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The short answer
South African banks can open accounts for refugees and asylum seekers: after a court case brought by Lawyers for Human Rights, banks were required to accept refugee and asylum-seeker permits as identification, with Home Affairs verifying them. In practice each bank decides under its own risk rules, so bring a valid, unexpired section 22 or section 24 permit and expect a verification delay.
This question comes up often among Nigerians in South Africa who hold an asylum seeker permit (section 22 of the Refugees Act) or have been recognised as refugees (section 24). The short history matters, because it explains why some branches still hesitate.
How access was won
According to a VOA report, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) had at one point ruled that these permits could not be accepted as identification, so banks blocked existing accounts and refused new ones. Lawyers for Human Rights and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) went to court. Under the settlement, banks had to "accept refugee and asylum-seeker documents as valid identification", the FIC was to issue a new communication to banks, and Home Affairs was to set up a way for banks to verify permits.
A government SAnews report dated 11 November 2010 described the same arrangement: Home Affairs would give banks the ability to check permits issued under the Refugees Act, with information "verified within two days". It said the arrangement would run until the relevant law was amended.
What banks usually ask for
- The permit itself: the original section 22 or section 24 document, in date. A permit that has lapsed, even while you wait for a renewal appointment, is the most common reason for refusal or a frozen account.
- Verification: the bank checks the permit with Home Affairs. Ask how long this takes at that bank.
- Proof of address: no longer a legal FICA requirement since 2 October 2017, according to MJ Kotze Inc., but many banks still ask for one under their own risk programme. See proof of address when you rent a room.
- Source of income: a payslip, employer letter or bank statements, depending on the account.
Section 22 versus section 24 in practice
| Section 22 (asylum seeker) | Section 24 (refugee) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it shows | Your asylum claim is pending | You have refugee status |
| Expiry date | Printed on the permit; renewed at Home Affairs | Printed on the document; renewed at Home Affairs |
| Likely bank concern | How soon the permit expires | How soon the document expires |
| What helps | Renewing early and keeping proof of the renewal appointment | Renewing early and giving the bank the new document |
How long each document lasts depends on what Home Affairs writes on it; check the date on yours, not a figure someone quotes online. Give the bank a copy of each renewed permit as soon as you receive it, and ask the branch to confirm in writing that your record has been updated, so the account is not flagged for an expired document you have already replaced.
Keeping the account open
Getting the account is half the task. Because the bank verified your permit when you opened it, it will want to see the replacement each time it is renewed. Set a reminder well before the expiry date, book your Home Affairs renewal early and keep proof of the appointment. Using the account regularly for salary and bills also gives the bank a clearer picture of how you run it, which matters if it later reviews foreign nationals' accounts.
If a branch refuses you
- Ask for the reason in writing, and ask whether the refusal is the bank's policy or one branch's decision.
- Check that your permit is in date and readable, and bring the original.
- Ask the bank to verify the permit with Home Affairs, referring to the settlement described above.
- Use the bank's formal complaints process, keeping copies.
- If you believe you were refused only because of the type of permit, contact a refugee legal service such as Lawyers for Human Rights.
If an existing account is frozen when your permit expires, see accounts frozen after a permit expires and why banks close foreign nationals' accounts.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme accounts can be opened from any country; check in the app which identity documents are accepted for your situation. Pryme is not a substitute for a local account for salary and rent. If you send money to family in Nigeria, the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve; see how it works.
Questions people ask
Can asylum seekers open a bank account in South Africa?
Yes, banks can accept section 22 permits after verifying them with Home Affairs, following a court settlement. Each bank applies its own checks.
Which bank accepts a section 22 permit?
We found no official current list. Ask each bank directly and get the answer in writing.
Why was my asylum permit refused at the bank?
Common reasons are an expired permit or failed verification. Ask for the reason in writing.
How long does permit verification take?
A 2010 government report said two days; ask your bank what it takes now.
Sources
- VOA: South African court restores bank access for refugees · accessed Oct 2026
- SAnews: Refugees can now own bank accounts (11 Nov 2010) · accessed Oct 2026
- MJ Kotze Inc: FICA proof of address (12 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.