Residency
South Africa — Residency: Work Visa
South Africa issues critical skills and general work visas for up to five years under a 100-point system, with a critical skills occupation worth 100 points alone.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceDepartment of Home Affairs — critical skills and general work visasLast reviewed: 2026-10-23
Key facts
- A critical skills work visa is tied to occupations on the Critical Skills List and can be issued for up to five years at a time.
- A general work visa covers work not on the list, issued for up to five years, and the Minister said employers no longer need to go to the Department of Employment and Labour; approval is through a points system.
- A government gazette sets a 100-point threshold: a critical skills occupation scores 100, NQF level 9 and 10 qualifications 50 and levels 7 and 8 30.
- The gazette is about two years old and may have been amended; check the DHA site.
Steps
- Step 1: Employer Registration — The employer must register with the Department of Labour and obtain a Skills Development Grant (SDG) permit, if required.
- Step 2: Work Visa Permit — The employer must apply for a work visa permit from the Department of Home Affairs, providing proof of job offer and required documents.
- Step 3: Work Visa Application — The foreign worker must submit their application for a General Work Visa, providing required documents and proof of employment.