The immigration process is dependant the foreigner’s plans to immigrate and the category of permit that the forienger will be obtaining (i.e. when will the foreigner be in South Africa, etc).

The actual submission of an application for a permit cannot be done without the applicant being present in South Africa (if submission is taking place in South Africa).  If a person is planning to arrive in South Africa within 12 months, it would be best to start compiling of the required documentation (depending on the category of permit) at least 3 – 4 months prior to arrival to avoid delays once arriving in South Africa for the submission to the Department.

It is always best to seek advice from a Registered Immigration company, who can provide specific advice on the foreigner’s needs, approximate timescales required and permit options.

For further information on South African permit options, please see here

Information supplied by www.intergate-immigration.com