— A vaccination certificate, if required by the Act.

— A certification issued by a chartered accountant registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to the effect that:

o at least an amount in cash to be invested in the Republic;

o proof that at least 60% of the total staff compliment applied in the operations of the business are or shall be citizens or permanent residents employed permanently in various places.

— Proof of registration with the-

o South African Revenue Service;

o Unemployment Insurance Fund;

o Compensation Fund for Occupational Injuries and Diseases;

o Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CPIC); and

o Relevant accredited professional body, board or council recognised by SAQA in terms of section 13(2)(i) of the National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008 (Act No 67 of 2008), if appropriate.

— A letter of recommendation from the Department of Trade and Industry regarding-

o The feasibility of the business; and

o The contribution to the national interest of the Republic

— Financial statement in respect of the preceding financial year

— A venture agreement

— A letter of proof from the Department of Labour that after 24 months of being issued with a visa, 60% of the staff compliment employed in the operations of the business are citizens or permanent residents who are employed.

In respect of the renewal of a business visa  

— A certification issued by a chartered accountant filed with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to the effect that:

o the initial cash investment into the book value of the business continues to be so invested;

o evidence that at least 60% of the total staff compliment utilized in the operations of the company are citizens or permanent residents employed permanently in various places.

— Proof of enrollment with the-

o South African Revenue Service;

o Unemployment Insurance Fund;

o Compensation Fund for Occupational Injuries and Diseases;

o Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CPIC); and

Relevant accredited professional body, board or council recognised by SAQA in terms of section 13(2)(i) of the National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008 (Act No 67 of 2008), if appropriate.

— A letter of recommendation from the Department of Trade and Industry involving-

o The feasibility of the business; and

o The contribution to the national interest of the Republic

— Financial statement in respect of the preceding financial year

— A partnership agreement

— A letter of evidence from the Department of Labour that after 24 months of being issued with a visa, 60% of the staff compliment applied in the operations of the business are citizens or permanent residents who are used permanently

In respect of the renewal of a business visa  

— A security issued by a chartered accountant filed with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to the effect that:

o the first cash investment into the book value of the company continues to be so invested;

o proof that at least 60% of the total staff compliment used in the operations of the company are citizens or permanent residents employed forever in various places.

— Proof of registration with the-

o South African Revenue Service;

o Unemployment Insurance Fund;

o Compensation Fund for Occupational Injuries and Diseases;

o Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CPIC); and

o Relevant accredited professional body, board or council recognised by SAQA in regard to section 13(2)(i) of the National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008 (Act No 67 of 2008), where appropriate.

— A letter of recommendation from the Department of Trade and Industry regarding-

o the continued feasibility of the company; and

o the contribution to the national interest of the Republic

— Financial statement in respect of the preceding financial year

— A letter of proof from the Department of Labour that 60% of the staff compliment employed in the businesses of the business are citizens or permanent residents who are employed forever

Processing Time  

All applications accepted in the Visa Facilitation Centre will have an average processing time of – 8 weeks (approximate timeline) for the decision to be returned from Department of Home Affairs. It’s possible for you to monitor your application online on VFS Global web site to establish status of your application.

Types of temporary residence permits  

Company Permits Requirements

Foreigners who are contemplating investing in the South African market by establishing a small business or by investing in an existing company in the state must submit an application for a business permit. As an applicant, you may be asked to invest a appointed financial capital contribution.

