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No minimum age — despite the visa’s name

Retired Person Visa
South Africa — lifetime income

Lifetime-guaranteed income from R37,000/month (≈$2,000) — a pension, annuity, or irrevocable retirement fund. There is NO minimum age requirement, despite the visa’s name. A 4-year visa, renewable → PR after 5 years.

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Income from
R37,000/month (≈$2,000)
Minimum age
none
Visa duration
4 years, renewable
Permanent residency after
5 years

"Retired" in the name doesn’t mean an age restriction

Despite the name, the key criterion is the nature of the income (a lifetime guarantee), not the applicant’s age.

METRIC
WHAT’S REQUIRED
WHAT ISN’T
Applicant age
WHAT’S REQUIREDany
no minimum age exists at all
Nature of income
WHAT’S REQUIREDa lifetime payment guarantee
standard drawdown products don’t qualify
Income source
WHAT’S REQUIREDpension, annuity, irrevocable fund, rent, dividends
employment income and consulting fees don’t count

What the process consists of

The key requirement isn’t the amount itself, but a lifetime guarantee that it keeps arriving.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Lifetime-guaranteed income
RATEfrom R37,000/month (≈$2,000)
per main applicant
Visa renewal fee
RATE≈$120
every 4 years
Application processing
RATE6–12 months
—

How the process runs

01
Confirming a lifetime-guaranteed income source
A pension, an irrevocable annuity, stable rent, or dividends.
02
Verifying the amount meets R37,000/month
At the current exchange rate — income can be in USD, GBP, EUR, or another major currency.
03
Filing with the Department of Home Affairs
With no age requirement for the applicant.
04
Receiving a 4-year visa
Renewable while the income is maintained.
05
PR after 5 years of continuous residence
With no integration test.

A good fit if

You have lifetime-guaranteed income from R37,000/month (≈$2,000) — a pension, annuity, or irrevocable fund.
Age doesn’t matter — there is no minimum age requirement for this visa, despite its name.
Your income arrives regularly, not as a one-time sum — a single deposit doesn’t satisfy this requirement.
You’re fine with the path to PR after 5 years of continuous residence, with no integration test.

A poor fit if

Your income comes from a standard drawdown product without a lifetime payment guarantee — that source doesn’t qualify.
Your income is employment salary, consulting fees, or other active earnings — this visa doesn’t accept them.
Your income is below R37,000/month (≈$2,000) — no lower threshold exists.
You expect an age requirement typical of most "retirement" visas elsewhere — none exists here.

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.

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.
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

Is it true there’s no minimum age for this visa?

Yes — per the available data, the visa isn’t tied to any minimum age despite being called "Retired Person"; anyone with confirmed qualifying income can apply.

Why doesn’t a standard savings account qualify?

Per the available data, a genuinely lifetime-guaranteed income (a pension, an irrevocable annuity) is required — standard products that can be depleted aren’t considered lifetime-guaranteed.

What currency must the income be in?

Per the available data, income can be in USD, GBP, EUR, or another major currency — the R37,000/month threshold is assessed in rand at the current rate, so exchange-rate fluctuations can affect whether you meet it.

How long is the visa valid and what does renewal cost?

Per the available data, the visa is valid for 4 years, renewable, with a renewal fee of roughly $120.

When is permanent residency available?

Per the available data, after 5 years of continuous residence in South Africa, with no integration test.

How long does application processing take?

Per the available data, 6–12 months, with total time to receiving the residence card at 16–40 weeks.

Sources

The Citizenship Desk — overview of Retired Person Visa requirements: the income threshold, the absence of an age requirement, visa duration, path to PR↗

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.