Written by Super User

on : 04/03/2014

visas

What papers are needed to come to South Africa?

Not every foreigner needs to get a visa (visitor′s permit) to travel to South Africa. As this information is constantly changing, contact a nearby South African Consulate, Embassy or Mission to find out if you will need one.

The following categories of people don′t require a visa to travel to South Africa for tourist, business or transit purposes:

Holders of South African passports or official travel documents issued in place of a passport (i.e. UN laissez-passers).
Holders of passports from the following countries can visit South Africa for a holiday or business trip (or for transits) of up to 30 days without a visa: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong (only holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports), Hungary, Jordan, Lesotho, Macau (only holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports), Malaysia, Malawi, the Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Peru, Poland, the Seychelles, the Slovak Republic, South Korea, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, (only diplomatic and official passport holders for holiday visits), Turkey and Zambia.
Holders of passports from the following countries can visit South Africa for a holiday or business trip (or for transits) of up to 90 days without a visa: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, St Vincent & the Grenadines, St Helena, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania (only 90 days per year), the United Kingdom, the British Islands (Bailiwick, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man and Virgin Islands), British Overseas Territories (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cuna), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island), Uruguay, the US, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
Holders of diplomatic and official passports from the following countries can visit South Africa for a holiday or business trip (or for transits) of up to 90 days without a visa: Angola, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Comoros, Croatia, Guinea, Mexico, Mozambique, Poland, Romania, Slovak, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam.
Holders of diplomatic and official passports from the following countries can visit South Africa for a holiday or business trip (or for transits) of up to 30 days without a visa: Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco and Rwanda.
Holders of diplomatic and official passports from the following countries can visit South Africa for a holiday or business trip (or for transits) of up to 120 days without a visa: Albania, Hungary, Paraguay and Slovenia.

Who needs a visa

You require a visa if any of the following applies:

You are not a national of one of the above-mentioned countries;
You intend to stay in South Africa longer than the permitted exemption period;
You intend to work or study in South Africa;
You intend to take part in a sports event;
Your visit is related to the pursuit of your career;
You intend to take up permanent residence in South Africa.

The possession of a visa does not guarantee your entry into South Africa. It entitles you only to proceed to a South African port of entry, where an immigration officer will check that you satisfy the basic requirements for entry into the country.

Whether or not you need a visa, you require the following in order to be granted entry into South Africa:

A passport (or travel document) valid long enough to cover the intended period of stay, with at least two blank pages.
Enough money to support yourself during your stay.
An onward or return ticket.

If you come from, journeyed through or disembarked at a country in the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America, you must also have proof of inoculation against the disease. The inoculation only becomes valid ten days after the inoculation, and remains valid for ten years.

Visa applications

How to apply for a visa

Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry and airline officials are obliged to insist on seeing visas before allowing passengers to board the aircraft.

If you arrive in South Africa without a visa, the law requires immigration officers to refuse you entry and to put you on a return flight. You must therefore apply for a visa at your nearest South African Consulate, Embassy, Mission, or designated diplomatic or consular representative (see below). If you cannot go in person, you can hire an immigration agent or ask someone else to do it for you; but it must be accompanied by your passport in order to endorse it.

You should apply for a visa a minimum of four weeks before your date of departure for South Africa. It takes around ten days on average to process a visa application, but can take much longer. South African visas currently cost R425 (US$47 or €43), but this is subject to change and you should check the South African Department of Home Affairs website for the current price (www.home-affairs.gov.za ).

A visa application form can be downloaded (www.dha.gov.za/PDF/immigration/bi-84.pdf ), and must be completed and signed by each applicant over the age of 16 and by each applicant under the age of 16 who has a valid passport. The form must also be accompanied by the following:

Your original passport, valid for at least 30 days after the returning date, with at least two free pages;
Two passport photographs;
The fee (see above);
Full details of your intended travel arrangements, including air tickets, accommodation details and documentation indicating your financial resources for the stay.

Minors travelling independently of their family must accompany their visa application with certified consent from both parents or guardians, signed before a public notary.

People over 60 must provide proof of medical insurance when applying for visas and this may also be required in other cases. If a yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required, you must hand it in with your application.

For further information about visas, contact your nearest South Africa office abroad (Consulate, Embassy or Mission). There is a a full list of these offices on the South African Department of Foreign Affairs website (www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/sa_abroad ). You can also make enquiries directly to the authorities in South Africa, at theDepartment of Home Affairs, Sub-directorate: Visas, Private Bag X114, Pretoria 0001, South Africa (Tel. +2711- 461 9252).

