General Work Visa
For foreign nationals offered a role that no suitably skilled South African is available to fill.
Work visas are issued only where South African citizens with the relevant skills are not available for appointment. Each work visa is issued for a set duration, which depends on the type of visa.
A General Work Visa is valid for the duration of the employment contract, up to a maximum of five years.
How applications are decided
Since October 2024, General Work Visa applications are decided under the points-based system: applicants need 100 points from qualifications, salary, experience, language and employer status. For applications decided this way, the Department of Employment and Labour certificate has been waived by the Minister, and proof of a SAQA application is enough for a 12-month visa.
Read more in our Insights on the points-based system and the general work visa waiver.
Keeping your visa valid
A General Work Visa lapses if, within six months of issue and every year after that, the holder does not give the Director-General satisfactory proof that they are still employed, together with the terms and conditions of the job and the job description.
From first call to decision
The same three steps, whatever your application.
- 1
Consultation and eligibility assessment
Contact us by phone, email or through this website to schedule a consultation. Come ready to share the visa you are interested in, your reasons for travel and your personal circumstances.
- 2
Document preparation and application
We give you a personalised list of the documents your application needs, then review the application for completeness and accuracy before it is submitted.
- 3
Submission and after-care
We keep you informed about the status and progress of your application through the communication channel you prefer.
Related services
All work in south africa
Tell us where you stand. We will show you the way forward.
Start a short assessment, or book a consultation with our team in Pretoria or Harare.