
28 Jan What Are the Requirements for a General Work Visa?
The Department of Home Affairs announced it would implement a points-based system in October 2024 that will be utilised when assessing applicants to award them a general work visa.
This new points-based system is meant to lower the processing periods of work visas by reducing the documentary requirements compared to the old immigration procedure.
You must have at least 100 points from a list of criteria that includes your qualifications, salary, work experience, employer status, and language proficiency to qualify for this visa.
Point Distribution Methodology
Under the new points-based method for assessing work visa applications, the General Work Visa requirements and point distribution have been made public.
Qualifications
National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 9 (master’s degree) and 10 (doctoral degree) are allocated 50 points. NQF levels 7 (bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma) and 8 (bachelor’s degree, postgraduate diploma or bachelor honours degree) obtain 30 points.
Salary and Work Experience
Those who earn above R 976,194 gross per year get 50 points, while those who earn between R 650,796 and R 976,196 per year attain 20.
Regarding work experience: if you have more than 10 years of experience, you’re awarded 30 points. If you have five to 10 years of experience, you’re given 20 points. Should you have an offer from a trusted employer scheme company, you obtain 30 (previously 20) points, per the change on the 23rd of October 2024.
Language Proficiency
Finally, those proficient in at least one official South African language earn 10 points.
Dependencies
You need a fixed contract of employment to qualify for a general work visa. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) must also assess your credentials to make sure they meet the requirements.
This work visa is directly linked to your employer, which means you will need to act quickly if you find yourself in a situation where you lose your job to avoid losing your valid status in South Africa. The visa can also be renewed, but you will still need to fulfil all requirements.
In conclusion, highly qualified people who wish to work in South Africa may find a general work visa a viable choice. Although candidates must fulfil the prerequisites – which include qualifications, a job offer, and point-based criteria – the procedure is straightforward. If you prepare properly, you can also utilise this visa as a first step toward permanent residency.
Our partners and specialists will ensure you have all relevant documents in place and that your application is approved. We’ll also conduct follow-ups on your behalf during the application, ensuring your application is reviewed and approved as soon as possible.
For more information, contact June Luna Immigration Attorneys. We’re glad to be of service!