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Keep South African temporary-residence and permanent-residence research in separate files. Connect them only where the permanent-residence category's actual instructions explain the relationship.
Name the current or proposed temporary category
DHA's permanent-residence page distinguishes direct residence under section 26 from residence on other grounds under section 27. It describes category-specific application evidence. This is a separate application framework from temporary work, study or accompanying permission. Read South African DHA: Permanent Residency.
Your working sheet
The following is an editorial organisation tool, not an official application checklist. Copy the rows that help and fill them with your own verified records.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| Temporary record | Name the current or proposed visa and its genuine conditions |
| Permanent category | Identify the official ground being researched rather than assuming automatic conversion |
| Evidence | Separate reusable original records from documents that must meet the later application's instructions |
A practical example
For example, an applicant may plan a temporary job now and hope to settle later. A realistic worksheet keeps the future category as research, with unresolved eligibility questions. It does not mark permanent residence guaranteed because the first employer contract is signed.
Before the next step
Read the current DHA permanent-residence category and form instructions. Preserve employment, travel and family records accurately, but do not assume every temporary period counts in the way a future application requires. Take a complex transition question to an appropriately qualified adviser.
Continue with the guide library or save the next task in the moving planner. Official requirements can change; the source above was checked on 17 October 2026.