To work in South Africa as a foreign national, you need a work visa from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). The main types are the critical skills visa, the general work visa and the intra-company transfer visa. Critical skills and general work applicants must score 100 points. The DHA fee is R1,520, and DHA’s target is 4 weeks.
In summary
- Critical skills visa: your occupation is on the Critical Skills List. That alone gives you the 100 points you need.
- General work visa: any job offer, if you reach 100 points through salary, qualifications, experience, a Trusted Employer and language.
- Intra-company transfer visa: for staff moved by a foreign company to its South African branch. Up to four years, not renewable.
- Remote work visa: for people who work for a foreign employer and earn at least R650,976 a year. You cannot work for a South African employer on it.
- DHA fee: R1,520 for work visas. VFS fee: R1,750.
- Medical and X-ray reports: not required for applications made inside South Africa.
- Official processing target: 4 weeks for critical skills and general work visas submitted inside South Africa.
- Path to permanent residence: five years on a work visa plus a permanent job offer.
Which Work Visa Do You Need?
| Visa | Section of the Act | Who it is for | Maximum validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical skills work visa | 19(4) | People whose occupation is on the Critical Skills List | Up to 5 years |
| General work visa | 19(2) | People with a job offer who reach 100 points | Up to 5 years |
| Intra-company transfer (ICT) visa | 19(5) | Employees transferred by a foreign company to its South African branch | Up to 4 years, not renewable |
| Corporate visa | 21 | Held by an employer to bring in a set number of foreign workers | Set by DHA |
| Remote work visa | 11(1)(b)(iv) | People employed by a foreign company, working remotely from South Africa | Up to 3 years |
| Business visa | 15 | People starting or investing in a business in South Africa | Set by DHA |
A “work permit” and a “work visa” are the same thing. The law changed the name for temporary permits to visas, but many people still use the old term.
The Points System for Work Visas
Since October 2024, critical skills and general work visa applications are assessed on a points system (Government Notice 5448 of 2024). You need at least 100 points, and you must still meet every other requirement, such as police clearances. A job offer is compulsory.
| Criterion | Band | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation | On the Critical Skills List | 100 |
| Qualifications | NQF level 9 or 10 (master’s or doctorate) | 50 |
| Qualifications | NQF level 7 or 8 (degree or honours) | 30 |
| Salary in your job offer | More than R976,194 a year | 50 |
| Salary in your job offer | R650,976 to R976,194 a year | 20 |
| Work experience | 10 years or more | 30 |
| Work experience | 5 to 10 years | 20 |
| Employer | Job offer from a Trusted Employer | 30 |
| Language | Proficient in at least one official South African language | 10 |
Examples of reaching 100 points for a general work visa:
- A master’s degree (50) and a salary above R976,194 (50) = 100
- A degree (30), a salary of R700,000 (20), 10 years’ experience (30), a Trusted Employer (30) = 110
- A degree (30), a salary of R700,000 (20), 6 years’ experience (20), English proficiency (10) = 80. Not enough.
If your occupation is on the Critical Skills List, you have 100 points from that alone and apply for a critical skills visa.
The Critical Skills List
The Critical Skills List in force is the list published in February 2022, updated with health professions in October 2023. It names specific occupations and the minimum NQF level for each. Your job offer and qualifications must match a listed occupation.
A new Critical Skills List has been under consultation. Check DHA’s website for the current list before you apply.
The Trusted Employer Scheme
The Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) is a DHA programme for companies with a strong compliance record and significant investment in South Africa. Benefits include:
- Priority processing of work visa applications
- Fewer supporting documents
- For critical skills visas, no SAQA evaluation or professional body registration needed at application stage
- 30 points towards a general work visa
DHA opened Phase II of the scheme on 20 July 2026, with a new online portal. Expressions of interest closed on 4 September 2026. Ask your employer whether it is a Trusted Employer.
