Study permits are valid for the duration of the course for which they are issued, alternatively 36 months for school and 24 months for other institutions.
As a holder of a study permit you may also apply for permission to work for the purposes of getting work experience, as part of your studies to obtain a diploma or degree by submitting:
- an offer to do practical training
- consent from the educational institution
- proof that you are still a registered student
The Department’s consent to get practical training as part of your studies is issued free of charge provided that you are a registered student and that your study permit remains valid for the entire duration of the training period.
Alternatively, as a foreigner studying at a higher educational institution with a valid study permit, you may work part-time for no more than 20 hours per week. However, you may not work during academic vacations.
The overriding consideration in processing applications for study permits are that:
- No foreigner may displace a South African citizen/resident at a local educational institution
- The student must have proof of sufficient funds to pay for day-to-day living expenses, accommodation as well as tuition fees during his/her stay in South Africa
- The student must have adequate medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme and proof thereof
HELPLINE
+27 (0)12 425 3000
EMAIL ID: info.dhasa@vfshelpline.com
Qualifying for a Study visa
To study in South Africa, the applicant must be accepted (or provisionally accepted) to study at the school concerned. Acceptance is proven by way of a letter of acceptance which must be on the school’s letterhead and signed by or on behalf of the registrar or principal.
The learning institution concerned is held strictly liable for the study visa holder’s compliance with the Immigration Act. The following forms part of the school’s responsibilities towards the Department of Home Affairs:
- It must confirm that the student’s registration has been confirmed within 60 days after the closing date for registrations;
- It must notify the Department of Home Affairs within 7 days if the student fails to register by the closing date for registrations;
- It must notify the Department of Home Affairs immediately if the student is de-registered or expelled; and
- It must notify the Department of Home Affairs if the student completes his or her studies or wishes to extend the period of study at the institution.
The applicant must prove that he or she has access to the funds necessary to sustain him or herself for the duration of the course while studying in South Africa
Study visa processing time
The processing time for a study visa application submitted in South Africa is between 4 and 8 weeks.
The processing time for a study visa application submitted at a foreign mission abroad varies greatly depending on the high commission concerned and the time of the year. Applications submitted at the High Commission in Brussels have been approved in as little as 3 days, while applications submitted at South Africa House in London generally take around 5 weeks.
The most common reason for delays in visa applications is incomplete and missing documents. It is not the Department of Home Affairs’ mandate to cure applications or to advise on applications.
Rightly or wrongly, the Department of Home Affairs only considers the application based on what has been submitted. Contact us to ensure that your application is correct and approved as quickly as possible.
The financial requirements for a study visa
No official financial requirements have been set for study visas, but the Department of Home Affairs have adopted a policy whereby the applicant must show access to R3 000 per month for the duration of studies. If the course for which the applicant is enrolled is for a year, then the applicant must show
R3 000 x 12 = R36 000.
Can my family members accompany me on my study visa?
Yes. The study visa holder’s spouse and dependent children may apply for accompanying spouse or child visas. These visas can be issued for up to three years, but the accompanying family members may not run a business, work or study. The parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of a study visa holder do not qualify for accompanying family member visas.
Accompanying spouses and children cannot change their status from within South Africa. Change of status applications must be made from the applicant’s country of ordinary residence.
Will the South African study visa qualify me for permanent residency?
No, a study visa never qualifies its holder for permanent residency. To qualify for permanent residency, the holder must first change status to a visa which can qualify for permanent residencies, such as a work visa or business visa.
Benefits of the study visa in South Africa
The holder of a study visa may apply for a change of visa status from within South Africa. It is not necessary for the applicant to leave the country and to submit a change of visa status or visa renewal application from abroad. Visa holders in many other categories must submit a change of status applications in their home countries.
Study visa holders at tertiary education level are allowed to work part-time, but for no more than 20 hours per week. Study visa holders who work for more than the allowed hours contravene the terms of their study visa, may be declared undesirable and deported.
Family members can accompany the primary study visa holder on accompanying family member visas.
The study visa can be issued for lengthy periods of time, meaning that the holder does not need to renew the visa as regularly as with some other visa categories.
The financial requirements for a study visa are much lower than for many other visa categories.
There is no limit on a number of times a study visa can be renewed.
What are the drawbacks to the South African study visa?
Study visa holders never qualify for permanent residency.
The limit on a number of hours study visa holders are allowed to work in the Republic means that many study visa holders struggle to maintain their financial independence.
Study visas have in the past been abused by applicants who do not qualify for any other visa type. Accordingly, the Department of Home Affairs assesses study visa applications strictly.
Each time the study visa holder changes schools a new study visa must be applied for.
Study visa holders must have medical insurance for the duration of their study visa. The medical insurance must cover the candidate for the duration of studies in South Africa.