South Africa Business Visas and Work Permits
South Africa offers several categories of work permit, in addition to Intra Company Transfers (ICTs) and the South African Business Visa, all of which allow overseas nationals to live and work in South Africa. In some cases these South African work visas are strictly temporary immigration services, requiring the candidate to return to their country of residence once their visa expires. However, in some cases although issued as temporary residence permits, work permit and business visa applicants may be able to remain in South Africa indefinitely.
Global Visas assist with the complete range of South African immigration services and visas helping South African businesses to recruit the overseas skills and experience they require and ensuring that clients embark upon the right South African visa for their needs. Visit the online assessment area today to find out whether you qualify.
South African Work Permits
Applying for a South African work permit is an employer led process and requires a candidate to have a confirmed job offer in place. Work Permits are issued as a temporary resident visa, which means that they are intended as a means to temporality relocate to South Africa. Work permits are issued for an initial 1-year period but may be extended in 12-month increments and may lead to the opportunity to apply for permanent residency if a candidate has been living and working in South Africa for more than 5 years.
South African Work Permit Categories
In South Africa, work permits are issued in three different categories: A work permit may be granted under the general category or under the work permit quota system. The third category is less common and is awarded to candidates based on exceptional ability.
General Work Permits
The key requirement for a general work permit is that candidates should have a job offer in place. All job offers must undergo labour market testing to justify hiring a non-South African national and any rejected applications from South African citizens or permanent residents must be accompanied by the reasons for their rejection.
South African Work Permit Quota System
Unlike the general work permit stream the work permit quota deals directly with shortage occupations and as such, candidates applying in this stream may apply to live and work in South Africa without obtaining a job offer first. To apply in this category the candidate must have the necessary qualifications to work in an occupation which appears on the list of shortage occupations, and all applicants must have at least 5 years experience in such a position. The key consideration with this route is that applicants must secure employment within 90 days of their arrival in South Africa.
South African Work Permit - Exceptional Skills
Work permits issued for exceptional skills are less common than the other two categories and applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must have their skills confirmed by an academic institution, governmental body or business organisation which is both relevant and reputable.
South African Intra Company Transfer (ICT)
The ICT is a specific type of South African working permit designed exclusively for employees of a South African company’s foreign subsidiaries or branches. The ICT allows a candidate to transfer to South Africa to perform a specific role or project. However, it is essential to note that unlike the other work permit categories, there is no possibility of an ICT being extended or of a candidate immigrating to South Africa permanently.
South African Business Visas
The South African business visa is a long term immigration service which although initially issued as a temporary resident permit is intended for those who wish to immigrate to South Africa in order to start a business. The business visa is also referred to as the entrepreneur visa and the innovator visa and includes both entrepreneurial and investment based requirements. The key principles of the business visa are that a candidate must be able to create jobs for existing South African citizens and permanent residents and that they must be able to make a substantial investment in South Africa.
Business visas for South Africa are granted for an initial duration of 24 months during which a candidate must make a minimum investment of 2.5 million rand, though a request for a capital reduction can be made if a business is related to certain key areas. You Global Visas immigration consultant will be able to discuss the opportunities for obtaining this capital waiver certificate. The other key requirement is that a candidate must be able to create at least five positions of employment in South Africa. This, along with evidence of the candidate’s skills and business experience as well as a demonstration of the export potential and/or introduction of a new or underrepresented technology must be provided within a detailed business plan.
Family Immigration
As outlined above, work permits and business visas are granted as temporary residence permits, but in all cases except the intra company transfer the potential exists for a candidate to live in South Africa permanently. As a result, the spouse or partner and any dependent children may join the main applicant in South Africa. Any such dependents will be granted the same duration of leave as the principle applicant although working in South Africa in their own right will require a separate work permit application.
Whether you’re a South African business looking to source employees from overseas, or as an individual, you require a South African work permit or business visa, visit the Global Visas online assessment area today to begin your application.
