FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT IMMIGRATION

There are no consultation fees for internet, email and telephone enquiries received from persons or potential clients. Although, to formally consult and clarify visa and permit options for initiating application processes, a standard and basic consultation fee will apply.

There are various routes to obtain permanent residence in South Africa. Your route of application and the requirements you’ll have to meet depend on the category of application and temporary residence status (if applicable) at the time.

It is also possible to apply for permanent residence status for and in South Africa directly from abroad.

A work visa can be issued in any of the following circumstances:

• Critical skills work visa: your occupation and qualification should be on South Africa’s critical skills list.
• General work visa: You need a written job offer and the employer must be able to prove (by a Department of Labour recommendation letter) that they couldn’t find a South African citizen or permanent resident for the position.
• Intra-company transfer work visa: The South African company must be a subsidiary, branch, affiliate or business associate of the overseas company. 
• Corporate worker’s visa: This visa enables South African employers to employ many employees from abroad, all under one application. If the employer’s application is successful, you may apply for an individual corporate worker’s visa.

A business visa is issued if you are able to invest at least R5 million in your business and employ South Africans to comprise at least 60% of your workforce. You’ll need to submit a business plan and set up the business in a suitable company structure and business environment.

It is not possible to change from a visitor’s visa to a work visa while in South Africa, so you’ll need to apply from your home country. However, if you are in South Africa with a visa that gives you other purposes of extended temporary residence (apart from visiting), you may be able to change to a work visa from within South Africa.

From immigration prescripts, spouses are defined as married persons or life partners and/or parties to a permanent spousal relationship.

The permanent relationship of life partners should be for longer than two years and needs to be substantiated by co-habitation and sharing of financial responsibility documentation, which are to be submitted with your application.