Affidavit of support

Family & estates

Choose support papers by the application they belong to. A surviving partner declaration uses MBU 19; visa routes use separate relationship, partner or financial support papers. For a general affidavit, you can go to a police station for a standard form and help. Use the checklist to identify your route before preparing papers.

Prepare your affidavit

No account needed. Your answers are used for this request. Save to your account only when you choose to.

Do not sign before the commissioner of oaths. Review your statement and sign in their presence. This PDF is not signed or certified.

Official downloads

Get the current form from the official source:

IMMIGRATION – VISA INFO dirco.gov.za

Basic application information and requirements - South African Consulate-General in Toront... dirco.gov.za

2023-09_CHM-directive.pdf justice.gov.za

What is an affidavit? | South African Government www.gov.za

How to use it

Describe the partnership State that the partners were partners in a permanent life partnership and undertook a mutual agreement of support. Give the address where they lived together. Confirm that the partnership still existed at the time of death of the deceased.
Explain the relationship history Describe the length of the relationship, whether that the relationship was exclusive of other persons, and how that the parties shared family responsibilities. Include affidavits confirming the extent to which the partners were acknowledged by friends and family as life partners and the respective ages of the partners.
Cover the ceremony and home Explain whether the partners took part in a ceremony manifesting their intention to enter into a permanent partnership, what the nature of that ceremony was and who attended it. State whether the partners share a common abode and whether the partners own or lease the common abode jointly.
Set out financial arrangements Explain whether and to what extent the partners share responsibility for living expenses and the upkeep for the joint home and whether and to what extent one partner provides financial support for the other. Include whether and to what extent the partners have made provision for one another in relation to medical, pension and related benefits, whether there is a partnership agreement and what its contents are, and whether and to what extent the partners have made provision in their wills for one another.
Include family and public life State whether the cohabitants have children and whether they have associated in public as an intimate couple.
Add supporting proof For proof of mutual support, include an affidavit or affirmation and supporting documents. This must include all of the following or additional information, by way of an affidavit/affirmation and supporting documents should be attached.

Document checklist

Surviving partner declaration Use MBU 19. Prepare proof of mutual support as an affidavit or affirmation with supporting documents. See the steps below for the details to cover.
Work visa with a travelling partner Prepare completed affidavit in the case of life partners.
Relative visa and spousal relationship The affidavit where a spousal relationship to a South African citizen or resident is applicable, as well as documentation proving cohabitation and the extent to which the related financial responsibilities are shared by the parties and setting out the particulars of children in the spousal relationship.
Visitor visa spouse support Prepare support letter from spouse who is a South African citizen or South African permanent resident.
Parental or spousal financial support Bring notarized financial support letter from parents/spouses with certified copies of the front page with bio data of their valid passports and bank statements of guarantor. This guidance covers people who do not have their own bank accounts and are supported by parents.

Questions & answers

What is an affidavit?

An affidavit is a written statement made under oath.

Where can I make a general affidavit?

You can make an affidavit at any police station, where an officer will provide you with a standard form and help you complete the process.

What should I understand before swearing to a statement?

The person making the statement swears that its contents are true and understands that they may be prosecuted if any part of the statement is false.

Does the financial support guidance cover everyone?

It covers people who do not have their own bank accounts and are supported by parents. The papers named for that situation are notarized financial support letter from parents/spouses and certified copies of the front page with bio data of their valid passports and bank statements of guarantor.

Can I use a visitor visa support letter for a relative visa application?

The visitor visa route names support letter from spouse who is a South African citizen or South African permanent resident. The relative visa route names the affidavit where a spousal relationship to a South African citizen or resident is applicable, as well as documentation proving cohabitation and the extent to which the related financial responsibilities are shared by the parties and setting out the particulars of children in the spousal relationship. Match the paper to your application.

Which paper is named when a partner travels with a work visa applicant?

The work visa entry names completed affidavit in the case of life partners.