Information on South African Study Permits

With South Africa's diverse and highly recommendedparents (guardians) of financial support for during their
range of schooling and tertiary education institutions, itstay in RSA while studying.
is no surprise to know that many foreigners whoThe second option would be for individual (stand alone)
immigrate to RSA, either as individuals or families withforeigners wishing to continue their studies in South
children, will receive the best education for theAfrica (e.g. university, college, etc). These permits are
person(s) concerned. There are so many differentissued by the Department of Home Affairs to the
options of education institutions (from pre-schools,applicant who has been "provisionally accepted" to a
primary schools, secondary schools and tertiarySouth African Registered Educational Institution. RSA
schooling facilities) to choose from. South Africa isStudy permits are issued to the length of the course;
abundant with students who thrive on knowledge andthis is done with the Department's discretion.
highly qualified teachers/lecturers to provide theWhat documentation would be required for a study
knowledge required to go forward in life.(individual) permit ?
In South Africa, a foreigner who would like to study inThe documentation required for a South African
one of these institutions would require a study permit(individual) study permit would include an acceptance
(temporary residency). There are two options for thisletter from the South African educational institution
type of permit for the respective foreigner(s):concerned, South African Registered Medical
The first option would be for families immigrating toInsurance and proof that the applicant can sustain
South African with children from the age 6 to 16 (as allthemselves financially during their stay in RSA while
children from the age of 6 - 16 are required by law tostudying.
attend schooling, therefore, requiring a study permit). IfCan a foreigner work on a South African on this
a child is young enough to attend crèche,permit?
pre-school, etc, provision may be made by theThe student (over the age of 16 years) may work 20
Department to issue a permit to the child(ren), this ishours per week during their term (semester) or when
done with their own discretion. These permits arethe workplace is a learning institution on this permit.
issued to the length of the schooling period, theIn order to retain a study permit while in South Africa,
maximum period length of a study permit is 3 years.the foreigner must attend the courses/school-days. As
What documentation would be required for a studythis permit is a specific permit, if a child/person moves
(children accompanying families) permit ?to a different institution or from primary to high school
The documentation required for a RSA (children(secondary school), etc - a new study permit would
accompanying families) study permit would include anneed to be applied for in order to legally attend the
acceptance letter ("provisionally accepted") from thenew institution. Correspondence courses/distance
RSA educational institution concerned, South Africanlearning courses do not allow for the issuance of a
Registered Medical Insurance and proof from theSouth African study permit.