Section 18 relative's visas · family reunification
Relative’s Visas – Bring Your Family to South Africa
If you are a South African citizen or permanent resident, your immediate family can live with you on a relative's visa. We prove the family relationship, prepare your financial undertaking as sponsor and keep renewals on schedule – so your family is together without immigration worries.
[email protected]
- Expert consultationhonest, in-depth assessment
- Open 7 days08:00 – 18:00, incl. weekends
- Since 200420+ years of casework
- Glen Marais basedKempton Park, near OR Tambo
Quick answer
Who qualifies for a South African relative's visa?
A relative's visa under Section 18 of the Immigration Act is for a family member of a South African citizen or permanent resident within the second step of kinship – for example parents, children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren. The citizen or permanent resident acts as the sponsor and gives a financial undertaking to support the relative. A relative's visa does not, on its own, allow the holder to work. Spouses and life partners use the separate spousal visa.
Call 073 283 7916, WhatsApp 072 561 3097, or email [email protected].
- Service
- Relative's visa applications
- Legal basis
- Section 18, Immigration Act 13 of 2002
- Sponsor
- SA citizen or permanent resident
- Work rights
- Not included
- Our fee
- Quoted per case after your consultation
- Hours
- Mon–Sun 08:00–18:00
01Who qualifies
Family members who can apply
The relationship must be proven with official documents. These are the most common cases we handle.
01
Parents
Parents joining an adult child who is a South African citizen or permanent resident.
02
Children
Children joining a parent in South Africa, including adult dependent children.
03
Siblings
Brothers and sisters within the second step of kinship.
04
Grandparents & grandchildren
Extended family within the permitted degree of kinship.
02Requirements
Relative's visa documents
Applicant
The family member- Passport & DHA-1738 formRequiredPassport valid 30 days beyond the visa
- Unabridged birth certificatesRequiredProving the relationship to the sponsor
- Police clearance certificatesRequiredFrom every country of 12+ months’ residence since 18
- Medical & radiology reportsRequiredWithin validity
Sponsor
SA citizen or permanent resident- SA ID or permanent residence permitRequiredCertified copy
- Financial undertakingRequiredSigned undertaking to support the relative
- Proof of incomeRequiredPayslips, bank statements or business financials
- Proof of addressRequiredWhere the relative will live
Requirements are set by the Immigration Regulations and Home Affairs and can change. We confirm the current list for your exact category at your consultation.
03Compare
Relative's visa vs spousal visa
| Relative's visa (s18) | Spousal / life partner visa (s11(6)) | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren | Spouse or life partner of a citizen or PR |
| Sponsor support | Financial undertaking required | Relationship and joint-life evidence |
| Can work? | No | Yes, if endorsed |
| Route to PR | Section 27(g) for first-step relatives | Section 26(b) after 5 years of marriage |
04Avoid refusals
Why relative's visas get refused
Abridged certificates
Short-form birth certificates often do not show both parents. Unabridged certificates are usually needed.
Sponsor income not shown
The sponsor must clearly show they can support the relative.
Relationship outside the rules
Cousins, aunts and uncles fall outside the permitted kinship and need a different route.
Applying for the wrong visa
A spouse applying for a relative's visa – or vice versa – will be refused.
05Fees
What does a relative's visa cost?
No fixed packages – fees reflect the real complexity of your matter, and you always know the cost before you commit.
There is no fixed price list on this site on purpose. The work behind a relative's visa depends on your category, your family, your paperwork and your history in South Africa, so a one-size price would either overcharge simple cases or under-prepare complex ones.
Your consultation is a paid, in-depth session with an experienced consultant – not a sales call. The consultation fee is confirmed when you book, before anything is charged, and you leave with real answers whether or not you go ahead with us. If you want us to handle the application, that work is quoted in writing before it starts. Government (Department of Home Affairs) and VFS Global fees are separate, set by them and paid directly.
Not sure you need a consultation? WhatsApp a short question to 072 561 3097 and we will tell you honestly whether you do. If a simple renewal is all you need, we will say so.
What your consultation gives you
- A full review of your documents and immigration history
- The exact visa or permit route we recommend, and why
- A personalised document checklist you keep
- Honest risks and realistic timelines – stated up front
- A written quote for any application work, with no obligation
What shapes the fee for your case?
Visa category
A visitor's visa extension is far simpler than a business visa or permanent residence.
Number of applicants
Spouses, children and dependants each need their own documents and forms.
Document readiness
Whether certificates, clearances, translations and apostilles are already in hand.
Case history
Previous refusals, overstays, undesirable status or a change of status add work.
Urgency
Tight deadlines – such as a 10-working-day appeal window – need priority handling.
Independent consultancy. Immigration Galore SA CC is a private immigration consultancy. We are not the Department of Home Affairs or VFS Global. Decisions are made by Home Affairs, and no consultant can lawfully guarantee an outcome – what we guarantee is a complete, correct and well-motivated application.
06How it works
From first question to final outcome in 5 steps
One consultant guides your case from the first conversation to the decision letter.
Book your consultation
Call, WhatsApp or send the form to book. In your consultation we review your full situation and documents, and tell you honestly which visa or permit route fits – and whether you qualify.
Written route & document list
You get a personalised checklist for your exact category, with notes on certificates, translations, clearances and the order to collect them in.
