</h4> <p class="sub">A provisional acceptance or offer letter from a registered learning institution, and proof of tuition payment or a scholarship where relevant.</p> </div> <div class="s-card r"> <div class="ic"><svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10"/><path d="M12 16v-4M12 8h.01"/></svg></div> <h4>The one-employer rule</h4> <p class="sub">A work endorsement authorises only the named employer and position. Take a different job and you must apply to vary the conditions, the same paperwork plus a fresh offer, before you start.</p> </div> </div> <!-- ===================== TIME & COST ===================== --> <span class="section-label lbl-sky" style="display:block;margin-top:2.6rem">The Data</span> <h2 id="timeline" class="divider" style="margin-top:.6rem;border-top:none;padding-top:0">How long it takes, and what it costs</h2> <p>On processing, the spousal route is not only simpler than a general work visa, it is usually quicker, and quicker still when you apply from inside South Africa. The chart sets out representative waits across the family and work routes. Treat them as typical figures, not guarantees.</p> <div class="chart-wrap"> <button class="chart-zoom-btn" aria-label="Enlarge chart" onclick="svZoom(this)"><svg width="15" height="15" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8"/><path d="m21 21-4.3-4.3M11 8v6M8 11h6"/></svg></button> <div class="chart-title">Typical processing time by route</div> <div class="chart-sub">Representative waits. Ranges: spousal visa 6 to 12 weeks; general work visa 8 to 16 weeks; permanent residence under 26(b) several months.</div> <!-- scale: max 32 weeks -> bar area 360px -> px_per_unit = 11.25 px per week. Bars start x=176. --> <svg viewBox="0 0 580 175" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-label="Bar chart of typical processing time in weeks by visa route"> <defs><linearGradient id="svTime" x1="0" x2="1"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#8a3f6a"/><stop offset="1" stop-color="#6e2a52"/></linearGradient></defs> <!-- gridlines 0,8,16,24,32 -> x=176,266,356,446,536 --> <g stroke="#ece2e6" stroke-width="1"> <line x1="176" y1="16" x2="176" y2="150"/> <line x1="266" y1="16" x2="266" y2="150"/> <line x1="356" y1="16" x2="356" y2="150"/> <line x1="446" y1="16" x2="446" y2="150"/> <line x1="536" y1="16" x2="536" y2="150"/> </g> <g font-family="Instrument Sans" font-size="11" fill="#9a948a" text-anchor="middle"> <text x="176" y="166">0</text><text x="266" y="166">8</text><text x="356" y="166">16</text><text x="446" y="166">24</text><text x="536" y="166">32 wks</text> </g> <g font-family="Instrument Sans" font-size="12.5" fill="#2a2230" text-anchor="end"> <text x="166" y="44">Spousal 11(6)</text> <text x="166" y="82">General work visa</text> <text x="166" y="120">Residence 26(b)</text> </g> <!-- widths = weeks * 11.25 --> <rect x="176" y="28" width="101.3" height="22" rx="4" fill="url(#svTime)"/> <rect x="176" y="66" width="135.0" height="22" rx="4" fill="url(#svTime)"/> <rect x="176" y="104" width="292.5" height="22" rx="4" fill="url(#svTime)"/> <g font-family="Newsreader" font-size="13" font-weight="700" fill="#2a2230"> <text x="285" y="44">~9 wks</text> <text x="319" y="82">~12 wks</text> <text x="462" y="120" text-anchor="end" fill="#fff">~26 wks</text> </g> </svg> </div> <p>Those timelines are far more dependable than they were. For years, applications piled up at Home Affairs into a backlog the department itself likened to a handbrake on the country. A concentrated clearance drive cleared it, and the effect for spouses mid-process is real: ordinary applications move at an ordinary pace, and a concession protects the lawful status of anyone still waiting, with long-term applications pending as of 1 April 2026 extended automatically until 30 June 2027.</p> <div class="chart-wrap"> <button class="chart-zoom-btn" aria-label="Enlarge chart" onclick="svZoom(this)"><svg width="15" height="15" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8"/><path d="m21 21-4.3-4.3M11 8v6M8 11h6"/></svg></button> <div class="chart-title">The Home Affairs visa and permit backlog, cleared</div> <div class="chart-sub">Unprocessed visa and permit applications. Source: Department of Home Affairs, backlog clearance reported February 2025.</div> <!-- scale: max 320,000 -> bar area 360px -> px_per_unit = 0.001125 px per application. Bars start x=176. --> <svg viewBox="0 0 580 150" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-label="Bar chart of the Home Affairs backlog before and after clearance"> <defs><linearGradient id="svBack" x1="0" x2="1"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#8a3f6a"/><stop offset="1" stop-color="#6e2a52"/></linearGradient></defs> <!-- gridlines 0,100k,200k,300k -> x=176,288.5,401,513.5 --> <g stroke="#ece2e6" stroke-width="1"> <line x1="176" y1="16" x2="176" y2="108"/> <line x1="288.5" y1="16" x2="288.5" y2="108"/> <line x1="401" y1="16" x2="401" y2="108"/> <line x1="513.5" y1="16" x2="513.5" y2="108"/> </g> <g font-family="Instrument Sans" font-size="11" fill="#9a948a" text-anchor="middle"> <text x="176" y="124">0</text><text x="288.5" y="124">100k</text><text x="401" y="124">200k</text><text x="513.5" y="124">300k</text> </g> <g font-family="Instrument Sans" font-size="12.5" fill="#2a2230" text-anchor="end"> <text x="166" y="45">Apr 2024</text> <text x="166" y="87">Feb 2025</text> </g> <rect x="176" y="30" width="344.3" height="22" rx="4" fill="url(#svBack)"/> <rect x="176" y="72" width="20.3" height="22" rx="4" fill="url(#svBack)"/> <g font-family="Newsreader" font-size="13" font-weight="700"> <text x="514" y="45" text-anchor="end" fill="#fff">306,000</text> <text x="206" y="87" text-anchor="start" fill="#2a2230">~18,000</text> </g> <text x="300" y="88" font-family="Instrument Sans" font-size="9.5" font-weight="700" fill="#6e2a52">about 94% cleared</text> </svg> </div> <p>On cost, the spousal route is light, because the state waives its own visa fee for a recognised spouse or life partner, and there is no separate fee for the work, study or business endorsement. What you pay for are the service and supporting costs.</p> <div class="alert alert-info"> <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10"/><path d="M12 16v-4M12 8h.01"/></svg> <div> <h4>A note on the rand figures</h4> <p>All amounts are in South African rand. Conversions use the mid-market rate on 6 July 2026, when R1 was about 0.054 euros and 0.061 US dollars (roughly 1 euro to R18.60 and 1 US dollar to R16.30), per Xe and the European Central Bank. Service fees vary by mission and are reviewed periodically, so confirm before you pay.</p> </div> </div> <div class="duty-scale" role="list" aria-label="Typical costs for a section 11(6) spousal visa"> <div class="duty-row head"><span>What you pay for</span><span>Typical cost</span></div> <div class="duty-row zero"><span class="band">Government visa fee for a recognised spouse or life partner</span><span class="rate">Waived</span></div> <div class="duty-row zero"><span class="band">Work, study or business endorsement fee</span><span class="rate">No extra DHA fee</span></div> <div class="duty-row"><span class="band">VFS service fee, per application</span><span class="rate">~R1,550 to R1,800<span class="fx">about &euro;83 to &euro;97</span></span></div> <div class="duty-row"><span class="band">Medical report on Form BI-811</span><span class="rate">~R1,000 to R1,500<span class="fx">about &euro;54 to &euro;81</span></span></div> <div class="duty-row"><span class="band">Police clearance, per country</span><span class="rate">Set by issuing country</span></div> <div class="duty-row"><span class="band">Translations or apostille, where needed</span><span class="rate">Varies</span></div> </div> <div class="key-takeaway"><strong>Key takeaway:</strong> Budget for the VFS service fee, a medical report and any translations or clearances. The Home Affairs visa fee itself, and the endorsement, cost nothing for a recognised spouse.</div> <!-- ===================== PROCESS ===================== --> <h2 id="process" class="divider">The process, step by step</h2> <p>The mechanics mirror any temporary-residence application, with the endorsement handled inside the same submission. A crucial change since the Nandutu judgment: a spouse who entered legally and holds a valid visa can now change status from inside South Africa, without first leaving the country.</p> <div class="timeline"> <div class="tl-item"> <div class="d">Step one</div> <h4>Assemble the relationship and activity evidence</h4> <p>Gather the base bundle, the joint Form 12 affidavit, and the proof for your endorsement, a job offer, business documents or an acceptance letter. Build a credible file of a shared life, not the bare minimum.</p> </div> <div class="tl-item"> <div class="d">Step two</div> <h4>Write a clear cover letter</h4> <p>State plainly that this is an application in terms of section 11(6) for a work, study or business endorsement, and, for work, name the employer, job title and salary. Annotate the same on the form.</p> </div> <div class="tl-item"> <div class="d">Step three</div> <h4>Book and attend the submission</h4> <p>Inside South Africa, book a VFS appointment; from abroad, apply at the nearest mission. Both partners attend, biometrics are captured, and the South African partner must be present. Pay the VFS service fee; the visa fee is waived.</p> </div> <div class="tl-item"> <div class="d">Step four</div> <h4>Keep the employer reachable</h4> <p>Home Affairs may telephone the employer months later to confirm the offer still stands, so keep HR briefed. If the job falls away mid-process, you can withdraw and re-apply with a new offer, though the clock restarts.