A foreign national who falls into one of the below mentioned categories may qualify for permanent residence:
- If the applicant falls within one of the professions listed on the quota schedule and is in possession of a permanent contract of employment
- If the applicant possesses extraordinary skills or qualifications
- If the applicant has established a business in South Africa and has invested the prescribed financial contribution
- If the applicant is a refugee and holds formal recognition of refugee status for more than five years
- If the applicant intends to retire in South Africa and has the right to a pension or retirement annuity which pays out a prescribed minimum payment for the rest of his or her life
- If an applicant has a prescribed minimum net worth and has paid a prescribed amount over to the Department of Home Affairs
- If the applicant is a relative of a South African citizen or South African permanent resident within the first step of kinship