The Republic of South Africa is a country that has the second most developed economy in Africa and is an attractive employment center in the region. Find out what are the features of the labor market in the republic and what are the requirements for obtaining a work visa

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The Republic of South Africa (South Africa) is an industrial and agricultural country and one of the most economically developed countries in Africa. The main component of the country's economic development is its industry, it is it that brings South Africa to the first places in the world rankings in terms of competitiveness.

Additionally, South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world at 31.9%. That is why South Africa encourages international workers with certain skills in industries that experience a shortage of skilled workers.

As in other countries of the world, in order to move to South Africa, an expat must have an appropriate permit.

We talk about the peculiarities of employment in South Africa and the procedure for obtaining a work visa later in our material.

The labor market in South Africa

South Africa has one of the largest economies on the African continent, second only to Nigeria.

The most developed industries in the country are mining, automobile manufacturing, finance and banking. The legal, energy and transport industries are also well developed here.

Many international companies operate in South Africa, especially in densely populated and developed areas such as Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. The most famous corporations include: Barclays, BMW, Dell, Deloitte, GlaxoSmithKline, L'Oreal, McDonald's, PepsiCo, PwC and Toyota.

What specialists does South Africa lack?

In 2024, South Africa's labor market is short of the following professionals: architect, chemist, civil engineer, dentist, electrician, management consultant, multimedia specialist, software developer, university lecturer and web designer.

Citizens of which countries most often move to South Africa for work?

Work in South Africa attracts representatives of various countries of the world, especially considering that many international companies work in the country. In 2024, South Africa will most often meet expats from the Netherlands, Great Britain and other European countries, as well as representatives of African states - Ghana, Malawi, Uganda and Kenya.

Requirements for applicants for employment in South Africa

The following requirements must be met for employment in South Africa:

1. International workers may only be employed in South Africa if qualified South Africans cannot be found to fill the position.

2. In South Africa, a work permit must be provided and sponsored by the employer.

3. The employer must be a legal entity that has a local license.

How can a foreigner look for a job in South Africa?

Most expats move to South Africa on an internal transfer to a company where the applicant already works.

The rest of the expats are looking for a job in South Africa on the Internet:

- On job portals: CareerJet, IOL.co.za, MyJobMag, Pnet.co.za. 

- Among the advertisements from online editions of South African newspapers: Mail & Guardian, Times Live. 

Types of work visas in South Africa

An expat must have a work visa to work in South Africa. There are several types of work visas, including:

- The general work visa is the most common type of visa for non-residents seeking employment in South Africa. This visa is valid for up to 5 years and can be extended if necessary.

- Intra-Corporate Transfer Visa (ICT) – This visa is for individuals working for multinational companies who are being transferred to work in South Africa.

- Work visa with critical skills – this type of visa can be obtained by highly qualified specialists. The permit is a basis for non-residents to come to South Africa without the precondition of a job offer. Although applicants are not required to have an offer of employment at the time of application, the visa is issued for a maximum of 12 months and requires an employment contract for renewal.

- Business Visa – Individuals who plan to travel to the country for business purposes, such as attending a conference, meeting with clients, or conducting market research, usually apply for this visa.

- Corporate visa – this visa is not for individuals, but for corporations. A corporate visa allows a company to employ a certain number of non-residents with individual corporate employee certificates.

In order to safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

List of documents for obtaining a work visa to South Africa

The detailed package of documents may differ depending on the type of visa, the applicant's country of residence and the embassy where the application is submitted, but the general requirements include the following package of documents:

- Passport valid for at least 1 month after the applicant's expected return date.

- Confirmation of employment in South Africa.

- Medical documentation, such as vaccination records.

- Bank statements to demonstrate sufficient funds for the move.

- Confirmation of health insurance for the period of stay in South Africa.

Please note that depending on the type of visa, additional requirements are also set. For example, the applicant may be required to provide police records from all countries where they have lived for more than 1 year in the past 5 years, or a cash bond to cover their return to their home country.

For a complete list of requirements, expats should contact the South African embassy or consulate in their home country.

The procedure for applying for a work visa to South Africa

To obtain a visa to work in South Africa, the applicant must visit the embassy, ​​diplomatic mission or consulate of their country in person. They will need to provide relevant documents to apply, so make sure you confirm the requirements beforehand.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs will process and finalize all applications. Processing time depends on the type of visa and the applicant's location.

The cost of applying for a work visa is approximately £80.

Is it possible to get a permanent residence permit in the Republic of South Africa?

Permanent residence in South Africa is an option for workers with certain work visas. Workers are eligible to apply for permanent residence in South Africa after 5 years of residence in the country on a general work visa.

What language is required to move to South Africa?

In the Republic of South Africa, there are 11 official languages ​​recognized as equal by law. However, English is the main language used in education, media and broadcasting. If you are fluent in English and have a good understanding of Afrikaans, you can easily work in South Africa. However, nine other languages ​​can be heard being spoken in everyday conversation.

Work culture in South Africa

- Working week

The working week in South Africa is Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Employees also have the opportunity to work up to ten hours of overtime per week with double pay.

- Salary level

In 2018, South Africa introduced a minimum wage for the first time, which currently stands at 25.42 rand ($1.38) per hour. This rate is aimed at providing workers with a fair living wage.

- Vacation

Workers in South Africa are entitled to 21 days of holiday per year, in addition to 12 public holidays.

- Taxes

You will need to register as a new taxpayer with the South African Revenue Service when you start working. The tax you pay depends on where you live - as a non-permanent resident of South Africa, you will only be taxed on the income you earn in the country.

South Africa offers workers a combination of natural beauty, cultural diversity and endless opportunities for research, making employment here a good prospect that attracts people from around the world.

We will remind you! The Republic of South Africa plans to introduce significant reforms in its visa policy aimed at attracting more skilled professionals and tourists. We have already told which rules will simplify the process of obtaining work visas and allow remote workers to get a job in the country.