SOUTH AFRICAN WORK PERMITS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What types of work permits are available in South Africa?

South Africa offers various types of work permits based on your qualifications and employment situation:

Critical Skills Work Visa – for professionals in high-demand fields
General Work Visa – for foreign nationals with job offers outside the Critical Skills list
Intra-Company Transfer Visa – for employees seconded on assignment to a South African branch within a multinational company
Corporate Visa – for companies employing large groups of foreign workers

2. Who qualifies for a South African work permit?

Eligibility depends on the visa type, but generally, you’ll need:

A valid job offer from a South African employer
Relevant qualifications and/or experience
Proof that the position could not be filled by a South African citizen (in many cases)
Registration with professional bodies (for certain skills)
Adherence to the Points-Based System

3. How do I apply for a South African work permit?

Applications may be submitted at a South African embassy/consulate or relevant Visa Facilitation Centre. Key steps include:

Securing a job offer (or meeting Critical Skills requirements)
Collecting required documents
Completing and submitting the relevant DHA form
Waiting for processing and outcome

4. What is the Critical Skills Work Visa, and how does it work?

This visa is designed for professionals whose skills are listed on the Critical Skills List.
It allows you to:

Valid for up to 5 years, renewable within South Africa.
Immediate eligibility for permanent residency once permanent employment is secured, which is dependent on relevant work experience.
Dependents, including spouse and children, can accompany the visa holder with dependent visas.
Facilitated by a points-based system introduced in 2024, assessing qualifications, salary, experience, and language skills.

5. How long does it take to get a South African work permit approved?

Processing times vary:

Local applications: 4 to 8 weeks
International applications: 8 to 12 weeks
Delays may occur due to documentation issues or high application volumes.

6. Can I bring my family with me on a South African work permit?

Yes. Spouses and dependent children can apply for accompanying visas. Spouses may apply to work or study, depending on the conditions attached to their visas.

7. Can a work permit lead to permanent residency in South Africa?

Work Visas provide a formal pathway to Permanent Residence in South Africa. The timeframe in which one would be eligible to apply for Permanent Residence depends on the particular work visa held.

8. What are the most common reasons work permit applications are rejected?

Common pitfalls include:

Incomplete or incorrect documentation
Lack of a valid job offer or labor market test
Failure to meet qualification or skills requirements
Errors in visa application forms

9. Can I switch from a tourist visa to a work visa while in South Africa?

Generally it would not be possible to change status from a Visitor’s Visa within the boundaries of South Africa and in most instances, the Applicant would be obliged to apply for the work visa from their country of origin.

However, there are certain exceptional circumstances which permit the holder of a Visitor’s Visa to change their status within South Africa, such as being the spouse of a South African citizen or Permanent Residence holder.

10. How much does it cost to apply for a South African work permit?

Costs vary but include:

Visa application fee: R1,520 – R1,700
Medical exam fees
Translation & authentication of documents
VFS Global service fees (if applicable)
Agency/legal assistance (if using one)

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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Full Name(Required)

Contact Number

Email Address(Required)

Please select the visa category you require assistance with:(Required)

How old is the child?(Required)

Does the child's parent/ guardian have valid status within South Africa?(Required)

What is your marital status?(Required)

What is the status of your spouse?(Required)

What is the number of foreign nationals you are looking to employ?(Required)

CS - Do you currently have a formal offer of employment from a registered South African company?(Required)

CS - What is your highest level of Education?(Required)

CS - What is your expected annual income for the position you have been offered?(Required)

CS - How many years of work experience do you have?(Required)

CS - Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?(Required)

* Trusted Employers who have received this status form the DHA often meet the following criteria: - Have invested more than R100 million into the South African Economy - Employ more than 150 staff

CS - In which country did you complete your highest qualification(Required)

CS - What position have you been offered(Required)

CS - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

GWV - What is your highest level of education?(Required)

GWV - In order to qualify for a General Work Visa, you must have an offer of employment from a South African employer. What is your expected annual income for the position you have been offered?(Required)

GWV - How many years of work experience do you have?(Required)

GWV - Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?(Required)

* Trusted Employers who have received this status form the DHA often meet the following criteria: - Have invested more than R100 million into the South African Economy - Employ more than 150 staff

GWV - Are you proficient in one of South Africa's 11 official languages?(Required)

ICT - Are you being sent on a secondment or assignment to South Africa?(Required)

ICT - Have you been employed in your current position for longer than 6 months?(Required)

ICT - What is the expected duration of your secondment/ assignment?(Required)

RV - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

RV - What is the expiry date of your current visa(Required)

RV - Are you currently residing in South Africa?(Required)

RV - Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?(Required)

RWV - Are you currently employed by a foreign entity outside of South Africa?(Required)

RWV - Do you earn an annual salary exceeding R650,000? (UDS $37,000 / EUR 33,000)(Required)

RPV - Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least R1.8 million?(Required)

RPV - Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?(Required)

RPV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

STWA - What is the duration of your assignment in South Africa?(Required)

STWA - Does your current employer support your work in South Africa?(Required)

SV - Do you have an enrollment letter from a recognized learning institution?(Required)

SV - What level of education will you be completing in South Africa?(Required)

VV - What is your intention in South Africa?(Required)

VV - What is you intended duration of stay in South Africa?(Required)

RNW - What visa do you currently hold?(Required)

Please specify other(Required)

What is the expiry date of your current visa(Required)

What is the expiry date of your current Critical Skills Work Visa?(Required)

What is the expiry date of your current Intra Company Transfer Work Visa?(Required)

PR - What Visa do you currently hold for South Africa?(Required)

PR - Have you received a permanent offer of employment?(Required)

PR - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_CS - What is the expiry date of your current Critical Skills Work Visa?(Required)

PR_CS - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_GWV - What is the expiry date of your current General Work Visa?(Required)

PR_GWV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_GWV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_ICT - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_ICT - Have you been offered Permanent employment by a South African employer?(Required)

PR_RV - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

PR_RV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_RV - Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?(Required)

PR_RV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_RPV - Do you receive an irrevocable income of at least R37,000 per month (Rental income, dividends, interest, pension, ect )(Required)

PR_RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least ZAR 1,8 million(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

RV - What is the duration of your relationship?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - What is the duration of your relationship?(Required)

Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least R2.4 million?(Required)

RPV - Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?(Required)

RPV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

Are you being sent on a secondment or assignment to South Africa?(Required)

PR - Do you have direct family members that are South African Citizens or Permanent Residence holders?(Required)

BV - Do you intend to establish or invest in a business in South Africa?(Required)

What type of business do you intend to operate or invest in?(Required)

BV - Are you able to invest a minimum of R5 million into the South African economy?(Required)

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GWV - Total Points(Required)

Country(Required)

Important Notice: Applications are accepted only from the countries listed below.

Please select the Visa Type you need to verify:(Required)

SOUTH AFRICAN WORK PERMITS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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SOUTH AFRICAN WORK PERMITS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS