This is a notoriously challenging application, but fortunately we have gotten connect with a good immigration lawyer in Cape Town !
Craig Smith & Associates are the only immigration law firm in South Africa (Cape Town and Johannesburg) that offers a full spectrum of immigration services
Email : craig@migrationlawyers.co.za and CC maliza@migrationlawyers.co.za
Their communication is not great - so just be consistent in emailing them to check in about the progress. Craig is better by Whatsapp, Maliza by email
A few things to know :
You can apply in South Africa
This process has been taking applicants upwards of 7 years as of 2025 (where you could be stuck in South Africa, with paperwork be invalidated due to laws changing) - hiring this lawyer can cut this timeline down to 1 - 1.5 years
You start by applying for a Retirement Visa, and then you can apply for Permanent Residency. There is not an age limit for this retirement option
The estimated cost for a couple is R40,000 which includes all filings, paperwork and litigation
The two significant aspects of paperwork that you will have to gather are :
Six months of bank statements — you will ideally have three accounts your home country, and one in ZA, with at least one your home country and the ZA in the name exclusively of the primary applicants (often the husband)
Background check from your home country — if you are applying for this from ZA, this can be the step that is a bit of a logistical challenge. If you are from the US, we have included the step by step for the FBI background check in our Visa FAQ’s, otherwise its worth checking on this Facebook group if someone has recommendations for your home country
The remaining paperwork to gather is easy by comparison (its everything you would have had to do for a volunteer visa previously) — the lawyer will give you specifics around all of this
