Business Visa Requirements

 

A business visa for South Africa is issued to a foreign citizen who wishes to work or invest in South Africa. South Africa Business visas are granted to foreign investors, stockholders, enterprise directors, deputy directors, technical officers, volunteers for non-governmental organizations, staff members of Diplomatic Missions, General Consulates, the United Nations Agencies and other international organizations.

Based on the type of employment and projects, South Africa issues different types of work visas to foreigners who wish to further their career or work in the country. Some of the South Africa work visas available include:

Business visas for South Africa are issued foreigners who want to work or invest in South Africa.

The Business visas are designed for foreign investors, stockholders, enterprise directors, deputy directors, technical officers, volunteers for non-governmental organizations, staff members of Diplomatic Missions, General Consulates, the United Nations Agencies and other international organizations.

Depending on the sector in which the applicant works as well as the type of project, South Africa immigration will issue different work visas.

South Africa work visas available include:

  • Expert Visa (E-B2) for foreign workers employed in international organizations or non-government organizations.
  • Investor Visa (NI-B2) for foreign nationals investing in an enterprise registered in South Africa.
  • Labor Visa (LA-B2) for foreign nationals working in South Africa on a fixed employment contract.

The foreign affairs department is the one in charge of granting the business visas. Indeed, there is another list of visas available for South Africa depending on the business purposes:.

  • Diplomatic visa: D-A1
  • Official visa: S-A2
  • Courtesy visa: C-B1
  • Tourist visa: T-B3
  • Short-term visa: NI-B3
  • Long-term visa: I-B3
  • Permanent visa: P-B3
  • Expert visa: E-B2
  • Transit visa: TR-B3
  • Student visa: ST-B2
  • Media visa: M-B2
  • Business visa for foreign investors: NI-B2 or I-B2
  • Technical visa for a foreign employee LA-B2

    • In June 2019, the electronic South Africa Visa will be launched.

    It is to be noted that during the launching period, the evisa South Africa will be available for tourism purposes only. Most probably the Business eVisa South Africa will be launched afterwards.

    Actually, to be able to have a business visa, it is mandatory for applicants to make their application by going to a consulate or embassy.

    Applying for a business visa South Africa?

     

    The type of business of the applicant, as well as the economic sector in which he is will determine the type of business visa he needs.

    The are several South Africa business visas available and applicants should make sure that they have a valid passport before doing their application.

    Afterwards, they will have to complete an application form with their personal details. This process must be made through a South Africa consulate or embassy.

    The work visas for single entry or multiple entry. Multiple entry visas for South Africa are for a period of three months, six months or one year.

    When must the applicant do his application?

     

    The processing time is not always the same, depending of the countries as well as the visa types. Kindly do your application as per the South Africa embassy or consulate requirements.

    The e-Visa South Africa, will simplify the process with its launching in June 2019.

    The documents needed to apply for a South Africa work visa?

     

    The documents needed for a work visa are as follows:

    • Original, signed passport valid for six months beyond the stay in South Africa. A blank passport page is necessary for a South Africa visa stamp.? Original, signed passport valid for six months beyond the stay in South Africa. A blank passport page is necessary for a South Africa visa stamp.
    • A completed and signed South Africa application form.
    • A recent (taken within the last 6 months) passport photograph in color and with a plain and light background.
    • A business cover letter that can be either from the employer or sponsoring company. The South Africa Embassy or consulate required an official business letter to support a South Africa business visa application.
    • Proof of travel arrangements such as the flight itinerary indicating the entry and departure dates from South Africa.

    A work visa are usually done by a sponsor company in South Africa. The Embassy or Consulate will wait the go ahead of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane before issuing of the business visa.