South Africa · Nomad / Remote work

South Africa Remote Work Visa

Income needed: ZAR 651k+ a year ≈ $39k

Remote Work visitor's visa (Immigration Act s11(1)(b)(iv))

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026Change log

Key facts

Remote Work Visa is a nomad / remote work route for South Africa. Applicants need income of ZAR 651k+ a year ≈ $39k. You can stay 3 yrs. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

Money needed: ZAR 651k+ a year ≈ $39k
Government fees: ZAR 425 ≈ $26
Processing: 60 days
First stay: 3 yrs

Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fee ZAR 425 ≈ $26; income to show ZAR 651k+/yr ≈ $39k; decision: 60 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

Government feesZAR 425 ≈ $26

ZAR 425 (≈ $26)Application fee for a visitor visa under section 11 of the Immigration Act (Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026).

Shown, not spentZAR 651k+/yr ≈ $39k

ZAR 650,796 a year (≈ $39,300)Gross salary of no less than ZAR 650,796 (≈ $39,300) per annum from the foreign employer, shown by three months of bank statements.

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.

Government of South Africa

Processing60 days

Home Affairs turnaround time for visitor's visas: 60 days. Working days only; this applies to applications submitted inside South Africa and processed at Home Affairs head office.

Department of Home Affairs, South Africa

Where to applyFrom abroad

Apply in person at a South African mission abroad. Remote work visa holders cannot change to another visa while in South Africa, except in exceptional circumstances.

Department of Home Affairs, South Africa Department of Home Affairs

Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
Applications are made from outside South Africa, not after arriving
Work rights are limited

What you'll need

Who can apply1

The applicant must stay in South Africa to work for a foreign employer under a contract that is partly performed in the Republic.

What you must show2

Gross salary of at least ZAR 650,796 (≈ $39,300) per year is shown by three months of bank statements.
The visa fee is ZAR 425 (≈ $26).

Documents3

A valid contract of employment signed by the applicant and the foreign-based employer.
A statement explaining the purpose and duration of the visit, a return flight ticket or reservation, and a valid passport.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you travelled from or through a yellow fever area, except in direct transit.

After you arrive2

Holders from a tax-treaty country register with SARS if present for more than 183 days in any 12 months; others register with SARS.
The holder cannot take up employment in South Africa or change status while in the country, except in exceptional circumstances.

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
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 10 Oct 2026

Official site

Full official text

Visitor's visa for a foreign national who works remotely for a foreign employer while in South Africa, for a stay exceeding 3 months and up to 3 years. ^{1 2 3}

What you must show and pay

Income of at least ZAR 650,796 a year (≈ $39,300) · Gross salary of no less than ZAR 650,796 (≈ $39,300) per annum from the foreign employer, shown by three months of bank statements. ¹
A fee of ZAR 425 (≈ $26) · Application fee for a visitor visa under section 11 of the Immigration Act (Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026). ²

Requirements

The applicant must stay in South Africa to work for a foreign employer under a contract that is partly performed in the Republic. ¹
Gross salary of at least ZAR 650,796 (≈ $39,300) per year is shown by three months of bank statements. ¹
The visa fee is ZAR 425 (≈ $26). ²
A valid contract of employment signed by the applicant and the foreign-based employer. ¹
A statement explaining the purpose and duration of the visit, a return flight ticket or reservation, and a valid passport. ¹
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you travelled from or through a yellow fever area, except in direct transit. ¹
Holders from a tax-treaty country register with SARS if present for more than 183 days in any 12 months; others register with SARS. ¹
The holder cannot take up employment in South Africa or change status while in the country, except in exceptional circumstances. ¹

Stay

Visitor's visa for a stay exceeding 3 months and up to 3 years.
First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.

Work

Remote work for the foreign employer only; taking up employment in South Africa is not allowed.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

Remote Work visitor visa: documents required (effective 9 October 2024) · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-12
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
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
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
Immigration Regulations (updated to 2018) · Department of Home Affairs, South Africa · checked 2026-10-12

Remote Work Visa and its alternatives

Route	Money needed	Stay	Work
Remote Work Visa	Needs income of ZAR 651k+ a year ≈ $39k	3 yr	Limited
Premium Visa Mauritius	Needs income of $1,500+ a month	1 yr, renewable	No local work
Class N · Digital nomad Kenya	Needs income of $55k+ a year	2 yr, renewable	Limited

Questions people ask

How much money do I need for the Remote Work Visa?

Income of at least ZAR 650,796 a year (≈ $39,300). Gross salary of no less than ZAR 650,796 (≈ $39,300) per annum from the foreign employer, shown by three months of bank statements. A fee of ZAR 425 (≈ $26). Application fee for a visitor visa under section 11 of the Immigration Act (Fees Regulations as amended 17 August 2026).

How long can I stay on the Remote Work Visa?

Visitor's visa for a stay exceeding 3 months and up to 3 years.

How long does the Remote Work Visa take to process?

Home Affairs turnaround time for visitor's visas: 60 days.

Can I work on the Remote Work Visa?

Limited. Remote work for the foreign employer only; taking up employment in South Africa is not allowed.

How are Remote Work Visa holders taxed in South Africa?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Remote Work Visa. The standard rules apply: 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.

More in South Africa

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

Ask the AI about this route AI

An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.

How this was checked

Checked on 2026-10-12 against 7 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.

Remote Work visitor visa: documents required (effective 9 October 2024) · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-12
Regulation Gazette 55209: First amendment of the regulations on fees (Immigration Act) · 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
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
Immigration Regulations (updated to 2018) · 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.