17/11/2022
SOUTH AFRICA WORK VISAs - IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
There are mainly two types of work visas in South Africa, which are the General Work Visa and the
Critical Skills Work Visa. The differences between the two are significant, whether it is with regard to
the circumstances in which they can be applied for as well as the procedures under which they are
processed.
A General Work Visa is issued to foreign nationals who have skills or are in professions that are not
classified as critical and are readily available amongst the locals. Amongst the most important
requirements for the issuing of a General Work Visa is an endorsement by the Department of Labour
to certify that there are no South Africans who are sufficiently qualified for that job, the job
opportunity was adequately advertised (newspaper, website, social media etc), that the terms of
employment are not inferior had the job been offered to a South African, that the foreign national is
clearly the most suitable candidate for the job amongst those who applied and were interviewed
etc. A holder of a General Work Visa qualifies to apply for permanent residence upon attainment of
five (5) years provided that there is confirmation of his/her indefinite employment.
On the other hand, a Critical Skills Work Visa is issued to foreign nationals who hold qualifications,
are with skills or are in professions that appear on the Critical Skills List. These skills and/or
professions are regarded as those that are not readily available amongst the local population, are
critical to specific sectors of the economy, and may take a long time to be readily available amongst
the locals. In the past a foreign national with critical skills could apply for a twelve (12) month
jobseeker visa before receiving an offer of employment, and upon receiving an offer of employment
he/she could then apply for the Critical Skills Visa for an extended period. This position has changed,
one can now only apply for a Critical Skills Visa upon receiving an offer of employment. A holder of a
Critical Skills Visa can apply for permanent residence immediately.
The above are some of the major differences between the General Work Visa and the Critical Skills
Visa in South Africa. With that said, the below are a few important notes to bear in mind when one is
applying for a work Visa in South Africa.
1. The applicant must have received an offer of employment and this applies to both the
General Work Visa as well as the Critical Skills Visa;
2. Qualifications acquired at foreign institutions of learning must be graded and endorsed by
the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA);
3. Registration with an industry body will be required for some qualifications/skills where
applicable e.g SAICA
4. The Visa is employer specific, meaning that one is only allowed to work for the employer
specified on that work visa. In the event that the foreign national changes employment, they
are required to apply for change of conditions to reflect the new employer.
5. A foreign national is not allowed to commence working before the work visa is issued. It is
an offence for a foreign national to be employed without a work visa, and employers may be
penalised for such.
We assist individuals and organisations to apply for various types of work Visas in a way that is legal,
cost efficient and expeditious. We are committed to a service that is professional and one that
addresses that which you require to the letter as far as possible. Immigration Law Associates also
assists parties to appeal rejected applications. We remove the hassles to hasten the process, leaving
you with fond memories of how we made things easier. It is a responsibility that we take with
commitment and pride.
Contact us for comprehensive assistance.
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