</p> </div> <div class="tl-item"> <div class="d">Step five</div> <h4>Collect and check the wording</h4> <p>On approval, confirm the sticker authorises you to work for the named company in the stated role. Any error must be corrected immediately, before you rely on it.</p> </div> </div> <!-- ===================== AFTER ===================== --> <h2 id="after" class="divider">After you are approved</h2> <p>Once issued, a work-endorsed spousal visa gives you the ordinary protections of South African labour law, the same as any employee. Two conditions are worth holding clearly in mind, because the fragment of half-knowledge that circulates about them causes real trouble.</p> <p>First, the visa is tied to your <span class="hl-p">relationship, not your job</span>. If you lose or leave your job, the visa does not fall away, because it rests on your marriage or partnership. But the work authorisation is specific to that employer, so you must stop working until a new endorsement is granted for your next role. Second, and this is the flip side, if the <span class="hl-p">relationship itself ends</span>, through divorce, death or proven separation, the visa lapses, and you must regularise your status or leave. The relationship is the foundation; remove it and the visa goes with it.</p> <div class="alert alert-good"> <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14"/><path d="m9 11 3 3L22 4"/></svg> <div> <h4>Register with SARS once you earn</h4> <p>As soon as you work or trade, register with the South African Revenue Service, obtain a tax number and file annual returns. If any income comes from outside South Africa, take tax advice on residency and double-taxation, since a long stay can change your tax position. Start renewal preparation well before expiry, ideally a few months ahead, with a freshly dated employer letter.</p> </div> </div> <!-- ===================== PR ===================== --> <span class="section-label lbl-accent" style="display:block;margin-top:2.6rem">The Long Game</span> <h2 id="pr" class="divider" style="margin-top:.6rem;border-top:none;padding-top:0">The road to permanent residence</h2> <p>The spousal visa is renewable for as long as the relationship exists, up to three years at a time, and it is also a runway to something more permanent. After five years of continuous marriage or partnership with your South African spouse, you can apply for permanent residence under section 26(b).</p> <div class="timeline"> <div class="tl-item"> <div class="d">Year zero</div> <h4>Spousal visa with your endorsement</h4> <p>Issued for up to three years at a time, endorsed for work, study or business, and renewable on proof that the relationship and the activity continue.</p> </div> <div class="tl-item"> <div class="d">Each cycle</div> <h4>Renew and keep evidence current</h4> <p>At renewal, show continued compliance with your visa's conditions and continued genuineness of the relationship. Keep the joint evidence file fresh throughout.</p> </div> <div class="tl-item"> <div class="d">Year five</div> <h4>Apply for permanent residence, 26(b)</h4> <p>After five years of continuous relationship, apply for PR by descent from marriage. Note that residence granted this way is conditional: if the relationship ends within two years of the grant, the PR can lapse.</p> </div> </div> <!-- ===================== ABROAD ===================== --> <h2 id="abroad" class="divider">Applying from outside South Africa</h2> <p>If you are still abroad, apply at the South African embassy, high commission or consulate for your jurisdiction, with the same document set. Missions can phrase requirements slightly differently, and appointments book up, so schedule early. If you are already in South Africa on a valid visa having entered legally, the Nandutu position means you can generally lodge and change status from inside the country instead, which is often the faster path. Either way, do not begin working until the work endorsement is in your passport.</p> <!-- ===================== MISTAKES ===================== --> <h2 id="mistakes" class="divider">Mistakes that cost time</h2> <div class="pc-grid"> <div class="pros-card"> <h4>Habits that keep you on track</h4> <ul> <li><strong>Over-evidence the relationship.</strong> Joint accounts, a shared lease, a documented history beat a certificate and photos.</li> <li><strong>Name the job in a cover letter.</strong> State the section 11(6) work endorsement, the employer, role and salary.</li> <li><strong>Keep your employer reachable.</strong> Home Affairs may call HR months later to confirm the offer.</li> <li><strong>Check the visa wording on collection.</strong> It must authorise work for the named company in the stated role.</li> <li><strong>Re-endorse before switching jobs.