Work Visa for SA

                   Persons wishing to seek or take up employment in South Africa require a formal work visa. There is a choice of various categories of work authorizations and visas, which is to be made according to the type and duration of the post as well as to the applicant’s qualifications and/or experience.

Short-term Authorization to Work

.            This applies to short-term project work, unpaid internships or seasonal work in the hospitality or film industries for example. In these cases a so-called "authorization to work" may be obtained, which is linked to a visitor's visa and far less onerous to obtain than the formal work visa.

Critical Skills Visa

                  This visa type was introduced in May 2014 and has replaced both the "quota work permit" and the "exceptional skills permit". It is available to persons with qualifications and/or skills and experience in specific industries and fields. An extensive list of "Critical Skills" has been published by the government and contains pages of professions and fields together with the way in which an applicant needs to prove that he or she falls under them.

            The applicant’s qualifications need to be evaluated by the South African evaluation authorities, which is time-consuming and costly. After complying with all applicable requirements, this visa should be employer-independent (i.e. its holder can change employers without having to make an application to have the visa changed; in practice, it may not be easy to effect this) and issued for up to 5 years.

              V-Smart Consultants have a thorough expertise in handling this process and will gladly advise you in detail regarding the requirements and handle all necessary procedural steps on your behalf so that you can be comfortable. 

          Applicants who meet the qualifying criteria must apply for a critical skills visa which entitles them to seek employment in South Africa for a period of 12 months .No job offer is needed to apply for this visa. The critical skills visa leads to permanent residency in South Africa.

  Highlights of the critical skills visa:

§  This visa requires no job offer.

§  Allows an applicant to search for employment opportunities for a period of 12 months

§  5 year working visa

§  Direct route to Permanent Resident Visa

Spouses or Life Partners of South Africans

                  Spouse of South African citizens or residents, who are supported by their partners, may obtain a work authorization without having to meet the onerous requirements of the formal work visas. 

Permanent Residence - Work

.          It may be granted if the applicant has been in possession of a work visa for at least 5 years and been made an offer of permanent employment. 

        V-Smart Consultants will gladly advise you in detail regarding the process of applying permanent residence visa.

      

           In general it should be noted that the permanent residence permit in South Africa allows its holder maximum flexibility with regards to entry and exit as well as regarding any activities followed in South Africa. In some categories or instances, certain conditions are attached to the permanent residence permits issued. In most instances, a permanent resident is able to freely choose his/her activity in South Africa after up to 5 years of having received the permit.

           Each foreigner is advised to carefully contemplate his/her taking up of permanent residence, as this may in some instances lead to the loss of certain tax advantages.  Persons who have previously been granted permanent residence for South Africa, subsequently left the country and now wish to take up residence again, will find it worth their while to have the validity of their original status checked. V-Smart Consultants will gladly advise you on the best option in each case.