South African Immigration
HFI is an industry leader in South African Immigration. A team of registered South African immigration practitioners with extensive experience with the Department of Home Affairs and years of experience of working together with corporate clients mean only one thing for you - Effective immigration solutions on a consistent basis. HFI operates on a 100% pass rate and is dedicated to providing an efficient and professional service at all times.
We understand that your company is unique and has unique immigration needs. With years of experience backing us up and immigration research being done on a continuous basis, we have the ability to provide your company with tailor-made solutions to these needs and make the process of transferring or employing employees from abroad a seamless and hassle-free one.
HFI consultants offer the following services to anyone who is immigrating to South Africa:
o Holiday Visas
o Visitors Visas with a Condition or Restriction
o Relatives Visas
A short description:
General Work Permit
Any foreign national who is to be employed in South Africa and who will also be paid from South Africa has to be in possession of a valid work permit. A work permit is issued for a specific position and company. It will be issued for the time period that the employment contract is valid for, e.g. if the contract of employment states that the assignment is for three years, the work permit will be valid for a period of three years.
The prospective employer needs to motivate the need for a foreign applicant’s qualifications and skills and to submit proof of his efforts to recruit a South African citizen. The employer will also need to obtain salary benchmarking and labour recommendation. A skills evaluation through SAQA of the applicant's qualifications also needs to be completed. The company can apply a waiver of the above requirements to the Department of Home Affairs. The work permit can then only be applied for once the waiver has been granted.
Intra-Company Transfer Work Permit
An Intra-Company transfer is applicable to employees being transferred from the company's overseas offices to the South African offices of the same company. The maximum assignment period for an Intra-Company transfer is two years and CANNOT be extended. The Intra-Company transfer is issued for a specific position and company, thus if the employee changes position or employer, a new permit will have to be applied for.
Exceptional Skills Work Permit
An Exceptional Skills Work Permit can be applied for if an individual can demonstrate his/her exceptional skills through having their skills evaluated through SAQA.
Quota Work Permit
Quota Work Permit is applicable to individuals who have qualifications that appear in the Quota list published by the Department of Home Affairs. Initially the applicant will not require company sponsorship, but would have to provide proof of the Department of Home Affairs of finding employment within three months.
Corporate Work Permit
A Corporate Permit is issued to a corporate applicant to employ foreigners for a specific project and for a specific period of time. The corporate permit application has to be lodge with the Department of Trade & Industries and Labour and provide them with figures as to how many individuals in each specific field they will be employing.
Business and Work authorisation Visit Visas
These visas are used when an employee has to visit South Africa on a short assignment/secondment and will NOT be paid in South Africa. As globalization becomes a reality, international assignments happen more frequently and employees can travel all over the world in order to share their specific skills. Most countries are visa exempt e.g. U.S.A, UK, European passport holders. Most of these travellers receive a holiday visa on entry to SA and may remain in SA for a period not exceeding 90 days. Countries that are visa restricted must obtain entry clearance from their nearest SA embassy. HFI can assist and check all invitation letters to allow the maximum period issued to the traveller.
On a holiday visa NO business, work or attending of meetings may take place. For this a business visit visa or work authorisation visit visa will be required. A Sec 11(2) Business or Work authorisation visit visa can be requested to be issued to the traveller upon entering SA. HFI can assist with obtaining this authorization from immigration. Such a Sec 11(2) visa can be extended while the traveller is in SA for a further period of 90 days. Therefore in practicality a short term assignment for 180 days could be obtained. For more info contact HFI.
Study Permit
Any foreign national who wishes to study or attend school in South Africa, requires a study permit to legally do so. A Study permit is issued to a specific institute. If a student decides to study at another institution, a new Study Permit has to be applied for.
Relative's Permit
A Relative's Permit is issued to the spouse and dependants of an applicant. These permits are also known as Accompany Spouse or Accompany Parent visas and are issued with the same time period as the visa of the family member being accompanied. Applicants are NOT allowed to study or work on a Relative's Permit.
Self-Employment Permit
This category applies to a foreigner who plans on opening a business in South Africa and intends investing in it or in an existing business. There are several criteria that need to be met when applying for this visa although some of the conditions might be waived.
Visitor Visas:
Holiday Visas
All foreign nationals that enter South Africa are issued with Holiday Visitor Visas. Thus if you are travelling to SA on business purposes and this is not made known to the Immigration Control Officer on entry, he/she will issue a normal visitor visa to you on entry and you will not be allowed to carry out any employment duties, nor conduct business or study. All visas are issued for a period of 3 months or until the return date of
the airplane ticket.
Visitors Visas with a Condition or Restriction
When a visa has a condition, that condition determines the validity of the permit, e.g. each visit not to exceed 90 days, would be a condition. Depending on how the condition on the permit reads it could also be a restriction, e.g. visit for 90 days only.
A visitor visa with the condition to conduct business is also referred to as a Sec 11(2) visa. These visas are normally used when an employee has to come to SA on a short assignment / secondment and will NOT be paid in SA.
Relatives Visas
A Relatives Permit may only be issued to the spouse and dependants of an applicant or
the parents of an applicant.
These permits are also called Accompany Spouse / Parent visas. They are valid for the same period as the visa of the family member being accompanied.
When issued with a Relatives Permit / Accompany Spouse / Parent Visa an applicant MAY NOT work or study. Either a Work permit or Study permit requires to be applied for accordingly.
Permanent Residence
In South Africa, there are several categories under which to obtain permanent residency and citizenship can be obtained. We also understand that each individual’s situation is different. Our consultants are registered South African Immigration Practitioners who are educated in the required criteria for either permanent residency and/or citizenship. If you would like to discuss the options available to you, please contact our office to find out if you qualify for permanent residency in South Africa.
To discuss your company's South African Immigration needs please phone 011 431 1705 or email
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