— A certificate 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 evidence that at least 60% of the total staff compliment utilized in the operations of the business are or shall be citizens or permanent residents employed forever in various positions.
— 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 applicable.
— A letter of recommendation from the Department of Trade and Industry affecting-
o The 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 venture deal
— A letter of verification from the Department of Labour that after 24 months of being issued with a visa, 60% of the staff compliment used in the operations of the company are citizens or permanent residents who are used permanently
In respect of the renewal of a company visa
— A certification issued by a chartered accountant registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to the effect that:
o the original cash investment into the book value of the company continues to be so invested;
o evidence that at least 60% of the total staff compliment employed in the operations of the business are citizens or permanent residents employed permanently in various positions.
— 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
Relevant accredited professional body, board or council recognised by SAQA concerning 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 arrangement
— A letter of evidence 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 company are citizens or permanent residents who are used forever
In respect of the renewal of a business visa
— A security issued by a chartered accountant registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to the effect that:
o the first cash investment into the book value of the company remains so invested;
o proof that at least 60% of the total staff compliment applied in the operations of the company are citizens or permanent residents employed forever 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
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), where applicable.
— 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 confirmation from the Department of Labour that 60% of the staff compliment applied in the operations of the company are citizens or permanent residents who are employed forever
Processing Time
All applications accepted at 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 site to determine status of your application.
Kinds of temporary residence permits
Business Permits Requirements
Foreigners who are studying investing in the South African market by establishing a company or by investing in an existent company in the country must put in an application for a business permit. As an applicant, you will be asked to invest a prescribed financial capital contribution.
To invest in or start a business in South Africa you’ll have to have to, along with Form BI-1738, submit a certificate issued by a chartered accountant enrolled with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to the effect that you just have:
— At least R2,5m (two along with 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 accessible to be invested as part of the book value of the company
— A business plan outlining the feasibility of the company, both in the long as well as the short term
— Proof or an undertaking that at least five citizens or permanent residents shall be forever employed
— An undertaking to enroll with South African Revenue Services
— Proof of enrollment together with the related trade body, board or council (where appropriate)
— A police clearance certificate from every nation where you dwelt since the age of 18 years, for example, Republic of South Africa
— A yellow fever vaccination certificate when you have traveled or intend traveling through a yellow fever endemic area
— 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 got a permanent residence permit
— Medical and radiology reports
The capital requirements above may be reduced or waived in respect of the following types of industries/businesses:
— Information and Communication Technology
— Clothing and fabric manufacturing
— Chemicals and biotechnology
— Agro-processing
— Metals and mineral refinement
— Automotive manufacturing
— Tourism
— Crafts
Company permit applications made for existing companies demand the following documents (in addition to all those recorded above) to be submitted with the temporary residency application :
— Financial statements for the preceding financial year
— A venture arrangement
South African Visas & Permits
New Zealand Applicants who are applying for Business Visa in South Africa
Every nation has the sovereign right to determine who may or may not enter NewZealand territory. Possession of a visa does not guarantee automatic entry to the Republic of South Africa.
It merely authorizes the holder to carry on to the Republic to report to an immigration officer at a port of entry with the aim of being examined as to his or her ability or otherwise, to obey the entrance demands.
The objective of a visa, on the one hand, will be to ensure proper screening of applicants so that unsuitable persons aren’t admitted to the Republic and on the other hand, to facilitate the entry of authorized applicants at South African ports of entry.
Visas provide immigration officers with the necessary info to ensure that applicants are accepted for the correct purpose and period into the RSA.
Persons that are in Australia on short term visas (vacation, etc.), won’t be accommodated for visa applications as they must apply for visas to visit South Africa from their countries of origin.
Please check should you’ll need a visa to travel to South Africa: Countries subject to visas.
Check to see if you need to pay for your visa: Visa Fees
You’ll need a yellow fever immunization certification in the event you traveled through one of the following states: Yellow Fever Countries
Existing Business (Partner) Permit conditions
Regarding 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 intend to invest in an existing company in South Africa, have to obtain a Business Permit.
Please note: Provisional Airline bookings may be made for the proposed departure date. However, the Mission advised that payments shouldn’t be made in case of an unsuccessful application. The processing time is twenty one (21) working days from receipt of application if application is complete.
In order to get the required permit, the following documentation is required from the applicant:
- Duly completed application form signed by the applicant – Form BI-1738
- One (1) photo of applicant
- Passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit
- A vaccination certificate if the applicant traveled through the yellow fever belt of Africa and South America
- Proof of fiscal means in the form of:
o bank statements
o cash available, or travellers’ cheques (to cover envisaged living expenses)
- Medical and radiological reports. Radiology reports not essential for pregnant girls and kids 12 years and below
- Police clearance certificate(s) in respect of all applicants 18 years or older, in respect of nations where individual(s) lived one (1) year or more
- Documentation demonstrating the investment, for example, shareholder’s or venture arrangements
- Details of partners/directors
- Undertaking to register with all the appropriate statutory body, if needed by the character to the company
- Proof of financial/capital contribution which originated from abroad and as ordained
- Chartered accountant certifying conformity with all the prescribed requirements
- Conformity with the following:
. A business track record to demonstrate entrepreneurial skills
- Proof that the business will contribute to the geographical spread of economic activity.
- Proof that at least 5 citizens/permanent residents shall be employed
- Proof of export potential
- Calls for or involves a transfer of technology not generally available in the RSA
- Proof the company is in between the following sectors:
Information & communication technology
