Any adult or caregiver who is taking care of a child that qualifies, – and has no common law duty to maintain that child – can apply for this grant. In order to apply for a Foster Care Grant, the foster parent and the foster child must:

• Be resident in South Africa at the time of making the application (but they do not have to be South African citizens);
• Be in possession of a court order that makes the foster care status legal;
• Qualify in terms of the means test for a Foster Care Grant
• A child from any country that finds themselves in need of care and protection in South Africa, can be fostered. This will include a child who is undocumented, or a child who is a refugee.
• A foreign national who is a refugee can qualify to be a foster parent