---
title: "South Africa General Work visa requirements 2026: 5-year stay"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/general-work-visa/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-10
---

South Africa · Work

# South Africa General Work visa

**First stay:** 5 yrs

General Work Visa (Immigration Act s19(2))

First checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **First stay:** 5 yrs (Valid for the duration of the employment contract or a period not exceeding five years.)
- **Who can apply:** Any passport
- **Work:** Limited (Work only for the employer and in the position for which the visa was issued.)

## Key facts

General Work visa is a work route for South Africa. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** ZAR 1,520 ≈ $92
- **Processing:** 4 weeks
- **First stay:** 5 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fee ZAR 1,520 ≈ $92; decision: 4 weeks. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: ZAR 1,520 ≈ $92**

- ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92) Application fee (including renewal) under section 19 of the Immigration Act, Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026.

**Renewal: Renewable**

Can be renewed on application. The visa is valid for the length of the employment contract or up to five years.

[Department of Home Affairs, South Africa](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-visas)

**Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence**

Five years on a work visa plus an offer of permanent employment qualifies you for permanent residence under section 26(a).

[Department of Home Affairs, South Africa](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/permanent-residency)

**Citizenship: Time here doesn't count**

Naturalisation needs permanent residence first, then five continuous years of ordinary residence. Time on a temporary visa does not count.

[Government of South Africa](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/act88of1995.pdf)

**Processing: 4 weeks**

Home Affairs turnaround time: 4 weeks. Working days only; this applies to applications submitted inside South Africa and processed at Home Affairs head office.

[Department of Home Affairs, South Africa](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/turnaround-times-for-visas-and-permits)

**Where to apply: Abroad 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.

[Department of Home Affairs, South Africa](https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Needs a job offer from an employer in South Africa
- Work rights are limited

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The Department of Employment and Labour certifies that a diligent search found no suitable citizen or permanent resident.
- The Department certifies that the applicant's skills match the job.

#### What you must show

- Pay is not inferior to the average for citizens in similar positions.

#### Documents

- A Department of Employment and Labour letter to the employer carries these certifications.
- An employment contract signed by employer and applicant is required.
- Qualifications evaluated by SAQA are required.
- Employer particulars are required, including CIPC registration where applicable.
- Employer undertakings cover deportation costs and passport validity.
- A police clearance certificate is required.
- A medical report not older than six months is required.

## 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 5 years at first, renewable**
- **Tax residence:** - **More than 91 days in a tax year and each of the 5 preceding tax years** Physical 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 year** Physical presence test: more than 915 days in total over the five preceding years.
- **At least 330 days in a continuous period outside South Africa** A 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Work visa for a named employer where a Department of Employment and Labour certificate confirms that no suitable citizen or permanent resident was found and pay is not below local norms. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4)

#### What you must show and pay

- A fee of ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92) · Application fee (including renewal) under section 19 of the Immigration Act, Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026. (source 3)

#### Requirements

- The Department of Employment and Labour certifies that a diligent search found no suitable citizen or permanent resident. (source 2)
- The Department certifies that the applicant's skills match the job. (source 2)
- Pay is not inferior to the average for citizens in similar positions. (source 2)
- A Department of Employment and Labour letter to the employer carries these certifications. (source 2)
- An employment contract signed by employer and applicant is required. (sources 1, 2)
- Qualifications evaluated by SAQA are required. (sources 1, 2)
- Employer particulars are required, including CIPC registration where applicable. (sources 1, 2)
- Employer undertakings cover deportation costs and passport validity. (sources 1, 2)
- A police clearance certificate is required. (source 1)
- A medical report not older than six months is required. (source 1)

#### Stay

- Valid for the duration of the employment contract or a period not exceeding five years.
- First stay: up to 60 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Work

Work only for the employer and in the position for which the visa was issued.

#### Family

Spouse and dependent children may apply for appropriate visas; spouse must submit proof of marriage or life partnership.

Checked 2026-10-10

## Official sources

1. [South African Visas (types of temporary residence visas)](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-visas) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Immigration Regulations (updated to 2018)](https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
3. [Regulation Gazette 55209: First amendment of the regulations on fees (Immigration Act)](https://www.dha.gov.za/images/gazettes/2026/55209-17-8-26.pdf) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-08-17
4. [Government Notice 5448 of 18 October 2024: Points-Based System for general work and critical skills work visas (Government Gazette 51416)](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202410/51416gon5448.pdf) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2024-10-18
5. [Permanent Residency](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/permanent-residency) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
6. [Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (consolidated to 2014)](https://www.dha.gov.za/IMMIGRATION_ACT_2002_MAY2014.pdf) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
7. [South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/act88of1995.pdf) · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
8. [South African Citizenship Amendment Act 17 of 2010](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/a1720100.pdf) · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
9. [Turnaround times for visa and permit related services](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/turnaround-times-for-visas-and-permits) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12

## General Work visa and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Work visa | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Corporate visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/corporate-visa/) | – | 3 yr | Limited |
| [Critical Skills visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/critical-skills-work-visa/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| [Intra-company transfer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/intra-company-transfer-work-visa/) | – | 4 yr | Limited |
| [Employee residence card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/morocco/employment-contract-visa/) Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the General Work visa?

A fee of ZAR 1,520 (≈ $92). Application fee (including renewal) under section 19 of the Immigration Act, Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026.

### How long can I stay on the General Work visa?

Valid for the duration of the employment contract or a period not exceeding five years.

### How long does the General Work visa take to process?

Home Affairs turnaround time: 4 weeks.

### Can I work on the General Work visa?

Limited. Work only for the employer and in the position for which the visa was issued.

### Can I bring my family on the General Work visa?

Spouse and dependent children may apply for appropriate visas; spouse must submit proof of marriage or life partnership.

### Does the General Work visa lead to permanent residence in South Africa?

Time on the General Work visa counts toward permanent residence in South Africa, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the General Work visa doesn't count toward citizenship.

## More in South Africa

[Remote Work Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/remote-work-visa/) [PR · Business](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/pr-business/) [Business visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/business-visa/) [Exchange visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/exchange-visa/) [Study visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/study-visa/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇲🇺 Professional Occupation Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/professional-occupation-permit/) [🇨🇻 Highly qualified permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/highly-qualified/) [🇰🇪 Class I · Religious work](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-i-religious/) [🇳🇬 Employment · Cleric (R6A)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/employment-r6a-cleric/) [🇷🇼 Skilled worker H1 (demand list)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/rwanda/h1-skilled-worker-occupation-on-demand/) [🇬🇭 Company work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/work-residence-permit-company/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-10 against 9 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.

1. [South African Visas (types of temporary residence visas)](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-visas) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Immigration Regulations (updated to 2018)](https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
3. [Regulation Gazette 55209: First amendment of the regulations on fees (Immigration Act)](https://www.dha.gov.za/images/gazettes/2026/55209-17-8-26.pdf) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
4. [Government Notice 5448 of 18 October 2024: Points-Based System for general work and critical skills work visas (Government Gazette 51416)](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202410/51416gon5448.pdf) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12
5. [Permanent Residency](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/permanent-residency) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
6. [Immigration Act 13 of 2002 (consolidated to 2014)](https://www.dha.gov.za/IMMIGRATION_ACT_2002_MAY2014.pdf) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-10
7. [South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/act88of1995.pdf) · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
8. [South African Citizenship Amendment Act 17 of 2010](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/a1720100.pdf) · Government of South Africa · checked 2026-10-11
9. [Turnaround times for visa and permit related services](https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/turnaround-times-for-visas-and-permits) · 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](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.