The Repatriation Deposit fee is a Department of Home Affairs fee that is paid when applying for a temporary residence permit for South Africa.

This deposit is the equivalent to a single ticket back to the applicant’s country of origin.  The Department holds this fee until such time the applicant either leaves the country on a permanent basis or receives permanent residency, thereafter, the repatriation deposit fee will be refunded back to the applicant(s).

If the Department decides to use this fee, the applicant would be deemed as an unsuitable resident in South Africa (i.e. committed a crime/offense), the South African government would then repatriate (return) the foreigner to their country of origin.

These fees are increased on an annual basis or due to inflation in ticket fares.

For further information on South African permits, see here

Information supplied by www.intergate-immigration.com