There is a clear distinction between visas and permits in Eswatini. Entry visas are only issued to short-term visitors, such as volunteers, tourists, business visitors, and interns. Any foreign national who wishes to stay in Swaziland for study or work must apply for a temporary residence permit.

Similarly, there is no "work visa" in Eswatini. The relevant documentation is called a work permit only. Moreover, a work permit is a type of temporary residence permit in the country. The employee must apply only for one of them.

Requirements for obtaining a work permit in Eswatini

To obtain the proper documents for living and working in the Kingdom of Eswatini, the applicant must submit the following documents:

• Properly completed application form
• Original police clearance from the applicant's country of origin
• Two passport photos
• Medical certificate
• Cover letter from an employer in Swaziland
• Copies of certificates of qualification of the applicant for the position, for example, a diploma
• Proof that the vacancy was issued in Swaziland
• Certificate of registration of the company

Application process

In the Kingdom of Eswatini the Immigration Department is responsible for issuing permits to foreign nationals wishing to enter or reside in the country. All work permits, dependent passes, and other temporary residence permits are issued by the decision of the committee at the department. The committee decides on the issuance of each permit based on merits in accordance with the established requirements.

All foreign nationals must apply for a work permit in Swaziland from their country of residence, where they will await approval of the permit by the Immigration Department before traveling to Swaziland.

A work permit in Swaziland is issued for two years and must be valid for the entire duration of the employee's stay in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Other important considerations

Employees should be aware that a work permit in Eswatini cannot be transferred. If a worker accepts another position in the company or looks for work elsewhere, the work permit will no longer be valid and they will have to apply for a new permit.

Some of the workers will likely want to travel with family members. In this case, the company should be aware of the procedure for spouses and dependents who will also reside in Eswatini. They will need to apply for a temporary residence permit with a worker, and any person planning to work in Swaziland will need their own work permit.