Fee agreed before work starts
Because no two cases are the same, we quote your professional fee in writing once we understand the complexity. Government and VFS fees are shown separately.
Pack prepared & checked
We draft motivation letters and forms, check every page against the Immigration Regulations and book your VFS Global appointment.
Submit, track & follow up
We track the application with VFS and Home Affairs, answer requests for more information and explain the outcome – including next steps if you need to appeal.
07Why Immigration Galore
Why families and employers choose Immigration Galore
Immigration is too important for guesswork. This is what working with us looks like.
Since 2004
More than 20 years of South African immigration casework – through every major change to the Immigration Act and Regulations.
An honest assessment first
If you do not qualify yet, we tell you plainly – before you spend money on an application – and show you what would change the answer.
Checked before it reaches VFS
Most refusals come from missing, expired or wrong documents. Every page is checked against the current requirements before submission.
Open 7 days a week
We are available Mon–Sun 08:00–18:00, including weekends, so you can consult without taking leave from work.
One consultant, start to finish
The person who assesses your case is the person who prepares it and follows it up. You never have to repeat your story.
Local in Glen Marais
Based in Kempton Park, minutes from the R21 and OR Tambo, with clients across Gauteng and the rest of South Africa.
08Related services
Clients who ask about this often need these too
Immigration routes connect. These are the services most often combined with this one.
FamilyRelative's Visa Kempton Park
Local help for East Rand families bringing a parent, child or sibling to live with them in South Africa.
- Face-to-face in Glen Marais
- Sponsor documents checked
- Renewals handled
PermanentPermanent Residence
Section 26 and 27 permanent residence: work, spouse, child, critical skills, business, retired and financially independent.
- Route & eligibility assessment
- Police & medical clearances
- Long-wait follow-ups
Temporary residenceTemporary Residence Visas
Every Section 11–22 temporary visa: visitor, spousal, study, work, business, medical, retired and more.
- New applications & renewals
- Change of status inside SA
- VFS submission support
VisitorVisitor's Visa Kempton Park
Visitor's visas and extensions for tourists, family visits, business trips, volunteers and researchers.
- 90-day & longer-stay visas
- Extensions before expiry
- Invitation & funds letters
09Service area
Immigration help across Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and South Africa
Immigration Galore works from Glen Marais in Kempton Park, a few minutes from the R21 and R25 and about 15 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport. Clients meet us in person by appointment, or handle the whole process by phone, WhatsApp and email – which is how we assist people in Cape Town, Durban and abroad.
Getting to us
- R21 and R25 – a few minutes from our office
- OR Tambo International Airport – about 15 minutes
- Kempton Park CBD and Kempton Park Home Affairs – about 10 minutes
- Benoni, Boksburg, Germiston and Midrand – 20 to 30 minutes
Areas we serve
- Glen Marais
- Birchleigh
- Norkem Park
- Edleen
- Bonaero Park
- Aston Manor
- Rhodesfield
- Van Riebeeck Park
- Kempton Park CBD
- Isando
- Tembisa
- Midrand
- Edenvale
- Bedfordview
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Brakpan
- Springs
- Alberton
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Fourways
- Rosebank
- Johannesburg CBD
- Centurion
- Pretoria
Outside Gauteng? Most of our work can be done by phone, WhatsApp and email – call 073 283 7916 to confirm.
10FAQs
Relative's Visa FAQs
Straight answers to the questions our clients ask most.
Who can sponsor a relative's visa?
A South African citizen or permanent resident can sponsor an immediate family member within the second step of kinship and must provide a financial undertaking.
Can I work on a relative's visa?
No. A relative's visa does not allow work. A relative who wants to work needs a separate work visa.
Can my spouse use a relative's visa?
No. Spouses and life partners apply for a spousal or life partner visa under Section 11(6), which can be endorsed to allow work, study or business.
How long is a relative's visa valid?
It is issued for a limited period and can be renewed while the qualifying relationship and support continue. We help you renew on time.
Can a relative's visa lead to permanent residence?
Yes, in some cases. Relatives within the first step of kinship (parents and children) of a citizen or permanent resident may apply for permanent residence under Section 27(g).
Can my parents apply from inside South Africa?
If they are on a visitor's visa, a change of status inside South Africa is generally restricted unless exceptional circumstances apply. We advise on the best route.
What documents prove the relationship?
Unabridged birth certificates are the standard proof, sometimes supported by other civil records. Foreign certificates may need translations and apostilles.
What does a relative's visa cost?
Our professional fee is quoted per case after your consultation. Government and VFS fees are separate.
11Consultation
Book your immigration consultation
Tell us where you stand and what you need. A consultant replies within one business day – usually the same day – with the recommended next step and the consultation fee for your matter. No obligation to book. Prefer to talk? Call 073 283 7916.
Consulting hours
- Monday08:00 – 18:00
- Tuesday08:00 – 18:00
- Wednesday08:00 – 18:00
- Thursday08:00 – 18:00
- Friday08:00 – 18:00
- Saturday08:00 – 18:00
- Sunday08:00 – 18:00
South African time (SAST). Office visits by appointment.
Find Immigration Galore in Glen Marais, Kempton Park
Glen Marais, Kempton Park, 1619 – in north Kempton Park, close to the R21 and R25 and about 15 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport. Office consultations are by appointment.
Mon–Sun 08:00–18:00 · 7 days a week