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Work Visa / Permit for South Africa
South Africa offers different types of work visa / permits for those wishing to move to South African and take up employment.
The first distinction to make when ascertaining the correct type of permit to apply for is whether it is an application to work for or company that has a corporate permit in place or not.
If you are wishing to apply for a work visa for a company that does have a corporate permit in place please click here for more information.
Should you wish to find out more about corporate permits please click here.
The below details the various visa’s that can be applied for by individuals and companies where a corporate permit is not in place.
Intra Company Transfer Visa / Permit
Who should apply?
Intra company transfer Visa’s can be applied for when the person or persons are in the employment of the company or closely associated company already and are being relocated for a period of time to work in said companies South African operation.
Period that can be applied for?
An application for an Intra Company transfer can be made for a period of up to 2 years. It should be noted that the company must confirm the tome period the employee is to be seconded for and that the final decision rest with Home Affairs.
The Intra company transfer Visa’s cannot be renewed but another application can be made if the individual leaves South Africa for a short period. Permanent residency is not available under this route.
Skilled Workers Visa - Quota Work Visa / Permit
Often offered as a highly skilled migrants permit or similar terminology in South Africa it is known as a Quota work permit.
Who should apply?
The quota work permit is for individuals whose experience and qualification match the skills shortage list that is published by DTI periodically. This list is the professions where a recognised labour shortfall exists.
Quota permits differ from general work permits in terms of the application process and also because the individual does not have to have a job offer before the visa is granted.
Period that can be applied for?
The quota visa is initially granted for a period of three months – to allow for the individual to find a suitable position. Applications can be made for this to be extended this for a further 3 month period.
Once a suitable job offer is accepted the visa is then endorsed to reflect employment may commence. The quota visa’s endorsement can then be for up 2 and 4 years.
Applications for Quota work visa’s can be renewed (assuming it still remains on the current skills shortage list) and once an individual has held the visa for a 5 year period of time permanent applications can be made.
General Work Visa / Permit
Who should apply?
General Work visa / permits are for applicants who are in receipt of a job offer or a pending job offer who do not qualify under the quota work visa rules , and are not moving to South Africa with their employer or closely associated company of their employer.
It should be noted that there are certain procedures companies must undertake before a foreigner may be employed which revolve around proving no South African could be sourced to take up the position.
Period that can be applied for?
Applications for a general work permit can be made for a period between 3 and 5 years. After this applications can be made to extend and once an individual has held the visa for 5 years an applications for permanent residency can be made.
Exceptional Skills Visa / Permit
Who should apply?
Exceptional skills visa / permits are judged on an individual case by case basis and there is no set formula to ascertain eligibility other than experience and knowledge.
In the first instance the function and related skills and qualification should show the applicant is in a rare occupation and equipped to carry to carry u this role.
All potential applicants for an exceptional skills visa should in the first place contact us using the links below to ascertain their eligibility for this particular visa. Please note there is no charge for this service.
Period that can be applied for?
Applications for exceptional skills visa’s can be made for between 2 and 5 years, they can be renewed and applications for permanent residency can be made at the same time as the temporary residency application is made.
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