Swazi Dependent Pass

Who it is for

• Spouse of a work or residence permit holder
• Children and other dependants accompanying a permit holder

What you can do

• Reside in Eswatini for the duration of the principal's permit
• Cannot take up employment or run a business without a separate work permit

How to apply

• Apply to the Department of Immigration Services with the principal's permit
• Provide proof of the family relationship (e.g. marriage or birth certificate)
• Application decided on merit by the immigration committee

Requirements

A dependent pass is one of the temporary residence permits issued by the Permits Section of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is granted to the spouse, parent, guardian or dependant of a foreign national who is lawfully in Eswatini for work, study or another approved purpose. Because it is a dependent status, the pass is tied to a principal permit holder — you cannot hold it on its own.

Applications are reviewed by a committee that decides each case on merit against the stipulated requirements, so the outcome and validity are at the discretion of the immigration authorities rather than automatic.

• There must be a principal permit holder — a foreign national lawfully residing in Eswatini on a valid permit (for example a work permit or student pass)
• You must be able to prove your relationship to that principal permit holder (spouse, child, parent or guardian/dependant)
• The principal permit must be current; the dependent pass is generally granted for a period tied to the principal's permit
• The application is assessed on merit by the Permits Section committee against its requirements

Documents you may need

• Valid passport for the dependant
• Proof of relationship to the principal permit holder (for example a marriage certificate for a spouse, or a birth certificate for a child)
• Evidence of the principal holder's valid Eswatini permit
• Completed permit/pass application form for the Permits Section
• Recent passport-style photographs