Work in South Africa

Work in South Africa and a work visa

Foreigners need to have a visa and work permit to work in South Africa. The South African government offers different types of work visas, which are depending on the kind of work. We will discuss two of the most important South African work visas below:
1. General Work Visa (Job Offer Visa)
Applicants must receive a confirmation from the South African Ministry of Labor to show that their salaries and profits are equal to the amount paid to African citizens in similar situations.
2. Work Visa for Required Skills (Job Search Visa)
This type of visa does not require a job offer from employers in South Africa. It is also known as a South African job search visa. A South African job search visa is usually valid for 9 months to 2 years. It can be extended if you are successfully employed, and you will receive a temporary residence for a maximum of 5 years.

In the Comments section, you can also ask your questions and answer them in a short time.

Topics reviewed in this article:

• Working in South Africa and required documents for a work visa
• Working in South Africa and discussing the companion visa
• Working in South Africa and the amount of salary
• Working in South Africa and required jobs in 2020
• Working in South Africa and employment agencies

Working in South Africa and required documents for a work visa

The applicant must submit one’s application with the required documents to obtain a work visa in South Africa. The certificates for obtaining a general work visa, a South African job search visa, or required skills visa are discussed below:

• Visa application form; Completed and signed by the applicant
• Passport; Valid for at least 30 days after the end of the residence
• Pay the visa application fee.
• Vaccination certificate, if needed.
• Proof of financial viability to afford the living expenses in the Republic of South Africa until the applicant receives a salary.
• Medical and radiology report
• Certificate of no criminal record from the police of the country where the applicant, who has more than 18 years old, has resided for 12 months.
• Certificate from the Ministry of Labor
• An educational certificate that was assessed by SAQA and translated into one of the official languages of the Republic of South Africa by a certified translator.
• All the required documents for the applicant’s spouse and children; if they wish to accompany the applicant.

In addition to the above, the following documents are required to apply for a general work visa in South Africa.

• The employer should write a letter of guarantee in which one takes responsibility for the expenses related to the expulsion of the applicant and one’s family members from the country, if necessary.
• The applicant and the employer should sign the employment contract.
• Complete details about the employer, including the company registration certificate
• The employer must guarantee to announce the applicant’s condition if the applicant leaves the job or is employed in another work.

Working in South Africa and discussing the companion visa

If you obtain a South African work visa or job search, your partner, spouse, or children under 18 years old can also receive a South African residence permit if they have specific requirements. Family members can also apply for a work or study visa while living in South Africa. To obtain a companion visa, you must prove your relationship by a marriage or birth certificate, and you must determine your partner’s residence situation in South Africa. The partner can be of the opposite or the same sex, but it must be proven that their relationship is real and has existed in the last two years.

People who are permanent residents or citizens of South Africa can obtain a companion visa for their parents, siblings, spouse, and children. The applicant must prove that one can afford the living expenses of one’s companions. Now, the applicant must earn 8,500 South African Rand per person in this country. You do not need to have this amount if your companions are just your spouse and children under 18 years old.

Working in South Africa and the amount of salary

Although the unemployment rate is high in South Africa, you can find high-paying jobs with the right skills. However, temporary and low-paying jobs are very challenging to find. The table below shows some of the most lucrative jobs in South Africa and their income.

Working in South Africa and required jobs in 2020

The South African government published a list of job requirements. Professional people in these fields can obtain and apply for a work visa in this country without needing a job offer. You can see the required jobs and skills for South Africa in the list below.

• Agriculture
• Architecture and the Built Environment
• Business, Economics and Management Studies
• Information Communication & Technology
• Engineering
• Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences
• Life and Earth Sciences
• Professionals and Associate Professionals
• Trades
• Business Process Outsourcing – BPO
• Academics and Researchers
• Doctoral Graduate

Working in South Africa and employment agencies

We recommend you to take several job interviews in South Africa before migrating to this country to speed up the South African work residency process. Sending your resume to companies in South Africa can be a reliable way to get a job offer in this country. Job agencies and job search websites in South Africa can also help you find work in this country. Companies that need the workforce will publish ads on these websites, and applicants can submit their resume to apply for these jobs. Here are some job search websites that can help you find a suitable job in South Africa.

• Best Jobs
• Career Junction
• Careers24
• EmploySA
• Find a job in Africa
• Indeed
• JobMail
• Jobs South Africa
• Lol Jobs
• Zigo

Some job search websites that work in a specific field are also listed below.

• Action Appointments

Jobs in NGO and Development Organizations

• CareerWeb

Jobs in IT

• eFinancialCareers

Finance, Banking, Accounting, and Insurance

• Micheal Page

Exclusive job positions

• NGO Pulse

Finding a job through the South African NGO Network