GENERAL WORK VISA in South Africa
If you have received an offer of employment from a South African company, but do not qualify for a Critical Skills Visa, you may be eligible for a General Work Visa.
In October 2024, South Africa introduced a Points-Based System to assess eligibility for the General Work Visa. In order to qualify for a General Work Visa, you will need to achieve a minimum score of 100 points across five specific categories – qualifications, annual salary, work experience, TES* status of the prospective employer, and language skills.
Points are awarded as follows:
| Criteria | Points (%) | Criteria | Points (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation: | Occupation on critical skills list | 100 | ||
| Qualifications: | NQF levels 9 and 10 | 50 | NQF levels 7 and 8 | 30 |
| Offer of Employment (Mandatory) | Above ZAR 976,194 gross per annum | 50 | Between ZAR 650,976 and ZAR 976,194 gross per annum | 20 |
| Work Experience: | 10+ years | 30 | 5 – 10 years | 20 |
| Employment status: | Offer from Trusted Employer (TES) | 30 | ||
| Language skills: | Proficient in at least one official language | 10 |
*The Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) is an initiative by the Department of Home Affairs which allows prospective employees of pre-vetted employers to follow a faster and streamlined visa application process. The South African company itself must apply to become part of the TES.
Key Features of the General Work Visa
- Valid for up to five 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 South African permanent residence
- Allows immediate family members to accompany the holder to South Africa
- Often processed faster than other visa categories
- Provides more flexibility in terms of the offer of employment (i.e. not restricted to an occupation on the Critical Skills List)
Please note that the Poins-Based System does not currently apply to holders of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (see below).
