Published on 1 February 2026

South Africa: Family, marriage and partnerships

Find out about family, marriage and partnerships if you are planning to emigrate to South Africa. The FDFA can provide you with information about this.

Joining your family

Financially dependent persons who are not economically active and wish to relocate to South Africa to join relatives must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial means and that their South African family members are able to support them.

In this context, the law (Immigration Act, 2002) requires proof of financial support (“financial means”), for example by providing a bank statement covering living expenses and accommodation.

Applications must be submitted to a regional office of the Department of Home Affairs or to a South African embassy or consulate abroad. The relative in South Africa must provide proof of South African citizenship or permanent residence.

Spouses of holders of South African citizenship or permanent residence permits may, subject to compliance with the applicable legal requirements, obtain a residence permit.

Visas

Further information on family reunification.

Law no. 29656 from 2016

Text of the law.

Registering marriages and partnerships

Marriages contracted abroad under civil law are recognised in Switzerland and must be registered with the Swiss civil status authorities. Swiss nationals who get married abroad are required to register their marriage with the competent Swiss representation abroad. The documents must be submitted to the diplomatic representation together with an apostille. The latter will forward the declaration to Switzerland free of charge.

Swiss representation in South Africa

More information on compulsory registration of marriages.

Find out what you need to do as early as possible

Before you get married, contact your Swiss representation to find out what you will need to do to make sure your marriage is recognised and registered in the civil status register without delay.

FactFederal Office of Justice (German)

Fact sheets on civil status

Partnerships

South Africa was the first country to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in its constitution. On 1 December 2006, it made history by becoming the fifth country in the world and the first in Africa to allow same-sex partners to marry and to introduce registered partnerships for unmarried same-sex and opposite-sex couples as a legal institution.