Expatriates Forums in South Africa

Hey I guess this is a good place to start?lol Hello room.

kingrichards — Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:03 am

Author: kingrichards

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:03 am

Hi everybody I'm John just introducing myself here to the room ..okay let's let it rip lol.

Advice please!!!

bonnie1 — Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:49 pm

Author: bonnie1

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:49 pm

Hi I am a 20year old looking into moving to SA for a few years, probably within the next 6-8 months.
I am a british citizen born in south africa to a british mother and south african father, my father and his family are still living in the country and the reason i want to move out. and i miss home!!!
ok, so i am not very clued up about visas/ permits etc and can't really make head nor tail of what i need to get over there.
ALSO... when I am over there obviously I will be wanting to work, I haven't got a degree but pretty much 5 years experience in hospitality/catering industry including managerial work. will i need to get a job offer before i move out or can i look when i move out? do i need a work permit? or do i just get a temp residency permit?
please help! this is very confusing for me!!

WORK PERMIT IN SOUTH AFRICA / SOUTH AFRICA WORK VISA

South Africa Info — Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:28 am

Author: South Africa Info

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:28 am

WORK PERMIT IN SOUTH AFRICA

WORK PERMIT

A new South African Immigration Act and Regulations came into effect on 7 April 2003. A foreign national who wishes to engage in employment in South Africa must apply for and obtain a Temporary Residence Permit from the Consulate or Diplomatic Representative with jurisdiction over the applicant's usual place of residence.

The following is a general summery of the types of employment visa categories that are common to international corporate transfers to South Africa.

"Regularisation" of immigration status from Visitor status to Work Status

As of writing, a foreign national employee may NOT convert his or her immigration status from a Visitor status to Work status while remaining in South Africa (periodically, the Department of Home Affairs has been known to relax this rule). The initial work permit application must be made at a South African Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction over the applicant's usual place of residence.

Type of Work Visas

There are a number of different categories of Temporary Residence Permit. These include:

· Work: Quota;
· Own Business;
· Corporate Worker;
· Study (> 3 months);
· Relative's;
· Student Exchange Program;
· Cultural/economic/social exchange program;
· Work: General;
· Intra-company transfer;
· Exceptional skills;
· Medical (> 3 months);
· Retired person;
· Work Exchange Program; and
· Treaty.

Employees of corporate entities with operations in South Africa who will temporarily transfer to the South African business will typically fall within the Intra-company Transferee category.

Intra-company Transfer Visa

The General Process
Intra-company Transferee permits can be filed directly at the South African Consulate of the Diplomatic Representative with jurisdiction over the applicant's usual place of residence.

Intra-company Transferee permits are company-specific, and a foreign national who has been allowed to enter South Africa for employment is not permitted to accept a position with another employer.

Basic Requirements to Qualify
To qualify, an employee must already work for the company, and be transferred to the company's South African subsidiary, branch or affiliate. In general, the migrations authorities have not set a minimum level of experience required immediately prior to the employee's transfer to South Africa.

Documents required for an Intra-Company Permit
Please note that the South African Consulate and/or authorities reserve the right to request additional information and/or documents.

1. Completed Temporary Residence Permit form.

2. Completion of Sections 13(1), (6) and (7) of the application form by the company in South Africa.

3. Letter of Support from home country employer detailing the nature of the proposed activities and confirming that the employee will be transferred to a branch/affiliated South African company.

4. Letter of support from South African company confirming the transfer from the parent/affiliated company abroad, as well as specifying the occupation and capacity in which the employee will be employed, and also confirming that the maximum duration of the assignment will not exceed two years.

5. Certification by a chartered accountant acting on behalf of the South African company that the company needs to employ the foreign national and outlining the foreign national's job description.

6. Certification by a chartered accountant in South Africa that the foreign national will not be employed on terms and conditions inferior to those applying to citizens and residents of South Africa, and that the applicant possesses the legal qualifications required for the job.

7. Two passport style photographs.

8. Original passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended stay in South Africa and containing at least one completely blank visa page.

9. Current resume.

10. Copy of academic credentials.

11. Completed medical certificate.

12. Police clearance certificate for all applicants 21 years and older from all countries where the applicant has resided for one year or longer.

13. Application fee.

General Processing Time
The normal time to assemble the corporate and employee's personal documentation is approximately three to four weeks. One the application is filed at the South African diplomatic mission, processing time is approximately two weeks.

