Business VISA in South Africa
If you are planning to establish, purchase, or invest in a business in South Africa, while at the same time living and operating the business from within South Africa, you will require a Business Visa. The Business Visa is aimed at foreign investors and entrepreneurs who wish to contribute to the South African economy through business development, job creation, and investment.
When assessing your eligibility for a Business Visa,
the most essential elements are:
01
Minimum Capital Investment:
The Business Visa requires a minimum capital investment of ZAR 5 million into the South African business. For your initial Business Visa application, this minimum capital amount merely needs to be available for investment, and not yet fully invested. Certain businesses qualify to apply for a reduction or waiver of this minimum capital investment, including specific businesses in the following sectors:
- Tourism Infrastructure
- Creative and Design
- ICT
- Green Economy (Power Generation & Renewable Energy)
- Agro-Processing
Business Process Outsourcing and IT Enabled Services
02
Local Employment:
The Business Visa requires that at least 60% of the total staff complement, permanently employed in the business, are South African citizens or permanent residents.
03
Statutory Compliance:
The Business Visa requires that the business be fully compliant with all regulatory bodies, including the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CIPC), the South African Revenue Services (SARS), the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), and the Compensation Fund for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COIDA).
Before applying for the Business Visa
an application must be submitted to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) for a recommendation that the business is feasible and within the national interest of South Africa. The DTIC will do a detailed assessment of the business in order to determine:
- The financial viability and sustainability of the business
- The potential for job creation for local communities
- The contribution to economic development
- The transfer of skills and technology
- Whether the business aligns with South Africa’s national interest and economic priorities
The processing time for a recommendation from the DTIC is approximately 30 – 45 business days.
Key Features of the Business Visa
- Valid for three years at a time
- Renewable from within South Africa
- Allows you to change to a different visa category from within South Africa
- Provides a pathway to permanent residence
- Allows immediate family members to accompany the holder to South Africa
- Often processed faster than other visa categories
