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South Africa · Family

South Africa Permanent Residence — child under 21 of citizen or permanent resident (section 26(c))

8 facts quoted from the official source

A foreign child under 21 of a South African citizen or permanent resident may receive direct permanent residence.

Route type
Family
Can bring
children
from the official record
Requirements
3
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

3 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Admission or enrolment requirementSection 27 permits require a foreigner of good and sound character; prohibited or undesirable status must be resolved before application.
  • Age requirementThe statutory applicant class is a child under 21.
  • Qualifying family relationshipThe applicant must be the child of a South African citizen or permanent resident.
What rules you out

1 exclusion quoted from the official source.

  • Material restrictions or case-specific conditionsThe permit lapses unless the holder applies for confirmation within two years after turning 18.
Also stated by the source
  • Long-term residence or conversion pathThis route directly grants permanent residence if approved.
  • Work rightsA permanent resident has the rights, privileges, duties and obligations of a citizen except those expressly reserved to citizens.
Family

Who you can bring

children
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Validity
1 proven from the official source.
  • Initial duration or stay ceilingThe legal status sought is permanent residence.
How it works

From here to a yes

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FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to South Africa?
The official source states: A foreign child under 21 of a South African citizen or permanent resident may receive direct permanent residence.
02Can I bring my family?
The official record lists: children.
03What does this route lead to?
The official source states: This route directly grants permanent residence if approved.

Every answer is quoted from the official dha.gov.za page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 8 points against the official source; 8 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Fees and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source dha.gov.zaLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this South Africa government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other family routes to South Africa

6 other family routes to South Africa.

Permanent Residence — child of a South African citizen (section 26(d))Permanent Residence — first-step relative of citizen or permanent resident (section 27(g))Permanent Residence — spouse of citizen or permanent resident for five years (section 26(b))Relative's VisaVisitor visa — accompanying spouse or dependent child of a temporary-visa holderVisitor visa — spouse of a South African citizen or permanent resident (section 11(6))
Same category, elsewhere

Family routes in other countries

201 other countries publish at least one family route. Nearest first.

Lesotho6 family routes Zimbabwe3 family routes Botswana2 family routes Namibia2 family routes Eswatini1 family route Norway42 family routes

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