</strong> Apply to vary conditions with the new offer, and stop working until it is granted.</li> <li><strong>Register with SARS once you earn.</strong> Get a tax number and file returns from the start.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="cons-card"> <h4>Traps that catch applicants</h4> <ul> <li><strong>Confusing this with a relative's visa.</strong> That visa allows no work and carries an income test.</li> <li><strong>Assuming the visa covers any job.</strong> The endorsement is employer-specific; a new job needs a new endorsement.</li> <li><strong>Thinking job loss ends the visa.</strong> It does not, but the marriage or partnership ending does.</li> <li><strong>Thin relationship evidence.</strong> The category is scrutinised hard for marriages of convenience.</li> <li><strong>Working before the sticker is issued.</strong> Wait for the endorsement in your passport.</li> <li><strong>Stale clearances or letters.</strong> Police clearances and medicals expire at six months; renew a dated employer letter.</li> </ul> </div> </div> <!-- ===================== DEVELOPMENTS ===================== --> <h2 id="developments" class="divider">What is changing in 2026</h2> <p>South Africa's immigration system is in the middle of its biggest overhaul in years, and the spousal route sits close to the centre of it. Two threads matter here.</p> <p>The first is efficiency. The Home Affairs backlog of more than 306,000 applications was cleared, and a digital transformation branded "Home Affairs at home" has expanded online systems, so spousal applications are handled faster and more predictably than at any point in the past decade.</p> <div class="alert alert-info"> <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10"/><path d="M12 16v-4M12 8h.01"/></svg> <div> <h4>A "Combined Spouse Visa" is proposed</h4> <p>The Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, published for comment in December 2025 and under review in early 2026, proposes a Combined Spouse Visa that would grant the right to work, study or trade automatically on issuance, removing the need for a separate section 11(6) endorsement altogether. If it becomes law, the two-step process in this guide would collapse into one. For now it is a proposal under consultation, not law, so today's endorsement route still applies. The same White Paper introduces a points-based system for the general work visa, which only sharpens the spousal route's relative advantage.</p> </div> </div> <p>The second thread is scrutiny. As the route has become more attractive, Home Affairs has tightened its assessment of relationship authenticity to guard against marriages of convenience. The practical message for genuine couples is not to worry but to prepare: a well-documented, credible application moves through a stricter system without trouble.</p> <!-- ===================== FAQ ===================== --> <h2 id="faq" class="divider">Questions answered</h2> <div class="faq"> <div class="faq-item"><div class="faq-q" onclick="this.parentNode.classList.toggle('open')">Can my spouse work in South Africa on a spousal visa?<svg class="fc" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.4" stroke-linecap="round"><path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14"/></svg></div><div class="faq-a"><p>Yes, but not automatically. The spouse or life partner of a South African citizen or permanent resident can hold a section 11(6) visa, and that visa can be endorsed to allow work, study or business. The work endorsement needs a job offer, but no Points-Based System, critical-skills listing or quota, which is what makes it far simpler than a general work visa.</p></div></div> <div class="faq-item"><div class="faq-q" onclick="this.parentNode.classList.toggle('open')">What happens if I lose my job?<svg class="fc" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.4" stroke-linecap="round"><path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14"/></svg></div><div class="faq-a"><p>Your visa does not fall away, because it rests on your marriage or partnership, not the job. But the work authorisation is specific to that employer, so you must stop working until a new endorsement is granted for your next role. If the relationship itself ends, however, the visa lapses and you must regularise your status or leave.</p></div></div> <div class="faq-item"><div class="faq-q" onclick="this.parentNode.classList.toggle('open')">Do I have to leave South Africa to apply?<svg class="fc" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.4" stroke-linecap="round"><path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14"/></svg></div><div class="faq-a"><p>No longer, in most cases. Since the Constitutional Court's Nandutu judgment, a spouse who entered South Africa legally and holds a valid visa can change status from inside the country. If you are abroad, you apply at the nearest South African mission with the same documents.