Work Visa Requirements
Documents for critical skills and general work visas
- Completed online application form (VFS)
- Passport valid for at least 30 days after your intended departure, plus a certified copy
- A signed job offer or employment contract
- Your qualifications evaluated by SAQA, with a sworn translation if not in English
- Registration with the relevant professional body, where your occupation requires it (critical skills)
- Police clearance certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months or more after age 18, in the last five years. Not older than six months
- Employer undertakings (to inform DHA of changes, ensure your passport stays valid, and cover deportation costs if needed)
- Employer details, including company registration
- Yellow fever certificate, if you have travelled through a yellow fever area
- Proof of payment
SAQA delays
If your SAQA evaluation is not back yet, proof that you applied to SAQA is enough for a 12-month critical skills or general work visa. Once the SAQA certificate arrives, you can extend for the remaining period from inside South Africa.
Department of Employment and Labour certificate
The Minister waived the Department of Employment and Labour certificate for general work visas in October 2024. Some older checklists still list it.
Medical and X-ray reports
- Medical report: waived for temporary visa applications by Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 10 of 2026 (8 July 2026). If you are applying at a South African embassy or consulate abroad, check that mission’s checklist, because the first version of the directive only covered applications made inside South Africa.
- Radiology report: waived for all applications since April 2023.
Extra documents for an intra-company transfer visa
- A contract with the foreign company
- A letter from the foreign company confirming the transfer
- A letter from the South African branch describing the role
- A skills transfer plan, and the employer undertakings
The Remote Work Visa
The remote work visa (sometimes called the digital nomad visa) lets you live in South Africa while working for a company based outside South Africa.
- Income: at least R650,976 a year, from a foreign source
- Validity: up to three years
- Tax: you must register with SARS and comply with tax and double tax agreement rules
- You cannot work for a South African employer or take up employment in South Africa on this visa
- DHA fee: R425 (it is a visitor’s visa category)
- Apply from abroad. Practitioners report that you cannot enter on an ordinary visitor’s visa and switch to a remote work visa inside South Africa
How to Apply for a Work Visa
- Confirm which visa fits and check your points if it is a general work visa.
- Apply to SAQA early. Evaluations can take weeks.
- Get police clearances from each country you lived in for 12 months or more in the last five years.
- Complete the online form on the VFS Global website and pay the VFS fee to book.
- Pay the DHA fee of R1,520.
- Attend your VFS appointment for fingerprints, photo and document checks.
- Track your application online and collect your outcome at the same centre.
Inside or outside South Africa? First-time applicants usually apply at a South African embassy or consulate in their home country or country of residence. Renewals and some changes of status can be done at a VFS centre in South Africa. Apply for a renewal at least 60 days before your current visa expires.
Work Visa Fees in 2026
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Critical skills, general work or ICT visa | R1,520 | DHA |
| Corporate visa | R1,520 | DHA |
| Business visa | R1,520 | DHA |
| Remote work visa (visitor’s visa) | R425 | DHA |
| VFS service fee | R1,750 | VFS Global |
| VFS Premium Lounge (optional) | R750 | VFS Global |
DHA fees are from DHA’s official fee schedule, updated per Government Gazette 55209 of 17 August 2026. The VFS fee went up from R1,550 to R1,750 in June 2026. Fees are not refunded if your application is refused. Abroad, the embassy or consulate charges its own fee in local currency.
Some guides quote a DHA work visa fee of R1,775. That figure does not appear on DHA’s fee schedule.
How Long a Work Visa Takes
| Visa | Official target (applications inside South Africa) |
|---|---|
| Critical skills work visa, including TES | 4 weeks |
| General work visa, including TES | 4 weeks |
| Business visa | 8 weeks |
| Appeal to the Director-General | 180 working days (about 9 months) |
These are DHA’s targets from Immigration Circular No. 8 of 2026. They do not cover applications made at embassies abroad. Missing documents add delays.
From Work Visa to Permanent Residence
- Section 26(a): five years on a work visa, plus an offer of permanent employment.
- Section 27(b): extraordinary skills, the usual route for critical skills holders.
- ICT visa holders: an ICT visa lasts at most four years and cannot be renewed, so it cannot on its own give you the five years needed under 26(a).
