Independent index: figures taken from official tariffs, not from agents
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Not an investment — personal wealth, no need to invest in SA

Financially Independent Permit
South Africa

The threshold is not an investment but confirmed personal net worth from R12M (≈$751,000) in any form of asset, anywhere in the world. Grants permanent residence immediately, indefinitely, with the right to work and run a business on par with South African citizens.

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Personal net worth from
≈$751,000 (R12M)
Government fee (only on approval)
≈$7,500 (R120,000)
Status
immediate PR, indefinite
Processing time
6-12 months or longer

Wealth — not investment in South Africa

A key difference from most other programmes on the site — assets don’t need to be invested specifically in the host country.

PARAMETER
THIS PROGRAMME
TYPICAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
Capital requirement
THIS PROGRAMMEconfirmed ownership (net worth)
investment specifically in the country
Asset location
THIS PROGRAMMEanywhere in the world
usually requires localisation
Government fee payment
THIS PROGRAMMEonly after application approval
often at filing, regardless of outcome

What the process consists of

The non-refundable fee to the Director-General of Home Affairs is paid only after a positive decision — not at the time documents are submitted.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Personal net worth (confirmation)
RATEfrom R12,000,000 (≈$751,000)
per applicant
Government fee (on approval)
RATER120,000 (≈$7,500)
per applicant
Legal support confirming assets
RATEdepends on the consultant
per applicant

How the process runs

01
Confirming personal net worth from R12M
Assets in any form, including foreign currency equivalent — no requirement to invest specifically in South Africa.
02
Filing the application
No mandatory fee prepayment at this stage.
03
Application review
6 to 12 months or longer depending on case complexity.
04
Paying the non-refundable fee upon a positive decision
R120,000, only after approval.
05
Receiving PR
Immediate permanent status, indefinite — not a temporary visa converting later.

A good fit if

You have confirmed personal net worth from R12,000,000 (≈$751,000) in any form, not necessarily in South Africa.
You want PR immediately rather than temporary status converting later.
You plan to work, run a business, or invest in South Africa — the status grants these rights on par with citizens.
You are prepared for a lengthy review period — 6 to 12 months or longer.

A poor fit if

You expect the capital must be invested specifically in South Africa — per the available data, only confirmed ownership is required; asset location doesn’t matter.
You were counting on a quick processing time — the process can take a year or longer.
You aren’t prepared for possible tax and exchange-control implications tied to permanent residence — consultation before applying is recommended.
You need voting rights or a South African passport — the status doesn’t grant these, only work and business rights on par with citizens.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

Henley & Partners
Лондон, Великобритания · since 1997
The largest advisory firm in the industry — over 70 offices worldwide; also advises governments on designing migration programmes.
NTL Trust
Карибский регион (офисы в Латинской Америке, Европе, на Ближнем Востоке и в Азии) · since 1994
30+ years in citizenship and residence by investment, officially accredited by several Caribbean governments; also trust and corporate services.
Arton Capital
Монреаль, Канада · since 2006
Global financial advisory firm specialising in residence and citizenship by investment.
Astons
Дубай, ОАЭ (основана в Лондоне) · since 1989
One of the oldest firms in the market, over 9,000 clients from 100+ countries; Golden Visa, citizenship and RBI worldwide.
La Vida Golden Visas
Лондон, Великобритания · since 2002
Over 20 years of experience, clients from 160+ countries; specialises in Portugal’s Golden Visa and other EU programmes.
Savory & Partners
Дубай, ОАЭ · since 2009
Over 70 specialists across 8 offices on three continents, 20+ jurisdictions, over 11,000 clients.
Global Citizen Solutions
Лондон, Великобритания / Лиссабон, Португалия · since 2016
Global mobility consultancy with a Lisbon office; specialises in Portugal’s Golden Visa and Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Does the R12M need to be invested specifically in South Africa?

No — per the available data, this is a threshold for confirmed personal net worth, not a requirement to invest in a specific country. Assets can be located anywhere in the world, including foreign currency equivalent.

When is the R120,000 fee paid?

Per the available data, only after a positive decision on the application, not at the time of filing — if the application is refused, no payment is due.

Does this status grant PR immediately or a temporary visa first?

Per the available data, the status is immediate permanent residence, indefinite, with no intermediate temporary stage.

What rights does this status grant?

Per the available data, the right to work, run a business, and invest in South Africa on par with citizens — except voting rights and a South African passport.

How long does the review take?

Per the available data, 6 to 12 months or longer, depending on the complexity of the specific case.

Is consultation recommended before applying?

Yes — per the available data, permanent residence can carry adverse tax and exchange-control implications; consulting a tax specialist beforehand is recommended.

Sources

Xpatweb — a specialised South African immigration consultancy, overview of the Financially Independent Permit↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 27 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.