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The first step is to determine if you meet the necessary visa requirements.
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South Africa General Work Visa

The General Work Visa allows foreign nationals to work in South Africa if they meet specific requirements aimed at protecting local employment opportunities.
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Requirements to apply for a General Work Visa
- Job Offer:
- A valid job offer from a South African employer is essential.
- A valid job offer from a South African employer is essential.
- Point System: (read more here)
- Applicants must score 100+ points based on:
- Qualifications (verified through SAQA certification)
- Work experience
- Job offer details
- Applicants must score 100+ points based on:
- Visa Duration:
- Granted for 12 months or up to 5 years, depending on qualifications and job offer.
- Granted for 12 months or up to 5 years, depending on qualifications and job offer.
- Government Priority:
- The visa supports South Africa’s goal to prioritise employment for citizens and residents before hiring foreign nationals.
South Africa recently introduced a points-based system for issuing General Work and Critical Skills visas, a shift that aims to significantly impact both international applicants and local employers. This new system aims to streamline applications, aligning them with the country’s economic priorities by focusing on essential skills and qualifications. Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your most pressing questions about Work Visas to live in South Africa
First time South African residency applicants must apply from their home country or country of residency. You will have the option to apply for a renewal of your visa within South Africa.
Temporary residency applications take between 4 to 12 weeks to process once submitted, while permanent residency applications can be processed within 2 years. For more details on current processing times, please speak to one of our consultants.
The Department of Home Affairs has waived the requirement for a radiological report, meaning an X-ray is no longer needed for your residency application.
Temporary residents on critical skills and general work visas can change employers. However, it would require a new visa application. This is because you’re only allowed to work for the employer stated on your visa.Permanent residents are free to change employers without any restrictions.
Yes, you can study part-time with any of the visas:
- General work visas.
- Critical skills work visas.
- Intra-company transfer work visas.
You must, however, meet these requirements:
- You’ll study part-time.
- Full-time studies are not allowed.
- You hold a valid temporary residency visa.
- The duration of the course of qualification does not exceed the validity period of the visa.
- The Institution of Higher Learning at which you decide to study must be registered with the Department of Higher Education.
Permanent residents are free to study without any restrictions.



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Whether you're just exploring your options or ready to start the journey, Intergate Immigration is here to make your transition to South Africa as smooth as possible. Welcome to your future in South Africa—where we're ready to welcome you home.