Did you know that about 5% of South Africa’s workforce are foreigners? International workers play an important role in supporting the country’s economy by contributing innovative ideas and valuable skills. 

Whether you’re relocating for a career change or simply curious about how to build a career on the southern tip of Africa, get ahead of the pack with our easy guide to becoming an expatriate worker in the Rainbow Nation.

How does a foreigner get a job in South Africa? 

To become a foreigner working in South Africa, you need to find the right type of visa for you, look for an employer willing to sponsor your application if you need to, prepare all the needed documents, and visit your country’s South African embassy for processing. 

Don’t worry, we have the details of every step for you down below!

Step 1: Check your qualifications

Apart from having the appropriate skills and experience, you also need to be at least 18 years old to be employed in South Africa. If you’re a professional, it helps if you have a degree or a licence to support your desired role.

Read about which jobs are in demand in South Africa and see if you’re a great fit for any position that catches your attention. Once you have a list of jobs to consider, it’ll be easier to check your qualifications and assess your chances of getting in.

Step 2: Find an employer who is willing to sponsor your visa application

Unless you’re applying for a Critical Skills Work Visa, you’ll need to find a sponsor for a work visa. Apply for a job in South Africa and inform your employer that you’ll need assistance with your visa application.

Make sure that your employer is a locally licenced and incorporated entity. If you’re acquiring a Corporate Work Visa, the company hiring you should be the one securing a visa.

Securing an official job offer will make acquiring a work visa much easier so it’s advised to apply for your desired position first before moving on to the next step. 

You can find job openings in South Africa through various online portals like careers24 and Indeed. Communicate with the employers and tell them about your desire to work abroad.

Step 3: Determine which type of visa is ideal for you

Before you begin the process of applying for a work visa, it’s best if you determine which type is ideal for your situation first.

Here are the various types of work visas you can acquire in South Africa:

• Critical Skills Work Visa

Made for specialists and skilled workers, the critical skills work visa is for people who possess the needed abilities in the critical skills list collaboratively made by various South African companies. 

Although you don’t need a job before applying for this certain visa, you have to find employment within a year of getting the approval for the visa.

• General Work Visa

For the general work visa, your new employer from South Africa must help you process this. They need to assert that your specific position cannot be filled with a local and they’ll need your services to progress. 

You must be ready to present proof that you have an official job offer from a South African employer to apply for this visa.

• Intra-company Transfer Work Visa

Through the intra-company transfer work visa, multinational companies can send their people to other locations in the globe, particularly in South Africa for work. This visa is typically secured by the employer. 

• Corporate Visa

The corporate visa is made for registered South African companies who are looking to hire a huge chunk of their workforce from abroad. This visa is usually only valid for a limited time frame per issuance. 

• Exchange Visa

The exchange visa is only available to people under 25 years old looking for opportunities in South Africa. With this visa, you can only work in South Africa for up to a year and only for the specific employer who hired you from the beginning.

Step 4: Prepare the requirements for submission

Requirements may vary depending on the type of work visa you’re applying for. Here’s a list of each type and the corresponding documents you need to prepare:

• Critical Skills Work Visa

• Completed and signed application form
• Valid passport for no less than 30 days after the expiry of payment of the prescribed fee
• Vaccination certificate
• Proof of financial means (e.g. bank statements or available cash)
• Cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return ticket or a written undertaking from the employer
• Medical and radiology reports
• Police clearance
• Proof of application for a certificate of registration, recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
• Proof of qualifications of the employee as evaluated by the SAQA and translated by a certified translator into one of the official languages of South Africa
• Proof of employment within 12 months after receiving the visa (i.e. employment contract).

• General Work Visa

• Completed and signed application form
• Valid passport
• Payment of the prescribed fee
• Vaccination certificate
• Proof of financial means (e.g. bank statements or available cash)
• Medical and radiology reports
• Police clearance
• Written undertaking by the employer to accept responsibility for the employee
• Certificate from the Department of Labour
• Proof of qualifications of the employee as evaluated by the SAQA and translated by a certified translator into one of the official languages of South Africa
• Employment contract signed by both employer and employee
• Proof of registration of employer with the Registrar of Companies
• Written undertaking by the employer to inform the Director-General if the employee is no longer working for them
• All necessary documents for accompanying spouse and/or children of the applicant.

• Intra-company Transfer Work Visa

• Completed and signed application form
• Valid passport
• Payment of the prescribed fee
• Vaccination certificate
• Proof of financial means (e.g. bank statements or available cash)
• Cash deposit of employee with the same value as a return ticket
• Employment contract with the company abroad
• Letter from the employer/company abroad to confirm the transfer to their branch/affiliate in South Africa
• Letter from the South African branch/affiliate confirming the transfer
• Written undertaking by the employer that the applicant will leave once the 4 year period is over
• Medical and radiology reports
• Police clearance
• All necessary documents for accompanying spouse and/or children of the applicant.

• Corporate Visa

• Application form signed by the applicants
• Corroborate statement writing the need to employ foreign workers and noting the number of foreigners targeted to be employed
• Certificate from the Department of Labour
• Proof of registration of the company with the different agencies of South Africa namely:
  • The South African Revenue Service
  • Unemployment Insurance Fund
  • Compensation Fund for Occupational Injuries
  • Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission
• Proof that at least 60% of the staff in the company are South African citizens and permanent residents
• Written job description and remuneration for each foreign worker
• Written undertaking to ensure that all foreign workers have valid passports and cash deposits.

• Exchange Visa

• Completed and signed BI-1738 application form
• Valid passport
• Payment of the prescribed fee
• Vaccination certificate
• Proof of financial means (e.g. bank statements or available cash)
• Proof of medical cover
• Undertaking by the host/s in the Republic of South Africa
• Cash deposit of employee with the same value as a return ticket
• Medical and radiology reports
• Police clearance certificate
• Statement from the prospective employer detailing the job.

Step 5: Visit your country’s South African embassy

Once you have all the requirements ready, head to your country’s South African embassy or consulate to submit an application. They will review your documents to see if you have the necessary qualifications and resources to work in the country.

There is a fee of R1,520 when applying for a visa, so make sure you have everything you need before you start the process. If you get rejected, you can apply for reconsideration and they’ll review your application to see if they can change their mind. 

Step 6: Wait for your application’s approval

Processing of work visa applications can take months, but the speed varies depending on your country and the embassy responsible. The whole process can take up to six months if there are complications, so it’s best to avoid discrepancies in your documents.

While waiting for your work visa to be issued, take the time to secure other things you’ll need before moving to South Africa. This might include housing, transportation, and other essentials you’ll need to live and work away from home. 

FAQs on Working in South Africa as a Foreigner