Visitor′s Visas

How to obtain a visitor′s visa

In South Africa, a visa is considered to be a visitor′s permit. You must apply for the correct visa/permit in the country, as it may be refused if the purpose of the visit is not correctly stated.

Visitor′s visas are issued to the following people, among others:

Those visiting for holiday and family visits, on organised study or tourism packages and for sporting activities;
Spouses or dependent children accompanying visa or temporary residence permit holders;
People who intend to apply for permanent residence;
People that require medical treatments;
People attending conferences, researchers, and those visiting the country for business purposes.

Additional visa application requirements for the above are:

Documentation supporting the purpose of the visit;
Proof of funding for the visit (either a bank statement or a letter from the relevant institution agreeing to provide funding for you).

If you are married to a South African and want to accompany or join your spouse in the country, apply for a visitor′s visa and accompany the application with an affidavit ′to join spouse‘ completed and signed by your spouse. When you arrive in South Africa, you will be issued with a temporary residence permit.

If you are engaged to be married to a South African and want to accompany or join your fiancé(e) in the country, apply for a visitor′s visa and accompany the application with an affidavit completed and signed by your fiancé(e) that you are to be married within three months. When you arrive in South Africa, your visa will be replaced by a temporary residence permit.

More information on the requirements for the visas can be found on the Home Affaires Department site (www.dha.gov.za ).

Residence

Who can become a resident in South Africa?

South Africa′s immigration requirements are subject to change and each application is treated individually, so the following information should be treated only as a guide.

The best sources of up-to-date information about South African immigration are your nearest South African Consulate, Embassy or High Commission if you are abroad, or your nearest Department of Home Affairs office if you are in South Africa, and the Department of Home Affairs, Sub-directorate: Permanent Residence, Private Bag X114, Pretoria 0001, South Africa (Local hotline: 0800- 601 190, from abroad: +2711- 461 9252).

South African immigration law recognises the need to protect the health, security and employment prospects of South African citizens. The country has a vast supply of unskilled and semi-skilled workers, so that unskilled and semi-skilled workers are rarely accepted as immigrant workers to South Africa.

On the other hand, immigrants who will contribute to South Africa′s economy are welcomed, particularly skilled workers of a type for which there is a shortage in South Africa. Entrepreneurs and industrialists who wish to establish businesses in the country are likely to be welcomed with open arms. In view of the need to create jobs for South Africans, prospective immigrants are recommended to demonstrate a serious commitment to devoting their experience, skills and assets to the betterment of themselves and the people of South Africa.

Applications for residence

Applications for residence are considered individually on merit by an autonomous statutory body, the Immigrants Selection Board, and its basic criteria are that you should be of good character, be a desirable inhabitant, not be likely to be harmful to the welfare of the country and not engage in an occupation which is already sufficiently practised in the country.

If you comply with these criteria, you can proceed to apply for residence, which is generally done in your country of origin, at your nearest South Africa office (Consulate, Embassy or High Commission); and you must wait for the outcome of the application before going to South Africa. You can apply for a residence or an extension of your temporary residence while in South Africa at your nearest Home Affairs office; provided that you fulfil at least one of the following criteria:

You are in the country on a valid work permit;
You are married to, or the child of, a South African citizen or permanent resident and have a valid temporary residence permit;
You are being sponsored for immigration purposes by a blood family member who is permanently and lawfully resident in South Africa, and are in South Africa on a valid temporary residence permit;
You have been exempted from the requirement to hold a temporary residence permit.

Temporary Residence Permit

If your visit to South Africa will exceed the 90 days allowed in a visitor′s permit, then you will need to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit. Requirements vary depending on the kind of permit you apply for, which can be: Working Permit, Medical Treatment Permit, Relatives Permit, Retired Person Permit, and Student Permit, amongst others.

For more information about a particular permit, visit the Home Affairs Department site (www.dha.gov.za ).

Permanent Residence

How to stay permanently in South Africa

To grant Permanent Residency Permits, the Department of Home Affairs favours those who are in position to make a meaningful contribution to broadening the South African economic base. Foreigners can apply for a Direct Residency Permit, or a Residency-on-Other-Grounds Permit.