See our full guide on how to apply for permanent residence.
What You Cannot Do
- You cannot work on an ordinary visitor’s visa. Short paid work needs a section 11(2) visitor’s visa with a work endorsement.
- You cannot change employer on a general work visa without DHA approval. The visa is tied to the job offer you applied with.
- You cannot renew an ICT visa in the same category.
- You cannot work for a South African employer on a remote work visa.
- You cannot stay after your visa expires while waiting on a late renewal. Overstaying can get you declared undesirable and banned from returning.
If Your Work Visa Is Refused
Appeal to the Director-General within 10 working days of receiving the refusal (section 8(4) of the Immigration Act), through VFS. If that fails, appeal to the Minister within 10 working days (section 8(6)). Answer the exact reason in the refusal letter, and add any missing document.
Bringing Your Family
Your spouse or life partner and children can apply for visas to accompany you. Each family member needs their own visa, applies separately and pays their own fees. A spouse who wants to work needs a visa or endorsement that allows it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a work visa in South Africa?
The DHA fee is R1,520 for a critical skills, general work or intra-company transfer visa. The VFS service fee is R1,750. Budget extra for SAQA, police clearances and translations.
How long does a South African work visa take?
DHA’s official target is 4 weeks for critical skills and general work visas submitted inside South Africa, including Trusted Employer applications. Applications at embassies abroad are not covered by this target.
How many points do I need for a South African work visa?
You need at least 100 points for a critical skills or general work visa. An occupation on the Critical Skills List gives 100 points on its own. Otherwise, points come from qualifications, salary, experience, a Trusted Employer offer and language.
What salary do I need for a general work visa?
There is no single minimum, but salary is the biggest factor in the points. A salary above R976,194 a year scores 50 points. A salary between R650,976 and R976,194 scores 20 points. Below R650,976 scores no salary points.
Do I need a medical report for a work visa?
Not for applications made inside South Africa. Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 10 of 2026 waived the medical report from 8 July 2026. If you apply at an embassy abroad, check that mission’s checklist.
Can I apply for a work visa from inside South Africa?
Renewals and some changes of status can be done at a VFS centre in South Africa. First-time work visas are usually applied for from your home country or country of residence. You cannot work while your visa application is pending unless your current visa allows it.
Do I need a SAQA evaluation for a work visa?
Yes for critical skills and general work visas, unless your employer is a Trusted Employer (for critical skills). If SAQA has not finished, proof that you applied gets you a 12-month visa, which you can extend once the certificate arrives.
What is the remote work visa?
It is a visitor’s visa under section 11(1)(b)(iv) that lets you live in South Africa for up to three years while working for a foreign employer. You need a foreign income of at least R650,976 a year and must register with SARS.
Can I change jobs on a South African work visa?
On a general work visa, your visa is tied to the employer and role you applied with, so you need DHA approval or a new visa to change. A critical skills visa is linked to your listed occupation, so a move to another employer in the same occupation is usually possible, but you must keep working in that occupation. Get advice before you resign.
Does a work visa lead to permanent residence?
Yes. After five years on a work visa and with a permanent job offer, you can apply under section 26(a). Critical skills holders can also apply under section 27(b).
What happens if my work visa application is rejected?
You have 10 working days to appeal to the Director-General under section 8(4) of the Immigration Act. If that appeal fails, you have 10 working days to appeal to the Minister.
Related Guides
- How to apply for permanent residence
- Spousal and life partner visa
- Relative’s visa
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
Official Sources
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002, sections 8, 11, 19 and 21
- Points-Based System, Government Notice 5448 of 2024 (18 October 2024)
- Third Amendment of the Immigration Regulations, Government Gazette 51416 (October 2024): remote work visa
- DHA fee schedule, updated per Government Gazette 55209 (17 August 2026)
- Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 10 of 2026 (medical report waiver)
- Immigration Directive No. 5 of 2023 (radiology report waiver)
- Immigration Circular No. 8 of 2026 (published turnaround times)
- DHA media statement on Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II (20 July 2026)
- VFS Global South Africa visa information and checklists