South Africa · Business / Startup
South Africa Business visa
Investment needed: ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k
Business Visa (Immigration Act s15)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Business visa is a business / startup route for South Africa. Applicants need an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k. You can stay 3 yrs, renewable. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Money needed
- ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k
- Government fees
- ZAR 1,520 ≈ $92
- Processing
- 8 weeks
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee ZAR 1,520 ≈ $92; investment ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k; decision: 8 weeks. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesZAR 1,520 ≈ $92
- ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92)Application fee (including renewal) under section 15 of the Immigration Act, Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026.
Invested and heldZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k
- ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000)Cash originating from outside South Africa, invested in a business to be established or an existing business; any capital contribution must be new machinery or equipment (Gazette notice 560 of 15 July 2014). The Director-General may reduce or waive it for businesses in the national interest.
RenewalRenewable
Can be renewed, up to three years at a time. You must show the required investment is still in place within 24 months of issue and every two years after.
Permanent residenceConditions
Permanent residence under section 27(c) is a separate application based on the prescribed investment in a business. The permit lapses if you cannot prove the investment is still in place after two years and again three years later.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Naturalisation needs permanent residence first, then five continuous years of ordinary residence. Time on a temporary visa does not count.
Processing8 weeks
Home Affairs turnaround time: 8 weeks. Working days only; this applies to applications submitted inside South Africa and processed at Home Affairs head office.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply in person at the South African mission where you normally live, or through a VFS centre. If you already hold a valid status other than a visitor's visa, you can apply to change status inside South Africa at least 60 days before your visa expires.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The business must undertake that at least 60 percent of its staff are citizens or permanent residents.
- No business visa is issued for a business undertaking listed as undesirable by the Minister.
What you must show1
- Cash of ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000) from outside South Africa, or a capital contribution of new machinery or equipment, must be available or invested.
Documents4
- A chartered or professional accountant certifies that the prescribed cash or capital is available or invested.
- A business plan is required.
- A DTI letter states the business's feasibility and national-interest contribution.
- Registration with SARS, UIF, the Compensation Fund and CIPC is required.
After you arrive1
- The Department of Labour confirms the 60 percent staff share within 12 months of issue.
When you become tax resident
How South Africa decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- More than 91 days in a tax year and each of the 5 preceding tax yearsPhysical presence test: more than 91 days in the current year and in each of the five preceding years.
- More than 915 days in 5 tax years preceding the current yearPhysical presence test: more than 915 days in total over the five preceding years.
- At least 330 days in a continuous period outside South AfricaA physical-presence resident outside the country for at least 330 continuous full days ceases to be resident from the day of departure.
- Foreign-source income
South African tax residents, whether ordinarily resident or meeting the physical presence test, are taxed on worldwide income at 18% to 45% for the 2027 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027); non-residents are taxed only on South African-source income.
All tax rules for South Africa Tax records checked
Full official text
Visa for a foreigner who intends to establish or invest in, or has established or invested in, a business in South Africa, on investing the prescribed capital contribution. 1 2 3 4 5
What you must show and pay
- An investment of at least ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000) · Cash originating from outside South Africa, invested in a business to be established or an existing business; any capital contribution must be new machinery or equipment (Gazette notice 560 of 15 July 2014). The Director-General may reduce or waive it for businesses in the national interest. 6 3
- A fee of ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92) · Application fee (including renewal) under section 15 of the Immigration Act, Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026. 5
Requirements
- The business must undertake that at least 60 percent of its staff are citizens or permanent residents. 1 2
- No business visa is issued for a business undertaking listed as undesirable by the Minister. 3
- Cash of ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000) from outside South Africa, or a capital contribution of new machinery or equipment, must be available or invested. 6
- A chartered or professional accountant certifies that the prescribed cash or capital is available or invested. 1 2
- A business plan is required. 1 2
- A DTI letter states the business's feasibility and national-interest contribution. 1 2
- Registration with SARS, UIF, the Compensation Fund and CIPC is required. 1 2
- The Department of Labour confirms the 60 percent staff share within 12 months of issue. 1 2
Stay
- May be issued for a period not exceeding three years at a time.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
May work only in the business for which the visa was issued.
Family
Immediate family receive an appropriate visa for the duration of the business visa.
Official sources
- South African Visas (types of temporary residence visas) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
- Immigration Regulations (updated to 2018) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (consolidated to 2014) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- Cabinet-approved Final Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, 26 March 2026 · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-03-26
- Regulation Gazette 55209: First amendment of the regulations on fees (Immigration Act) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-08-17
- Notice 560: Financial or capital contribution for business in respect of business visa and permanent residence permit · Department of Home Affairs, Government Gazette No. 37837 (15 July 2014) · checked 2026-10-11
- Permanent Residency · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- South African Citizenship Amendment Act 17 of 2010 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- Turnaround times for visa and permit related services · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
Business visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business visa | Needs an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| PR · Business | Needs an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k | – | Yes |
| Self-employed card Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Innovator Occupation Permit Mauritius | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| Freelancer residence Cabo Verde | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Business visa?
An investment of at least ZAR 5,000,000 (≈ $302,000). Cash originating from outside South Africa, invested in a business to be established or an existing business; any capital contribution must be new machinery or equipment (Gazette notice 560 of 15 July 2014). A fee of ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92). Application fee (including renewal) under section 15 of the Immigration Act, Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026.
How long can I stay on the Business visa?
May be issued for a period not exceeding three years at a time.
How long does the Business visa take to process?
Home Affairs turnaround time: 8 weeks.
Can I work on the Business visa?
Limited. May work only in the business for which the visa was issued.
Can I bring my family on the Business visa?
Immediate family receive an appropriate visa for the duration of the business visa.
Does the Business visa lead to permanent residence in South Africa?
Permanent residence under section 27(c) is a separate application based on the prescribed investment in a business. Time on the Business visa doesn't count toward citizenship.
More in South Africa
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 10 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- South African Visas (types of temporary residence visas) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
- Immigration Regulations (updated to 2018) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (consolidated to 2014) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- Cabinet-approved Final Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, 26 March 2026 · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- Regulation Gazette 55209: First amendment of the regulations on fees (Immigration Act) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- Notice 560: Financial or capital contribution for business in respect of business visa and permanent residence permit · Department of Home Affairs, Government Gazette No. 37837 (15 July 2014) · checked 2026-10-11
- Permanent Residency · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
- South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- South African Citizenship Amendment Act 17 of 2010 · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
- Turnaround times for visa and permit related services · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.