</p></div></div> <div class="faq-item"><div class="faq-q" onclick="this.parentNode.classList.toggle('open')">How is this different from a relative's visa?<svg class="fc" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.4" stroke-linecap="round"><path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14"/></svg></div><div class="faq-a"><p>A relative's visa allows no work, study or business, and requires the sponsor to prove R8,500 per person per month. The section 11(6) spousal visa is only for a spouse or life partner, has no income test, and is the only route that can be endorsed to let that partner work, run a business or study.</p></div></div> <div class="faq-item"><div class="faq-q" onclick="this.parentNode.classList.toggle('open')">Can I change jobs on this visa?<svg class="fc" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.4" stroke-linecap="round"><path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14"/></svg></div><div class="faq-a"><p>Yes, but the endorsement names one employer and role, so a new job needs a new endorsement. You apply to vary the visa's conditions with a fresh job offer, and you must not start the new role until it is granted. The underlying spousal visa stays valid throughout.</p></div></div> <div class="faq-item"><div class="faq-q" onclick="this.parentNode.classList.toggle('open')">Does it lead to permanent residence?<svg class="fc" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.4" stroke-linecap="round"><path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14"/></svg></div><div class="faq-a"><p>Yes. After five years of continuous marriage or partnership with your South African spouse, you can apply for permanent residence under section 26(b). Residence granted on this basis is conditional for the first two years: if the relationship ends within that window, the permanent residence can lapse.</p></div></div> </div> <!-- ===================== CTA ===================== --> <div class="cta-banner"> <h3>Keeping your permit current is half the job</h3> <p>A spousal visa lives or dies on staying compliant and renewing on time. Our companion guide walks through renewing and extending your South African permit without a gap in status.</p> <a class="cta-btn" href="https://capetowndata.com/en/products/blogpost/639/">Read the permit-renewal guide</a> </div> <!-- ===================== CONCLUSION ===================== --> <h2 class="divider">The bottom line</h2> <p>For the foreign spouse of a South African, the section 11(6) visa is the most direct way to build a working life in the country. It trades the labour market's hurdles for a relationship you already have: a job offer replaces the points test, and a marriage certificate replaces the capital. Prepare a genuine, well-evidenced application, keep the endorsement matched to your current job, and the route runs, over five years, all the way to permanent residence.</p> <div class="highlight-box"> <h4>How to read this if you are</h4> <p style="margin-bottom:.6rem"><strong>An employed spouse:</strong> Secure a job offer, apply for the section 11(6) visa with a work endorsement, and re-endorse whenever you change employer. No points system, no skills list.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:.6rem"><strong>An entrepreneurial spouse:</strong> Register a company with CIPC and SARS and apply for a business endorsement. There is no minimum-capital rule, unlike a business visa.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:0"><strong>A studying spouse:</strong> Get an acceptance letter from a registered institution and apply for a study endorsement on the same spousal visa.</p> </div> <!-- ===================== SUMMARY ===================== --> <h2 class="divider">Quick-glance summary</h2> <div class="summary-list"> <div class="sum-item"><span class="sl">What it is</span><span class="sv">A section 11(6) spousal visitor's visa, endorsed for work, study or business. Only for a spouse or life partner of a citizen or PR.</span></div> <div class="sum-item"><span class="sl">The advantage</span><span class="sv">Work on a job offer alone, no points system, skills list or quota. Business with no minimum capital, versus R5 million for a business visa.</span></div> <div class="sum-item"><span class="sl">Key documents</span><span class="sv">Form DHA-84, joint Form 12 affidavit, marriage or partnership proof, medical BI-811, plus the endorsement proof.</span></div> <div class="sum-item"><span class="sl">Cost</span><span class="sv">Government visa fee waived; no endorsement fee. Budget the VFS service fee, a medical and any clearances.</span></div> <div class="sum-item"><span class="sl">Time</span><span class="sv">About 6 to 12 weeks, often faster inside South Africa. The backlog is cleared.