To invest in or open a company in South Africa you will need to, together with Form BI-1738, submit a certificate issued by a chartered accountant registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to the effect that you just have:

— At least R2,5m (two and a half million rands) in cash

— A capital contribution of at least R2.5m or

— At least R2m in cash and a capital contribution of at least R500 000 that originated from abroad and is available to be invested as a member of the book value of the business

— A business plan outlining the feasibility of the company, both in the long and also the short term

— Proof or an endeavor that at least five citizens or permanent residents shall be eternally employed

— An undertaking to enroll with South African Revenue Services

— Proof of registration with the important trade body, board or council (where appropriate)

— A police clearance certificate from every country where you resided since age 18 years, including the Republic of South Africa

— A yellow fever vaccination certificate if you have traveled or intend traveling through a yellow fever endemic region

— A repatriation deposit equivalent to the value of a return ticket to your country of origin/permanent residence, which is refundable after your final departure or after you have obtained a permanent residence permit

— Medical and radiology reports
Capital requirements for South Africa Business Visa and Business Permit South Africa

The capital requirements above may be reduced or waived in respect of these types of sectors/companies:

— Information and Communication Technology

— Clothing and textile manufacturing

— Chemicals and biotechnology

— Agro-processing

— Metals and minerals refinement

— Automotive production

— Tourism

— Crafts

 Business permit applications made for existing companies 

Business permit applications made for existing companies demand these documents (in addition to all those recorded above) to be submitted with the temporary dwelling application form:

— Financial statements for the preceding financial year

— A partnership agreement

South African Visas & Permits

New Zealand Applicants who are applying for Business Visa in South Africa 

Every nation has the sovereign right to decide who may or may not enter its territory. Possession of a visa doesn’t guarantee automatic entry to the Republic of South Africa.

It merely authorizes the holder to continue to the Republic to report to an immigration officer at a port of entry with the aim of being analyzed as to his or her skill or otherwise, to comply to the entry demands.

The objective of a visa, on the one hand, would be to ensure proper screening of applicants so that unsuitable men are not admitted to the Republic and on the other hand, to ease the entry of approved applicants at South African ports of entry.

Visas provide immigration officers with the essential information to make sure that applicants are admitted for the correct purpose and interval into the RSA.

Men who are in Australia on short-term visas (holiday, etc.), will not be adapted for visa applications as they must apply for visas to visit South Africa from their countries of origin.

Please check in case you want a visa to travel to South Africa: Countries subject to visas.

Check to find out should you need to pay for your visa: Visa Fees

You need a yellow fever immunization certificate in case you traveled through one of the following countries: Yellow Fever Countries.

Existing Business (Partner) Permit conditions 

With regard to the South Africa Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No.13 of 2002), as amended by the Immigration Amendment Act, 2004 (Act No. 19 of 2004), persons who mean invest in an existing business in South Africa, are required to get a Business Permit.

Please note: Provisional Airline bookings may be made for the proposed departure date, but the Mission guided that payments shouldn’t be made in the event of an unsuccessful application. The processing time is twenty one (21) working days from receipt of application if application is complete.

To be able to acquire the required permit, the following documentation is required from the applicant:

1. Duly completed application form signed by the applicant – Form BI-1738
2. One (1) photograph of applicant
3. Passport valid for no less than 30 days following the expiry of intended visit
4. A vaccination certificate if applicant went through the yellow fever belt of Africa and South America
5. Proof of financial means in the type of:

o bank statements

o cash available, or travellers’ cheques (to cover envisaged living expenses)

6. Medical and radiological reports. Radiology reports not crucial for pregnant women and kids 12 years and below
7. Police clearance certificate(s) in respect of all applicants 18 years or older, in respect of nations where individual(s) dwelt one (1) year or longer
8. Documentation demonstrating the investment, such as shareholder’s or venture arrangements
9. Details of associates/directors
10. Undertaking to register with the proper statutory body, if needed by the essence of the company
11. Evidence of financial/capital contribution which originated from abroad and as prescribed
12. Chartered accountant certifying conformity featuring all the prescribed demands
13. Conformity with the following:

. A small business track record to prove entrepreneurial skills

1. Proof that the business will contribute to the geographical spread of economic action
2. Proof that at least 5 citizens/permanent residents shall be applied
3. Proof of export potential
4. Calls for or entails a transfer of technology not normally accessible in the RSA
5. Proof the company is in one of the following sectors

Information & communication technology