SA Visa and Passport

General information about temporary residence visas   The objectives of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002) , which was implemented on 7 April 2003, include:  Facilitating and simplifying the issuance of temporary residence visas and permanent residence permits. Promoting economic growth by facilitating foreign investment and attracting exceptionally skilled and qualified foreigners to South Africa. Promoting tourism to South Africa.   Documents required to apply for a long-term temporary residence visa, except medical treatment visa The following general documentation must be submitted with all temporary residence visa applications on form DHA-1738 , except in the event of an application for a medical treatment visa: A passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit A photocopy of all temporary residence visas endorsed in the passport Processing fee 1 recent passport size colour ...

If you only plan on staying in the country on a short-term basis to set up your business you should apply for a work visa; if you expect a long-term endeavor, you might consider applying for permanent residence permit (see below). Read more on the Department of Home Affairs' (DHA) website . Permanent residence permit in South Africa It is possible to apply for permanent residence on the basis of holding a work visa. Anyone who has held a General Work Visa for a period of five years may apply for a Permanent Residence permit, while holders of a Critical Skills Work Visa may apply immediately if they have five years of experience in their field of expertise. For critical skills applicants, it is a big advantage to be in possession of a permanent employment contract, or an offer of permanent employment, at the time of application. Permit residence applications are processed by the Department of Home Affairs' (DHA) head office.

Business Visas If you plan to move to South Africa to open a business or invest in an existing business, you must apply for a Business Visa. Applicants are required to invest substantial capital and show a business plan. All business visa applicants must apply for a letter of recommendation from the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the feasibility of their business and the contribution of the business to the national interest of South Africa. Additionally, it must be shown that: the business’s work force comprises at least 60 percent of South African employees; the proposed business is not deemed to be 'undesirable' in nature; the business has the highest chance of success by way of a detailed business plan; the business is compliant with existing South African company law.  Among other requirements, the  DHA states you must submit the Form BI-1738, plus a certificate issued by a chartered accountant registered with the South African Institu...

Corporate visas A Corporate Visa is not issued to an individual but to an employing company, and allows that company to employ a number of foreign workers during a certain time period. Workers will be employed on Individual Corporate Worker Certificates. This type of visa is incredibly advantageous to a company as it allows the firm to employ foreigners much faster and at a discounted fee to the DHA.

Intra-company transfer visa (ICT) In today’s globalised world people who work in multinational companies are commonly transferred between countries. Where a person has been transferred into South Africa, they need to apply for the Intra-Company Transfer visa. Any applicant must have first worked for a minimum of six months in the company’s foreign office before applying to relocate and immigrate to the South African branch. Under the new immigration law, this visa is issued for a period of four years and is not extendable. Should an applicant hold an ICT visa valid for two years (issued under the old act), then the applicant may apply for an extension of a further two years. However, those years do not count towards realising a permanent residence permit for South Africa. Depending on whether you are being transferred or merely seconded to your company’s branch, you’ll need either a work visa or a business visa. If you are being transferred temporarily to a So...

Critical skills work visa (highly skilled migrants) There are some skills and qualifications that are regarded as critical or exceptional by the South African government. A person who has such skills and/or qualifications can apply for a Critical Skills Work Visa. In order to obtain this visa, the applicant does not have to secure a specific position of employment at the time of application. The legislation specifies what skills qualify as 'critical' via the DHA’s critical skills list , but a relevant South African authority or organisation (for example, SAQA) needs to confirm the applicant’s skills and/or qualifications in writing, so as to ensure the applicant falls within the critical field of work. Occasionally a letter from the relevant professional body is also required. If you have a doctorate in a specific field and have published articles and/or are considered an expert in a field, this can aid your application. See the full list of conditions for the...

General work visa The General Work Visa is the most common type applied for. In order to obtain this type of visa, the employing company first has to provide substantial proof that the position cannot be filled by a South African citizen. This usually means they have to advertise the position in the local media first, so as to ensure jobs aren't being denied to South African citizens. Secondly, proof has to be submitted of the applicant’s qualifications and/or experience, and their qualifications have to be checked by the relevant South African authority, South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Applicants will also be required to obtain certification from the Department of Labour, stating among other things, that their salary and benefits are commensurate with those paid to South African citizens in similar positions. Applicants must sign a permanent contract of employment and include this in their application pack to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA),...

If you want to work in South Africa, there are several main types of work visas you can apply for to legally work and reside in South Africa.      If you want to work in South Africa, there are several types of temporary work visas available depending on your job situation in South Africa: general employment, inter-company transfer, highly skilled migrant or business entrepreneur. As South Africa has a growing economy and manufacturing sector, South Africa has many job opportunities for skilled workers in various positions and increasingly foreigners are finding work in South Africa. However, there are fewer opportunities for employment in South Africa in unskilled or semi-skilled positions, of which there is already a vast supply of workers. Thus, the government encourages applications by skilled workers in occupations for which there is a shortage in the country; the most recent list of critical skills lists almost 35,000 positions...

When travelling abroad the general rule is that your passport needs to be valid for 6 months. Most countries require this. My children’s passports were expiring in 2 months time which was a bit of a problem. We tried going to Home Affairs a while ago but one look at the long line snaking outside the office and we were out of there. After mustering up enough courage, I scheduled another trip to Home Affairs a few months later. Before going in, I phoned to find out what the queue was like. The woman on the other end of the line said that it was worse than Christmas and New Year on the beach. I gave up. Then I decided to look into applying online. I remembered seeing somewhere that it was only available for adults between the age of 25 to 40 but I thought I’d check it out anyway. How to apply for a passport online Online registration and submission I went to the Department of Home Affairs’ website and saw a link to apply for your passport or Smart ID online. It took me...

  General information about South African passports A passport is a document issued by a national government for international travel and it certifies the identity and nationality of the holder. Applicants should note that In terms of section 26(B) of the South African Citizenship Act, 1995, it is a punishable offence for a South African citizen of 18 years and older to leave or enter South Africa on a foreign passport. South African passports and travel documents are issued in terms of the South African Passports and Travel Documents Act, 1994, and the related Regulations. Permanent South African passports  and travel documents (machine-readable documents) are printed only in Pretoria, South Africa, from where they are dispatched to the offices of application. Applications made within South African borders can be submitted to any office of the Department of Home Affairs; applications made outside of the country can be submitted to your nearest South A...

You’ve made the bold move of turning your travel dreams into reality, amazing! You could be planning to jet off to Thailand with friends, a romantic getaway to Mauritius , or making huge career moves by landing that dream job in Dubai . What an exciting feeling it is to finally fly to that destination you’ve always dreamed of. But wait, you’ve just realised your passport has expired and you’re in need of a South African passport renewal. Suddenly, your excitement for island hopping or shopping in world-class malls is taken over by the all too familiar Home Affairs queues and (quite literally) having to get your affairs in order. Well, you’ll be delighted to know that the angst of waiting in long queues at Home Affairs can be avoided! South African citizens can apply via the eHomeAffairs website . Please note, you will need internet banking to proceed with your online passport application. Applicants will have to go to a Home Affairs branch to capture their biometrics an...