</span></div> <div class="sum-item"><span class="sl">The rules</span><span class="sv">Endorsement is job-specific; the visa follows the relationship, not the job. Five years to permanent residence under 26(b).</span></div> </div> <!-- ===================== SOURCES ===================== --> <div class="sources-box"> <h4>Law and process</h4> <ul> <li>Immigration Act 13 of 2002, section 11(6)(b) (spousal visitor's visa and endorsements) and section 26(b) (permanent residence for spouses); Immigration Regulations, 2014</li> <li>Constitutional Court, Nandutu and Others v Minister of Home Affairs (2019), on changing status inside South Africa</li> <li>Forms DHA-84 (visitor's visa application), Form 12 on DHA-1712A (spousal affidavit), BI-811 (medical) and BI-806 (radiological, waived under 12 and for pregnant women)</li> <li>South African mission and VFS Global requirement lists for the section 11(6) visitor's visa and work, study and business endorsements</li> </ul> <h4>Fees, timelines and reform</h4> <ul> <li>Fee waiver for recognised spouses and life partners; VFS Global service-fee guidance; processing-time ranges from South African immigration practitioners</li> <li>Department of Home Affairs, backlog clearance of over 306,000 applications, reported February 2025; concession extensions, 2024 to 2026</li> <li>Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, December 2025 (proposed Combined Spouse Visa and points-based general work visa, under consultation)</li> <li>Exchange rates: Xe and the European Central Bank, mid-market, 6 July 2026</li> </ul> <h4>Related reading on Cape Town Data</h4> <ul> <li><a href="https://capetowndata.com/en/products/blogpost/639/">Renewing and extending your own South African permit</a></li> <li><a href="https://capetowndata.com/en/products/blogpost/140/">Cape Town crime map and safety tips</a></li> <li><a href="https://capetowndata.com/en/products/blogpost/656/">What not to do in Cape Town, a street-smart safety playbook</a></li> </ul> <h4>Imagery</h4> <ul> <li>Lead photograph, "Couple Destination Wedding, Dubai" by Jibukrajan, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. The data charts are original to Cape Town Data.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="legal"> <p>This article is provided for general information only and reflects rules, forms, fees and processing data current as at 6 July 2026. It is not legal or immigration advice, and the author is not a registered immigration practitioner. Immigration laws, forms, fees, processing times and exchange rates all change, and individual circumstances vary widely. Always confirm current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or VFS Global and obtain advice from a registered immigration practitioner before making any decision or submitting any application. Cape Town Data accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of this content.</p> </div> </article> </div> </main> <footer class="ft"> <div class="wrap" style="display:flex;justify-content:space-between;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:.6rem;width:100%"> <span>Last updated 6 July 2026 &middot; capetowndata.com</span> <span><a href="https://capetowndata.com/en/products/blogpost/639/">Renewing your permit</a> &middot; <a href="https://capetowndata.com/en/products/blogpost/140/">Cape Town crime map</a></span> </div> </footer> <div class="chart-overlay" id="svOverlay" onclick="if(event.target===this)svCloseZoom()"> <div class="ov-inner"> <button class="ov-close" onclick="svCloseZoom()" aria-label="Close">&times;</button> <div id="svOverlayContent"></div> </div> </div> <script> (function(){ window.svCopy=function(){ var done=function(){var c=document.getElementById('svCopied');c.classList.add('on');setTimeout(function(){c.classList.remove('on')},1800);}; var url='https://capetowndata.com'; if(navigator.clipboard&&navigator.clipboard.writeText){navigator.clipboard.writeText(url).then(done).catch(done);}else{done();} }; window.svZoom=function(btn){ var wrap=btn.closest('.chart-wrap'); var svg=null; for(var i=0;i<wrap.children.length;i++){if(wrap.children[i].tagName&&wrap.children[i].tagName.toLowerCase()==='svg'){svg=wrap.children[i];break;}} if(!svg){var inner=wrap.querySelectorAll('svg');for(var j=0;j<inner.length;j++){if(!inner[j].closest('.chart-zoom-btn')){svg=inner[j];break;}}} if(!svg)return; document.getElementById('svOverlayContent').innerHTML=svg.outerHTML; document.getElementById('svOverlay').classList.add('on'); }; window.svCloseZoom=function(){document.getElementById('svOverlay').classList.remove('on');document.getElementById('svOverlayContent').innerHTML='';}; document.addEventListener('keydown',function(e){if(e.key==='Escape')window.svCloseZoom();}); })(); </script> </div>