Work Permits for South Africa

• A  salary benchmarking extract must be filed by the prospective employer confirming that the remuneration including all benefits to be paid to the incumbent will not be less favourable than that which would have been paid to a South African citizen or resident in the same position;
  or
  
• The Department of Labour issues a certificate to the effect that remuneration to be paid to the incumbent includingl salary and benefits are not inferior to that being paid to South African or residents, with due regard to the relevant market segment into which the foreign national is to be employed.
  
  
  

Permanent Residence
PERMANENT OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

• A quota work permit
  
• A general work permit
  
• An exceptional skills work permit
  
• An inter-company transfer work permit.

Each of these permits is dealt with hereunder:

1. A QUOTA WORK PERMIT

The Minister is Home Affairs, in consultation with the Ministers of Labour and Trade and Industry shall determine quota categories at least annually.
If an applicant falls within such category then he/she may apply for a work permit in this category.

This Ministers shall also determine a numerical quota in each quota category.


2. A GENERAL WORK PERMIT

This category of work permit may be issued by the Department to a person not falling within the quota category.

In this category the prospective employer must show what efforts have been made to secure the services of a South African citizen or permanent resident.

These requirements are inter alia, the following:

• An advertisement for the position must be placed in the national print media.
  
  
• Details of applicants who applied for the position must be provided, coupled to reasons why they did not qualify for the position.
  
  
• A salary benchmarking extract must be provided certifying that the foreign national applicant will not be employed on terms and conditions less favourable than that being paid to a South African citizen or resident occupyin such position’ a Department of Labours certification to this effect.
  
  
• An undertaking must be given by the prospective employer that it will notify the Department if the applicant ceases to be in its employ or changes job description.

3. EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS WORK PERMIT

This category encompasses a foreign national who has demonstrated to the Department of Home Affairs extraordinary skills or qualifications.

This category of work permit enables the Department to issue a work permit to an individual of exceptional skills or qualifications without having to comply with much of the required formalities and certifications having to be complied with. Each case will be dealt with on its individual merits.

4. INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFER PERMIT

This category of work permit may be issued to a foreign national who is permanently employed abroad by a company which also operates a branch/subsidiary or affiliate business in South Africa. The applicant must, by virtue of his/her employment, be required to conduct work in South Africa, for a period not exceeding two years.

This type of permit is non extendable.

The requirements to obtain this kind of permit are relaxed by way of comparison with the other categories of work permit.

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