Applications for Permanent Residency Permits must be submitted to the Department of Home Affairs, at the nearest office in the South African province in which the person intends to live and work. Applicants must first submit a representation to the Minister of Home Affairs, explaining why they should not be declared a prohibited or undesirable person (terrorism, deportation, arrests, being a fugitive, and being infected with infectious diseases are considered prohibited).Once the Minister of Home Affairs declares an applicant not to be prohibited, the applicant may submit an application for Permanent Residency.

Part of the application process is attending an interview with a member of the Department of Home Affairs (if you are applying within South Africa) or the Department of Foreign Affairs (if you′re applying outside South Africa). If your application is rejected, the reasons will be supplied in writing, as well as details of your right to appeal against the decision and the time-frame and procedures of an appeal.

Residence permits can be withdrawn for various reasons, including the following:

Any information supplied in the application is found to be incorrect.
Change of occupation within three years of being granted permanent residence without being granted permission to do so by the Department of Home Affairs.
Obtaining a permit on the basis of a marriage undertaken less than two years before the date of issue of the permit, and the marriage being terminated less than two years after this date, unless you can persuade the Department that the marriage was not entered into for the purpose of securing permanent residence.

Direct Residency Permits

Foreigners who have been residing in South Africa with Work Permits for 5 years or more (and their spouses), and dependants of South African citizens or Permanent Residence Permit holders can apply for a Direct Residency Permit. To apply they must complete Form BI-947 (it can be downloaded at: www.dha.gov.za).

Residency-on-Other-Grounds Permit

To be able to apply for the Residency-on-Other-Grounds Permit, the applicant must satisfy one of the following requirements:

Have a permanent job offer in South Africa;
Have exceptional skills;
Intend to establish a business;
Qualify as a Refugee;
Qualify as a retired person;
Be financially independent;
Be a relative (biologically or judicially adopted) of a South African citizen or a Permanent Residence Permit holder.

Along with Form BI-947, the applicant must submit:

A full set of fingerprints;
A marriage certificate or proof of spousal relationship (if required);
A divorce decree or proof of separation (if required);
Proof of custody or judicial adoption of a minor (if required);
A death certificate for a late spouse (if applicable);
In case of minors, a parent consent;
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18;
A valid Temporary Residency Permit (if in South Africa).

More information can be found on the Home Affairs Department site (www.dha.gov.za ).

Work permits

Who needs them?

Someone intending to visit South Africa for business purposes, and staying in the country for less than 90 days, needs to apply for a Visitor′s Visa (Visitor′s Permit). On the other hand, someone who will be spending more than 90 days in the country for the same purposes must apply for the corresponding Work Permit.

Permits are issued to employees and to those setting up a business on their own. Owing to the high unemployment rate, permits to work in South Africa are issued to foreigners only when a particular job or type of job cannot be filled by a South African national. Applications for work permits can be made in your home country or in South Africa; they are initially granted for a maximum of a year, but can be extended.

South Africa issues 5 different kinds work permits: General Work permits, Quota Work Permits, Exceptional Skills Work Permits, Intra Companies Transfer Work Permits, and Corporate Work Permits.

General Work Permits

General Work Permits are valid for the duration of the contract of employment, and require the applicant to submit:

A passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit;
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
Medical and radiology reports;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (in some cases);
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18;
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return or an undertaking from the employer;
A contract of employment signed by the employer and the applicant;
Original proof of qualifications and the corresponding evaluation by the South African Qualifications Authority;
A translation into one of the official languages by a sworn translator, and proof of registration of the translator (if they are in a foreign language);
The original advertisement of the position in the national printed media;
Proof that candidates have been interviewed;
A letter of motivation from the employer
A letter of registration from the relevant professional/body/board council (if needed);
Full particulars of the employer;
A certificate by the Department of Labour stipulating the salary earned by employees at similar positions in South Africa;
Payment of a fee.

In order to keep the work permit, the employee must submit - within 6 months of issuance and every year thereafter - proof to the Director-General that he/she is still employed, the terms and conditions of the job and a job description.

Quota Work Permits

Quota Work Permits are open-ended, and applications must be done at the local or nearest Home Affairs office. They are issued only to foreigners where South African citizens are not available for the position. They require the applicant to hand in:

A passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit;
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18;
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return or onward ticket;
Medical and radiology reports;
Confirmation of the required experience for the position;
A letter of registration from the relevant professional/body/board council (if needed);
Original proof of qualifications and the corresponding evaluation by the South African Qualifications Authority;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (in some cases);
Payment of a fee.

