South Africa - Obtain Critical Skill Work Visa or Permit

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Procedure

Apply In-Person:

1. To Obtain Critical Skills Work Visa or Permit, the applicant must visit the South African Embassy or Consulate in the country that they are residing currently. List of SA embassies
2. The application form can be downloaded from the official VFS global website linked here. Application Form Link
3. Make sure that you have all the documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
4. The application form must be filed with necessary details.
5. Later, the application form and all the necessary documents should be submitted to the officials at the South African embassy.
6. The application approval is entirely based on the visa officer decision.
7. If the visa officer is satisfied with the details provided and the supporting documents submitted by the applicant, then the critical skills work visa will be approved, and the decision will be conveyed to the applicant.
8. The non-refundable application fee of Kshs. 15,827 must be paid while submitting the visa application, and the proof of payment must also be attached along with the necessary documents.
9. The processing time to get the critical skills work visa is anywhere between 30 to 40 business days.

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Required Documents

• Application Form Link
• Checklist Link
• Passport valid for no less than 30 calendar days after expiry of the intended visit.
• A medical report not older than 6 months.
• A radiological report not older than 6 months.
• Marriage certificate.
• In the case of a foreign spousal relationship - Proof of official recognition issued by the authorities of the foreign country of the applicant. (If applicable).
• The affidavit where a spousal relationship to a South African citizen or resident.
• Documentation proving cohabitation and the extent to which the related financial responsibilities are shared by the parties and setting out the particulars of children in the spousal relationship.
• Proof of a union. (If applicable)
• Divorce decree. (If applicable)
• Proof of court order awarding custody. (If applicable)
• Death certificate - In case of late spouse.
• Written consent from both parents and/or sole custody parent with the proof of sole custody.
• Proof of legal adoption. (If applicable)
• Legal separation order. (If applicable)
• Police clearance certificate issued by the police or security authority in each country where the relevant applicant resided for 12 months or longer after attaining the age of 18 years. (The certificate shall not be older than six months at the time of its submission)
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate if that person travelled or intends travelling from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic area.
• A written undertaking by the employer accepting responsibility for the costs related to the deportation of the applicant and their dependent family members.
  • If there is no employer, then the proof of sufficient financial means to the value of a minimum of R3000 in the form of three months bank statements.
• A written undertaking by the employer to ensure that the passport of the employee is valid for the duration of his or her employment.
  • If there is no employer: a written undertaking by the applicant to ensure that the passport of the applicant shall be valid for the duration of his or her temporary visa.
• Proof that the applicant falls within the critical skills category by specifically indicating the occupation/critical skill for which the application is being made.
  • The occupation/critical skill must be on the critical skills list.
• Proof of evaluation of the foreign qualification by SAQA and translated by a sworn translator into one of the official languages of the republic.
• A confirmation, in writing, from the professional body, council or board recognised by SAQA by confirming the skills or qualifications of the applicant and appropriate post qualification experience.
• Proof of payment of the applicable fee.

Office Locations & Contacts

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
Physical Address: 909 Arcadia St,
Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007, South Africa.
Contact No: +27123954300 / 012 406 2500/ 0800 601 190
Email ID: [email protected]
Address and Contacts Link
Location Link
List of SA embassies Link

Eligibility

• Any foreign applicants who possess the critical skills or qualifications listed by the South African government under the critical skills work visa category is eligible to apply for the visa application.
• List of critical skills issued by the SA government. Critical skills list link

Fees

• Non-Refundable application Fee – Kshs. 15, 827.
• The VFS service fee will be intimated at the time of application.

Validity

• The critical skills work visa is generally valid for 5 years.
• However, the validity duration varies for each applicant depending upon the profile.
• Therefore, the critical visa validity of the applicant will be mentioned on the approval permit issued to the applicant.

Documents to Use

• Application Form Link

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The processing time to get the critical skills work visa is anywhere between 30 to 40 business days.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g., The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required Information

APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY VISA
CATEGORY OF PERMIT BEING APPLIED FOR

• Select “Work Visa – Critical Skills”

PERSONAL DETAILS

• Title: Mr/Ms/Other (specify)
• Surname/Family name
• Given names
• Maiden name
• Stage name
• Previous/alternative name(s)/aliases, including details
• Date of birth: Year/Month/Day
• Place of birth: Town/City
• Country
• Marital status: Never married/Separated/ Legally recognised spousal relationship/Married/Widowed/Divorced/Customary union.
• If separated state: Whether divorce proceedings have been instituted and when final decree is expected
• If divorced, provide
  • Date of divorce
• If part to a spousal relationship with a citizen or permanent resident, a certified copy of the marriage certificate or a spousal affidavit must be attached.

CITIZENSHIP DETAILS

• Present country of citizenship
• If acquired other than by birth, date, and conditions under which acquired - If so, of which country, plus details.
• Do you hold any other citizenship? Yes/No

PASSPORT DETAILS

• Passport Number
• Country of issue
• Date of issue
• Expiry date
• If you have any other document required by your government, provide details
  • Type of document
  • Number
  • Expiry date

ADDRESSES

• Residential address
• Postal code
• Postal address
• Postal code
• Country of usual residence if other than country of origin or above address
• Telephone No - Work: (incl. area code)
• Home - (incl. area code)
• Mobile Number
• Email Address
• Other addresses where you have lived during the last ten years other than your current address
• Address
• Period
• Community
• Do you hold the right of re-entry into your country of origin and/or country of residence?
  • If this differs? Yes/No
• If no, specify period and present status
• Have you ever applied for asylum or refugee status in SA or any other country?
  • If this differs? Yes/No
• Contact Person – Relationship – Friend/Business Associate/Relative/Other
• Name and Address
• Telephone No - Work: (incl. area code)
• Home - (incl. area code)
• Details regarding relatives and/or friends in the Republic, if any:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Relationship
  • Identity No

INTENTIONS/PROPOSED DURATION OF STAY IN THE REPUBLIC

• Proposed date and place of departure for the Republic
• Anticipated date and place of arrival in the Republic
• Travelling by: Air/Road/Rail/Sea/Carrier
• What is your intended duration of stay in the Republic?
• Days/weeks/months/Years
• Intended date of departure
• Outline your proposed activities whilst in the Republic

MAINTENANCE/DEPORTATION

• Available funds (foreign currency)
• Type.
• Amount
• South African Rand equivalent: (attach bank statement as proof of funds held).
• Valid return or onward ticket no/Expiry date
• Other

PARTICULARS OF ANY FAMILY/DEPENDANTS ACCOMPANYING YOU

• Full names
• Date of birth
• Relationship
• Passport No
• Expiry date
• Nationality
• Occupation
• If your spouse and/or other dependants are not accompanying you, do they intend to enter the country at a later stage?
• Yes – On date
• No – Details/Reason
• Have you ever been refused entry into or deported from the Republic?
  • If so, please provide details

SECURITY/HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE

ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU WISH TO BRING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S ATTENTION

DECLARATION BY APPLICANT

• Signature of the applicant
• Date

Need for the Document

• Critical Skills work visa is a necessary document to move to South Africa for the purpose of work. Without the visa approval from the South African immigration department, one cannot enter into SA for work.

Information which might help

Enter other information which might help.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g., Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

• External Link

Others

More information which might help people.