South Africa Medical Visa

A South African medical permit is a specific temporary residence permit designed to allow foreign nationals to immigrate to South Africa on a temporary basis for the express purpose of undergoing medical treatment in the country.

South African medical permits are valid for people migrating to South Africa to be treated at either a private or public hospital or any other genuine recognised health organisation including rehabilitation, detoxification clinics, health farms and old age residential homes.

The range of South African visas and immigration services is extensive and for those who wish to migrate to South Africa a spectrum of different visa services is available for particular types of immigrant.

South African visas vary in terms of duration and purpose and depend upon the purpose of an immigrant's time in the country as well as the period for which they intend to stay.

For those applicants who aim to relocate to South Africa for a short period in order to visit relatives or friends, or for the purposes of tourism, a South African visitor visa,  referred to as a visit visa or tourist visa will be required.

Where clients wish to enter the country with the intention of living and working in South Africa, either for a specified duration or on a permanent basis a range of both temporary residence permits and permanent residence permits are offered.

As specialist immigration consultants, Global Visas can help you to make sense of the structure of South African immigration services, allowing you to assess yourself against the eligibility requirements and determine the most suitable route for your relocation to South Africa.

Visa applications can be managed throughout the process and our immigration consultants can offer immigration lawyer expertise at every stage to ensure that you embark upon the most beneficial route.

Medical Visa Benefits

A South African medical visa allows a person to enter the country in order to receive medical treatment. The permit is valid for ninety days and in some respects functions in a similar manner to a South African visitor visa.

Unlike longer-term temporary residence permits, medical visas do not require any financial requirements to be made beyond the ability to pay for the treatment being undertaken.

Medical Visa Eligibility

The main eligibility requirement for South African medical visas is that all applications must include a letter from the medical practitioner or institution concerned.

This correspondence must detail the nature of the condition or ailment, the treatment prescribed and the reasons for its recommendation. In addition, information must be provided on the appointments made for South African treatment, the expected period of the treatment and the person or body responsible for paying the appropriate fees. Finally, proof of medical cover will need to be provided.

In South Africa, visas may be waived in cases where medical treatment is required in an emergency.

In such circumstances, subjects will be permitted entry to South Africa without possessing a South Africa medical permit. However, an immigration officer will visit the patient once treatment has taken place to ensure that the correct South African visa service is granted.

In such circumstances, the driver, pilot or person otherwise in charge of the emergency vehicle is responsible for reporting the person's presence in the country to the Department of Home Affairs.

Once a visiting immigration officer is satisfied that the patient is in the country with a valid passport a temporary residence permit will be issued to cover the necessary length of stay.

Working and Studying in South Africa

In South Africa, immigration through a visa for medical treatment is a very specific visa service intended solely for the treatment of patients in the country.

Visas for medical treatment do not provide the opportunity to work in South Africa or to undergo a course of study.

Spouse Immigration and Dependent immigration:

The specific nature of medical permits for treatment in the country mean that they do not specifically provide for the spouse, life partner or dependent children of an applicant to join them.

A South African visa of this kind is only issued for up to ninety days and is granted in anticipation that the applicant temporarily immigrating to South Africa will undergo the described treatment before returning to their country of residence.

The most appropriate route for relatives wishing to join the applicant in the country would be to apply for a South African visitor permit in their own right.