The employee must submit to the Director-General confirmation of having secured employment within 90 days of admission, and of continued employment within that category every year thereafter.

Exceptional Skills Work Permits

Exceptional Skills Work Permits are valid for three years, and require the applicants to submit:

A passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit;
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18;
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return or onward ticket;
Medical and radiology reports;
A letter confirming the applicant′s exceptional skills from an organ of State (South African or foreigner), or and established South African academic, cultural or business body;
Other proof of exceptional skills (such as publications and testimonials);
A Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae;
Testimonials from previous employers (if applicable);
A letter of motivation indicating that the applicant′s exceptional skills will be of the benefit of the South African environment in which he/she intends to work;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (in some cases);
Payment of a fee.

Intra-company Transfer Work Permits

Intra-company Transfer Work Permits are issued to multi-national companies′ employees that are being transferred from a foreign branch to South Africa. They require applicants to hand in:

A passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit;
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18;
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return or onward ticket;
Medical and radiology reports;
An employment contract with the company abroad;
A letter from the employer or company abroad confirming the transfer to the branch/affiliate in South Africa;
A letter from the South African company confirming the transfer from the branch/affiliate abroad specifying the occupation and capacity in which the person will be employed, and confirming that the maximum duration of the employment will not exceed two years;
An undertaking by the employer confirming that the employee′s passport is valid, that he/she will be employed in the position for which the permit is issued, and that the employee will leave South Africa once the two-year period comes to an end.
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (in some cases);
The payment of a fee.

Corporate Permits

Corporate Permits allow corporate entities (e.g. farmers) to employ a pre-determined number of workers. This permit′s validity period is determined and stipulated by the corporate entities upon application. The applicants must submit, along with the application forms:

A corroborated statement demonstrating the need to employ foreigner workers, and the number of foreigners to be employed;
A job description and remuneration for each worker;
An undertaking confirming that the foreigner workers have valid passports, that they will be employed only in the specific positions for which permits are issued, and that they will leave South Africa on completion of their duties.

A cash deposit may be required. The corporate entity will pay it unless the workers are skilled, in which case the workers must pay it.

Unskilled workers will need temporary residence permits to enter South Africa.

Skilled workers will need general work permits, but they will not need to comply all the requirements prescribed for general work permits.

The Department of Labour, as well as the Department of Trade and Industry, must approve the number of foreigner workers before the permit can be issued. After the approval, the Department of Home Affairs can issue the permit and authorisation certificates for each worker. Only then, the corporate entity can start recruiting workers.

If the employee is travelling with his/her spouse and/or children, he/she must also hand in all their required documentation.

More information can be found on the Home Affaires Department site (www.dha.gov.za

Student and Exchange Permits

Who needs them?

Student and Exchange Permits are issued to those who intend to attend a higher education programme or exchange programmes.

In order to issue a Student Permit, the Department of Home Affairs must make sure that:

No South African citizen or resident may be displaced at a local educational institution;
The student has sufficient funds to pay for day-to-day living expenses, accommodation and tuition fees;
The student has adequate medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme.

Student Permits

Student Permits are valid for the duration of the course for which they′re issued (24 - 36 months), and require the applicants to submit:

A passport valid for more than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit;
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
Medical and radiology reports;
If the applicant is a minor, the particulars of the person who in South Africa who will act as guardian, and letter from the person in South Africa confirming guardianship. Also, consent from both parents for the stay in South Africa;
If the student is 18 years or older, a police clearance certificate from each country in which he/she resided for more than 12 months;
An official letter from the educational institution where the applicant intends to study, confirming provisional acceptance and the duration of the course;
Proof of medical cover;
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return or onward ticket;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (in some cases);
The payment of a fee.

Holders of Sudent Permits can apply for permission to work for the purposes of getting work experience. This permit is issued free of charge, and it is valid for the duration of the training period. Applicants must submit:

An offer to do practical training;
Consent from the educational institution;
Proof that he/she is still a registered student.

Foreigners holding a Student Permit can also work part-time for less than 20 hours a week. However, they cannot work during academic vacations.

Exchange Permits

Exchange Permits are issued to foreigners younger than 25 years of age who wish to participate in cultural, economic or social exchange programmes. The validity of the permit depends on the length of the programme for which it is issued (usually, not longer than 12 months).It cannot be renewed or extended.

When applying for an exchange permit in order to take part in a programme organised by a learning institution in South Africa in conjunction with a foreign institution, applicants must submit:

A passport valid for more than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit;
Payment of the fee;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if required);
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
An undertaking by the host(s) in South Africa;
Proof of medical cover;
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return or onward ticket;
Medical and radiology reports;
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18;
A letter from de Department of Education or a public higher educational institution in South Africa confirming that it is responsible for organising the programme, outlining the activities and duration, and confirming that it will take full responsibility for the student while he/she is in the country;
A letter from the organ of the foreign state confirming the particulars of the applicant, including confirmation of his/her registration with a higher educational institution abroad, and the date on which the programme will begin.

To apply for an exchange permit in order to take part in a programme organised by an organ of state, applicants must submit:

A passport valid for more than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit;
Payment of the fee;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if required);
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
An undertaking by the host(s) in South Africa;
Proof of medical cover;
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return or onward ticket;
Medical and radiology reports;
A letter from the organ of state confirming the existence of the exchange programme;
A letter from the educational institution abroad confirming the applicant′s enrolment, or a letter from the foreign state organ confirming the applicant′s participation in the programme and their awareness of the exchange programme;
Annual reports from the sponsoring body. If there is not a sponsoring body, the educational institution or organ of state must submit the reports;
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18.

To apply for an exchange permit issued to work for less than a year, the applicant must submit:

A passport valid for more than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit;
Payment of the fee;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if required);
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
An undertaking by the host(s) in South Africa;
Proof of medical cover;
A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return or onward ticket;
Medical and radiology reports;
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18;
A statement from the employer confirming that the position for which the permit is issued exists, that the remuneration complies with labour requirements, that he/she will provide for the applicant′s welfare and needs whilst in his employ, and that the employee will leave South Africa when the permit expires.The employer must also confirm that if the employee does not comply with the terms and condition of the permit or leaves the country, the Department of Home Affairs will be informed.

Those who apply for an exchange permit will not qualify for a Temporary Residence Permit for a year, and will not qualify for a Permanent Residence Permit for a 2-year period.

More information can be found on the Home Affairs Department site (www.dha.gov.za ).

Retired Persons and Medical Permits

Who can apply?

Retired Persons and Medical Permits applications must be made at the local Department of Home Affairs office or the nearest South African Embassy, Mission or Consulate.

Retirement permits′ applicants are required to submit:

A passport valid for more than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit, with at least one free page;
2 recent passport photographs;
A photocopy of a valid residential permit (if applicable);
The payment of a fee;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if required);
Proof of medical cover;
Medical and radiology reports;
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
A return or onward ticket, proof of sufficient funds, or a cash deposit;
A written statement and documentation confirming purpose and duration of the visit;
A police clearance certificate from each country in which the person resided for more than 12 months since the age of 18.

If the applicant intends to be accompanied by a spouse or children, it is required to attach to the permit application:

Medical certificates for the people accompanying the applicant;
Unabridged birth certificates;
A marriage certificate, along with a copy of the certificate or affidavit (if applicable);
Proof of a spousal relationship;
A divorce decree or proof of legal separation (if applicable);
Proof of custody or adoption of a minor (if required);
A death certificate in respect of a late spouse (if applicable);
Consent from a minor′s parent(s) (if required);
Proof of pension income of a minimum of R20,000 a month, or life-long irrevocable retirement annuity or retirement account with the equivalent value;
Proof of a net worth more than R12.000.000, from which at least R15,000 a month will be paid out for living expenses.

Medical Treatment Permits

Medical Treatment Permits are valid for six months, and medical permit holders cannot work or apply for work while in South Africa. To apply for a Medical Treatment Permit it is required to submit:

A passport valid for more than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit, with at least one free page;
The payment of a fee;
A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if required);
Proof of financial means to cover the living expenses until the first salary is received (bank statements, cash or travellers′ cheques);
A letter from the medical practitioner or institution, indicating the reasons for treatment, the period and particulars of the treatment plan in South Africa;
Details of the person or institution responsible for the medical expenses and hospital fees;
Proof of financial means or medical cover, if the medical scheme or employer won′t cover the expenses;
The companion′s particulars;
A copy of a return or onward ticket;
If applying at a local office, a valid temporary residence permit.