A South Africa Medical Visa 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 immigrating 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.
Medical Visa Benefits
With this type of visa an individual outside South Africa can come to seek medical treatment. This type of South Africa visa is valid for a period of 90 days. 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.
The correspondence between the medical practitioner and the applicant 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 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 person in charge of the emergency vehicle is responsible for reporting the person's presence in the country to the Department of Home Affairs.
If the patient holds a valid passport and the immigrant officer thinks it to be a genuine case then he/she will be allowed to stay in South Africa for the allocated time of treatment.
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
A South Africa Medical Visa is intended to help a person seeking medical treatment. This is a temporary residence visa for people who are under medical treatment in South Africa and will go back to his/her own country once the treatment is complete. If any of the patient’s family members, relative or spouse wishes to accompany him/her, they have to apply, separately, for visitor’s permit in South Africa.