South Africa Immigration Services

South Africa Work Permits and Visas

There are three common types of Work Permit for South Africa:

General
Intra Company Transfer
Quota Work permits

South Africa also operates a list of Skills Shortage Occupations.

General Work Permits

Under the General Work Permit there are very strict requirements. The South African government, although trying to promote work and trade in South Africa, recognise the need to give South Africans the chance to get work before any foreigner.

You will have to prove that you are the only person who can fill that position and that no other South African can perform that role. This is done by the employer placing an advert in a national newspaper advertising the position. If no-one suitable applies, the chances of you getting the position are good.

You will also have to have a job offer/contract from your future employer.

Intra Company Transfer

The conditions become a lot more relaxed with the Intra Company Transfer where your local company sends you to South Africa on a contractual arrangement to join up with the same company but on South African soil. If presented correctly, an intra company work permit for South Africa can be obtained quite quickly.

Quota Work Permits

There is a mandatory 5 years experience necessary and the applicant is granted a 3 month work permit. Once the applicant is in the country he/she has 3 months to seek employment. Once he/she has found employment, Home Affairs must be notified.

Skills Shortage Occupations

Science and Engineering:

Aeronautical Engineers
Aircraft maintenance Engineers
Aircraft maintenance technicians
Architectural technicians
Astronomers
Astrophysicists
Atmospheric Physicists
Autotronics: Vehicle diagnostic technicians
Aviations technicians
Avionic Engineers
Chemical Engineers incl rubber and plastic
Construction: Civil and Strucural Engineers
Design and Engineering: Piping and pipe laying
Dimensional Controllers
Earth Science Technicians
Electrical mechanical incl. instrumentation
Electronic: Radio frequency and signal engineers, Microwave and satelite engineers
Electronic Technicians: Silicon and Microchip developers
Foundry metallurgists
Geologists
Geophysists
Hydraulic and Pneumatics Technicians
Industrial Engineers
Industrial / Product development technologist
Jewellery Designers
Mechanical Engineers
Metallurgical Engineers
Mining: Rock and Colliery engineers
NDE Technicians
Surface Physicists
Space Scientists
Tool designers including Millwrights, Melters, Coded Welders and Moulders

Education Professionals

Maths and Science teachers

Information Technology Professionals

Software Developers
Software Engineers
ICT Security Specialistsincl. Dimensional Controllers

Health and Medical Science Professions

Biological science technicians
Bio- informatics
Biomedical Engineers
Combinatorial and Computational Chemistry
Research and Development Pharmacologists

Agricultural Sciences

Agricultural Economist ( Econometrics )
Agricultural Engineers incl. Farm Irrigation systems engineers
Agricultural Extension officers: technology focused
Agricultural statistics: Biometrician, crop modeler
Agricultural Biotechnologists: Genetic markers and promoters
Virologists
Oenologist / Viticulture
Genetists plant breeders
Pasture Scientists
Plant pathologists
Food safety Quality Assurance Specialists
Veterinarians