GENERAL WORK VISA

The General Work Permit in South Africa is officially known as the South African General Work Visa.

The South African General Work Visa allows foreign nationals to fill positions when no qualified South African citizens or permanent residents are available. This visa streamlines the hiring process for employers and applicants, and the recent changes to the immigration landscape in South Africa, offer more flexibility to secure the visa and commence with your employment opportunity in South Africa.

Navigating South Africa’s immigration landscape can be challenging, but with our expert guidance and a proven track record of a 100% visa success rate, we ensure that your expatriation process is smooth and efficient. Our team stays up-to-date with the latest immigration regulations, providing you with the confidence and peace of mind that your application is in capable hands.

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BENEFITS OF A SOUTH AFRICAN WORK VISA

Exit and re-enter South Africa freely.

If you have held a General Work Visa for over five consecutive years, you may qualify for a South African Permanent Residency.

A Ministerial Waiver has been issued, eliminating the need to apply for a waiver of the previously required Department of Employment and Labour Certificate.

General Work Visa Processing time is between 8 -12 weeks on average.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN REQUIREMENTS?

Proof of evaluation of foreign qualifications of the successful candidate by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Copy of the applicants’ existing offer of employment.

Proof that the Applicant qualifies in terms of the newly introduced points-based system.

HOW WILL THE NEW REGULATIONS PUBLISHED BY THE DHA ON 09 OCTOBER IMPACT MY APPLICATION?

BREAKDOWN OF THE POINTS-BASED SYSTEM

The Department of Home Affairs have gazetted new Regulations and a Ministerial Waiver on 09 October 2024, which will impact the adjudication of General Work Visa applications submitted after 09 October 2024.

All General Work Visa applications will now be adjudicated under the points-based system. The previous certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour in support of a General Work Visas application has now been fully waived for all applicants.

To qualify, an applicant must instead score a minimum of 100 points. Points are earned through various criteria including qualification, gross salary per annum, years of work experience, Trusted Employer status and language proficiency.

Qualifications

NQF Level 9 or higher: 50 points
NQF Level 7 or 8: 30 points
Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA, as per the National Qualifications Framework Act.

Work Experience

5 to 10 years: 20 points
More than 10 years: 30 points

Language Proficiency

Proficiency in one of South Africa’s official languages: 10 points

Employment Offer and Salary

Gross annual salary of R976,194 or more: 50 points
Gross annual salary between R650,796 and R976,194: 20 points

Trusted Employer Scheme

Employment offer from a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme: 20 points

Further notable changes

The Department of Home Affairs has officially decided to waive the requirement for submitting a certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour, as stipulated in Regulation 18(3)(a) of the Immigration Regulations. This change eliminates the need for applicants to first apply for a waiver before submitting a General Work Visa application, streamlining the process and reducing administrative hurdles for foreign workers seeking employment in South Africa.

In response to the significant delays in obtaining SAQA evaluation certificates, the Department of Home Affairs has also introduced a provisional solution. Applicants who can provide proof of an application made to SAQA for the evaluation of their foreign qualifications will be eligible to apply for a General Work Visa, which will be issued for a period of 12 months. Once the SAQA evaluation is successfully completed and submitted, the visa may be renewed for the full 5-year period, offering greater certainty and flexibility to foreign professionals.

Our Main Focus Remains To Serve Corporates, Professionals and High Net Worth / Affluent Families With Legally Correct Immigration and Permanent Residency Services.

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Full Name*
Email Address*
Contact Number
Please select the visa category you require assistance with:*
How old is the child?*
Does the child's parent/ guardian have valid status within South Africa?*
What is your marital status?*
What is the status of your spouse?*
What is the number of foreign nationals you are looking to employ?*
Do you currently have a formal offer of employment from a registered South African company?*
What is your highest level of Education?*
In which country did you complete your highest qualification*
What position have you been offered*
Do you have accompanying family members?*
What is your highest level of education?*
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?*
How many years of work experience do you have?*
Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?*
* 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
Are you proficient in one of South Africa's 11 official languages?*
What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?*
Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?*
What is the duration of your relationship?*
Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?*
Are you currently employed by a foreign entity outside of South Africa?*
Do you earn an annual salary exceeding R650,000? (UDS $37,000 / EUR 33,000)*
What is your intention in South Africa?
What is you intended duration of stay in South Africa?*
Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000?*
Do you have a net worth of at least R2.4 million?*
Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?*
Do you have accompanying family members?*
What is the duration of your assignment in South Africa?*
Does your current employer support your work in South Africa?*
Are you being sent on a secondment or assignment to South Africa?*
Have you been employed in your current position for longer than 6 months?*
What is the expected duration of your secondment/ assignment?*
Do you have an enrollment letter from a recognized learning institution?*
What level of education will you be completing in South Africa?*
What visa do you currently hold?*
Please specify other*
What is the expiry date of your current visa*
Date Format: DD slash MM slash YYYY
What Visa do you currently hold for South Africa?*
Have you received a permanent offer of employment?*
Do you have accompanying family members?*
What is the expiry date of your current Critical Skills Work Visa?*
Date Format: YYYY slash MM slash DD
Do you have accompanying family members?*
What is the expiry date of your current General Work Visa?*
Date Format: YYYY slash MM slash DD
How long have you resided in South Africa?*
Do you have accompanying family members?*
What is the expiry date of your current Intra Company Transfer Work Visa?*
Date Format: YYYY slash MM slash DD
How long have you resided in South Africa?*
Have you been offered Permanent employment by a South African employer?*
What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?*
How long have you resided in South Africa?*
Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?*
How long have you resided in South Africa?*
How long have you resided in South Africa?*
Do you receive an irrevocable income of at least R37,000 per month (Rental income, dividends, interest, pension, ect )*
Do you have a net worth of at least ZAR 1,8 million*
What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?*
How long have you resided in South Africa?*
Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?*
How long have you resided in South Africa?*
Total Points*
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Disclaimer:

We uphold a standard of exceptional responsiveness and proactivity in our email communications. To assist you effectively, please provide us with as much information as possible regarding your enquiry. Without sufficient details, we may be unable to offer the help you need, and your query may go unanswered. We are committed to providing market leading professional assistance to corporates and professionals, with an unparalleled team of immigration consultants, attorneys and administrators; and the quality of the information provided ensures that we are able to best assist our clientele.

Please note that we are a top independent and private immigration practice, completely separate from DHA. We do not function as a division or representative of DHA. Any enquiry received, which was intended to be directed to DHA may go unanswered.

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GENERAL WORK VISA

BENEFITS OF A SOUTH AFRICAN WORK VISA

WHAT ARE THE MAIN REQUIREMENTS?

HOW WILL THE NEW REGULATIONS PUBLISHED BY THE DHA ON 09 OCTOBER IMPACT MY APPLICATION?

BREAKDOWN OF THE POINTS-BASED SYSTEM

Further notable changes

TALK TO US

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