Validity of the Work Visa
The intra-company transfer permit is valid for up to two years. Validity is dependent on the length of assignment indicated on the application form but will not exceed two years.

Non Intra-company Transferees

For those companies that do not have an office in South Africa, and whose employees will perform work on the basis of a contract with a South African business, no Temporary Residence Permit will be required. The employee will need to apply for a visitor visa which will be endorsed for work. The application will consist of the following:

1. Completed Visitor Visa form

2. Two passport-style photographs

3. Original passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended stay in South Africa and containing at least one completely blank visa page.

4. Letter of support for the home country employer stating the reasons for entry and describing the nature of the proposed activities.

5. Letter from the South African business confirming the contract and the work to be performed.

6. Resume.

7. Copy of academic credentials.

8. Flight itinerary.

9. Application fee.

Residence Registration Requirements

No residence permit or residence address registration required after arrival into South Africa.

FAMILY AND DEPENDENTS

Spouse and Children

Immediate family members who are accompanying Temporary Residence Permit holders may simultaneously apply for "Visitor Visa" status, which has the same validity as the Temporary Residence Permit holder.

Children wishing to attend school in South Africa must obtain a study permit. This can be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa once a school has been identified and a letter of acceptance has been provided.

Unmarried Partners (Opposite Sex)

Unmarried partners of the opposite sex are recognized as dependents under South African immigration regulations.

Unmarried Partners (Same-Sex)

Unmarried partners of the same sex are recognized as dependents under South African immigration regulations.

Ability to Work

Spouses of Temporary Residence Permit holders or Visitor Visa holders may not work in South Africa unless they obtain a work permit through their own prospective employer.

VISA TO SOUTH AFRICA / SOUTH AFRICA VISA GUIDE

South Africa Info — Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:27 am

Author: South Africa Info

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:27 am

VISA TO SOUTH AFRICA

Passports

Passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure required by all.

Note: All passengers must have a passport with at least one blank page for their entry stamp. Passengers who also require a visa must have a passport with two blank facing pages, one for the visa and one for their entry stamp.

Visas

Required by all except the following for business and tourist purposes:

(a) nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, UK, USA and EU for stays of up to 90 days, except nationals of Cyprus, Hungary, Poland and Slovak Republic who may stay for up to 30 days and nationals of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia who do require a visa;

(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Chile, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, St Vincent & the Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela for stays of up to 90 days;

(d) nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR) (Holders of Hong Kong British Nationals overseas passports and Hong Kong special passports), Jordan, Korea (Rep), Lesotho, Macau (SAR), Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Peru, Seychelles, Swaziland, Thailand, Turkey and Zambia for stays of up to 30 days;

(e) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport (advance notice of overnight stay is required) except for nationals of Bangladesh, Cameroon, China (PR), Congo (Kinshasa), Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Fed, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine who must obtain a transit visa before traveling.

Note: Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 years must hold written consent from their parents when traveling alone.

Types of visa and cost

Visitors, Transit: US$60 Study Permits: US$74 (depending on level of education).

Business: US$215 Some nationals (including the UK, India and Zimbabwe) are exempt from visa fees. Other nationals must apply for a visa with the appropriate fee. All fees are subject to change without notice; please check with Embassy or Consulate to confirm costs.

Validity

Dependent on length of stay requested. Permits may be extended if done so 30 days prior to expiry of original permit.

Application to

Consulate or consular section at Embassy or High Commission. Applicants in countries where South Africa is not represented may send their applications to the embassy in the nearest country.

Application requirements

Tourist:
(a) Valid passport with at least two blank facing pages (passengers who do not need a visa should have a passport with at least one blank page).
(b) Two passport-size photos (must be 45mm by 35mm).
(c) One completed application form.
(d) Fee (payable by cash, bank draft or postal order).
(e) A stamped self-addressed special delivery envelope if applying by post.
(f) A valid vaccination certificate, if required by the Act.
(g) Proof of sufficient funds to cover visit and return tickets.
(h) Statement/documentation confirming purpose of visit.
(i) Onward/return tickets.
(j) Yellow fever certificate if traveling to, from or through the endemic zone.

Transit:
(a)-(j) and,
(k) Sufficient documentation for admission to destination.

Processing time

Four days. Up to 10 days for postal applications.

Temporary residence

Temporary residence permits encompass Study, Work or Workseeker Permits. Contact the nearest Consulate or consular section at Embassy for further details.