Have you been thinking about working in South Africa? If you have, the first step is understanding the various work visas you could apply for.

The next step is to see whether you qualify for the South African work visa you want. This is done quickly and easily by completing our free online assessment.

If you’d like to speak to someone instead, call us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460.

Get the process started right away by working through the basic information on South African work visas.

What are the different types of work visas?

There are a number of South African work visas available in order to make it possible for foreign immigrants to work in South Africa:

• Critical skills work visa: This visa is based on a list of occupations that are needed in South Africa. In order to be eligible for a critical skills visa, an applicant’s occupation must appear on the list and the criteria for the critical skills visa must be met.
• Intra-company transfer work visa: This visa allows companies outside of South Africa to transfer workers to a sister branch, subsidiary or affiliate in South Africa.
• Individual corporate workers visa: This visa is only available to foreign immigrants when an employer has a valid corporate work visa.
• Quota work visa: This visa is no longer in use. Foreign immigrants who hold this visa are advised to explore their alternative options in order to continue working in South Africa.
• Exceptional skills work visa: As the quota work visa, the exceptional skills work visa is no longer in use. It is recommended to explore alternative options if there is a need to continue working in South Africa.
• General work visa: Foreign immigrants who do not meet the criteria for any other work visa can apply for a general work visa

How long is a South African work visa valid for?

A work visa is commonly issued for between 2 and 5 years. Foreign immigrants who obtain temporary residency and hold an appropriate work visa for 5 continuous years are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

What are the requirements for a South African work visa?

Each work visa has its own unique requirements. To learn more about the one you’re interested in, please speak to one of our consultants.

How do I apply for a work visa?

Immigrants must meet all criteria and submit all necessary documentation for the specific visa, as determined by the South African Department of Home Affairs.

You could submit the application yourself, but why don’t you save yourself time and effort by letting Intergate Immigration do it for you? We have the necessary experience with more than 9 000 visa and visa related applications processed by our team since 2005.

You can reach us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460. If you’d like us to call you, all you have to do is complete our assessment form or request a call back. One of our consultants will endeavour to contact you within 24 hours.

International companies, with offices around the world, are common in this day and age. Sometimes these companies want staff to work in a satellite office. The reasons are varied. Whatever the reason, however, a foreign immigrant must obtain a South African intra-company transfer work visa to come to South Africa.

The first step is to see whether you qualify. To do so, you can complete our online assessment. It’s free, quick and easy.

Alternatively, call us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460.

If you’d like, you can familiarise yourself with the basic information around a South African intra-company transfer work visa before doing any of this.

Who can apply for a South African intra-company transfer work visa?

Companies who want to send their foreign staff members from the branch in the country of origin to a:

• Sister branch.
• Subsidiary.
• Or an affiliate in South Africa.

Can my family join me in South Africa?

Immediate family members, i.e. a spouse or life partner and dependant children, are welcome to join foreign immigrants in South Africa. The visa they’d apply for is an ‘accompanying spouse, life-partner or child visa’.

If spouses or life partners would like to work, study or start a business in South Africa, they need to apply for the specific visa. Without a valid visa, these activities are not allowed.

How long is this visa valid for?

The Department of Home Affairs considers an intra-company transfer work visa as a temporary recruitment option. As such, this visa is usually issued for a period of 2 years.

Qualifying applicants who have held an appropriate work visa for a period of 5 continuous years could be eligible for permanent residency.

What are the requirements for an intra-company transfer work visa?

There are a number of specific requirements when applying for this visa. These include, but are not limited to, the following documentation:

• Secondment letter, from the company abroad that is transferring the applicant. This letter should state that the applicant is being transferred to South Africa and still being paid abroad.
• Acceptance letter, from the South African branch or affiliate. This letter should state the acceptance of the transfer and the reason for the transfer. It should also mention the position of the applicant and an undertaking for repatriation.
• Foreign employment contract. It should be recently dated to show continuous employment or a letter extending the employment period.
• Contract to show remuneration in foreign currency. This serves as proof that the applicant is being paid by a foreign employer.
• A CV illustrating the applicant’s work skills and experience.

How do I apply for a South African intra-company transfer work visa?

All the requirements for the visa must be met and all necessary documentation, as determined by the Department of Home Affairs, must be submitted.

Get it right the first time by letting Intergate Immigration handle the application. Our consultants have helped thousands of corporates and their employees with transfers to South Africa.

You can reach us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460. If you’d like us to call you, all you have to do is complete our assessment form or request a call back. Our client managers have years of experience in immigration and are happy to help you.

You want to come to South Africa to work and make a new life. One of a few options available to you is applying for a South African general work visa.

The first step is to see if you qualify. You can do this by completing our online assessment. It’s free, quick and easy.

If you prefer to speak to someone, you can us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460.

You could also start by reading more about general work visas and contact us afterwards.

Who can apply for a South African general work visa?

Foreign immigrants who do not qualify for the following visas can apply for a general work visa:

• Quota work visa.
• Exceptional work visa.
• Intra-company transfer.
• Or whose prospective employee is not in possession of a corporate work visa.

Can my family come with me?

Immediate family members, i.e. partners and dependant children, can accompany holders of work visas.

Partners, i.e. spouses or life partners, are not allowed to study, work or run a business. They may also not be included in permanent residency applications. They may, however, apply themselves at a later time, dependent on their relationship with the permanent resident.

Dependant children can attend a South African school, but they would need a study visa to do so.

How long is this visa valid for?

A general work visa is valid for between 2 and 5 years, but never longer than the duration of the employment contract. Immigrants who obtain temporary residency and maintain it for 5 years are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

What are the requirements for a South African general work visa?

The main criteria for a general work visa is a valid job offer. It is also necessary for the prospective employer to show that they have been through the required steps before issuing the job offer. For both of these criteria certain requirements must be met in order for the application to be successful.

How do I apply for a general work visa?

Applicants must have a valid offer of employment (contract) before applying for a general work visa. In addition to the offer of employment, all other documentation as determined by the Department of Home Affairs should be included in the application.

Instead of doing the application yourself, let Intergate Immigration handle the process for you. You can reach us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460. If you’d like us to call you, all you have to do is complete our online assessment form or request a call back. Our client managers have years of experience in immigration and are happy to help you.

Companies looking to employ a large number of foreigners in South Africa will have to apply for a corporate work visa. Once the visa is issued, the foreign employees must obtain their South African individual corporate workers visa.

If you don’t know where to start, we recommend that you contact us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460. Our client managers will be able to assist you.

You can also get the ball rolling by reading more about individual corporate workers visas.

Who can apply for a South African individual corporate workers visa?

Individual corporate workers visas can only be applied for where the company holds a corporate visa. The application is made utilising the corporate workers certificates issued by the Department of Home Affairs.

What are the requirements?

The main criteria is that the company is in possession of a corporate visa. In addition, a foreign employee must fill a role as specified under the corporate visa. They would also need to either pay a repatriation deposit or provide a guarantee from the employer.

How long is this visa valid for?

Individual corporate work visas are usually issued for a period of 2 years.

How do I apply for an individual corporate workers visa?

Applications must be made for the individual worker. The process is somewhat fast-tracked, but the issuing of the visa is still at the discretion of the Department of Home Affairs.

While foreign applicants can submit an application themselves, it is recommended to let a professional immigration company like Intergate Immigration handle the process. Our consultants have processed more than 9 000 visa and visa related applications.

You can reach us at +27 (0) 21 424 2460. If you’d like us to call you, all you have to do is complete our online assessment form or request a call back. As soon as we’ve received your details, one of our consultants will undertake to contact you within 24 hours.