How can a long-term foreign mine worker in South Africa apply for permanent residence after many years of annual work permit renewals?

The long answer

You should be able to get permanent residence in terms of section 26 (a) of the Immigration Act, as 

1. you have held a valid work permit (now called a visa) for a minimum period of five years, and 

2. you have a permanent job offer at the time you apply.

Those are the two primary requirements to get permanent residence. You would need to have proof of holding valid work visas for a continuous period of five years, and a formal, permanent job offer letter from Harmony Gold Mine.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) says that you must first explain why you should not be declared a prohibited person or an undesirable person before you can apply.

The DHA form BI-947 is the official application form for a permanent residence permit in South Africa. The following list of documents has to be submitted to VFS Global, which is the company that processes the applications for Home Affairs, along with Form B1-947:

1. the two application fees (R1,550 for VSF Global and R1,520 for DHA)

2. a copy of a birth certificate in respect of the applicant

3. biometrics (fingerprints) in respect of any applicant over the age of 16 years

4. a police clearance certificate. A police clearance certificate shall only be required from the police or security authorities in each country where the applicant, after attaining the age of 18 years, has resided for 12 months or longer during the five years immediately preceding the date of application. 

5. medical report by a registered medical practitioner regarding the applicant’s general state of health, detailing any medical condition he or she suffers from, which report shall not be older than 6 months at the time of its submission.   

6. the documents relating to the applicant’s marital status or spousal relationship, such as a marriage certificate or notarial agreement 

7. where the application is made in the Republic, a valid passport and visa for temporary sojourn at the time of application, in respect of each applicant.  

Before you can submit the form and the documents, you have to arrange an interview with VFS Global.

You can book an interview online with VFS Global on their website: Welcome to VFS Global | vfsglobal

When you go for the interview, VSF Global says you must bring the following:

• A printout of the email confirming the details of your appointment received after booking your appointment

• Valid passport or travel documents with at least two pages that are blank on both sides

• Printout of your completed visa application form (note that only small manual amendments to this form will be accepted at the visa application centre)

• All supporting documents (refer to the checklist provided after the appointment was scheduled as guidelines for your visa/permit type for the documents you must provide.)

The application will then be submitted to the DHA from a VFS Global centre, and the whole process can take several months.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie