Visa category finder

South Africa's Immigration Act has a dozen visa categories and most people start by asking the wrong question, which is "can I get a visa", rather than "which one". This finder answers the second question. From your purpose and a handful of facts, it points to the category to read about and applies the one test that decides whether that category is realistic: the points scorecard for work visas, the capital requirement for a business visa, the income floor for the remote work visa, the prescribed income for a retired person visa. It is for people considering a move, for employers deciding whether a candidate can be brought in, and for South Africans trying to help a partner or parent through the system.

It is a pointer, not a decision. Every category has further requirements, and the figures it uses are set by regulation and directive and change.

What this calculator works out and who it is for

You choose your purpose: to work for a South African employer, to start or buy a business, to work remotely for a foreign employer, to study, to join a spouse or life partner, to join another relative, to retire, or to visit. Depending on the purpose you add the facts that matter: whether your occupation is on the critical skills list, your SAQA-evaluated qualification level, the salary offered, your years of experience, whether the employer is on the Trusted Employer Scheme and whether you speak an official language; the capital you can bring from abroad; your monthly income and whether your employer is outside South Africa.

The finder returns the category to read about, the test applied and whether it is met, an alternative category where one exists, and warnings about the next hurdle. For a work offer it shows the points breakdown against the 100 needed.

How the calculation works

For a work offer the finder applies the points-based system introduced in October 2024. An occupation on the critical skills list scores 100 on its own and leads to a critical skills work visa. Otherwise it adds points for qualification level, 50 for NQF 9 or 10 and 30 for NQF 7 or 8; for salary, 50 above R976 194 a year and 20 above R650 976; for experience, 30 for more than ten years and 20 for five to ten; 30 for an offer from a trusted employer; and 10 for an official language. A total of 100 or more leads to a general work visa; less than 100 and no work visa is available on those facts, and the finder says how far short and which levers exist. It also points to the intra-company transfer visa for employees seconded within a group, which is not scored.

For a business, it compares the capital available from abroad with the prescribed R5 million and states the 60 per cent South African staffing undertaking. For remote work, it compares annual income with the R650 976 floor and requires a foreign employer. For retirement, it compares monthly income with the prescribed R37 000 per applicant; the retired visa income checker goes into that in detail. For study, a spouse, a relative or a visit it names the category and the main condition.

The law behind the numbers

Work visas are issued under section 19 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002: general work visas under section 19(2), critical skills work visas under section 19(4) and intra-company transfer visas under section 19(5). The Third Amendment of the Immigration Regulations, Government Notice 5398 published in Gazette 51366 on 9 October 2024, requires the first two to be decided under a points-based system determined by the Minister, and the scorecard is Notice 5448, published in Gazette 51416 on 18 October 2024, which replaced a notice of 9 October 2024 withdrawn to correct an error. It marks the offer of employment as mandatory and sets: 100 points required; 100 for an occupation on the critical skills list; 50 for NQF 9 or 10 and 30 for NQF 7 or 8; 50 for a salary above R976 194 and 20 for one above R650 976; 30 for more than ten years' experience and 20 for five to ten; 30 for an offer from an employer on the Trusted Employer Scheme; and 10 for an official language. The route to 100 decides the visa issued. The critical skills list in force is the one published in October 2023, and the listed occupations require SAQA evaluation and, where applicable, professional body registration. The intra-company transfer visa is issued for up to four years for an employee transferred from a foreign branch, subsidiary or affiliate of the employer, with no points test and no labour market test. The guide to work visas walks through the three.

Business visas are issued under section 15 and regulation 14. The applicant must show a capital contribution of at least R5 million originating from outside South Africa, certified by a chartered accountant, or a reduction or waiver granted by the Minister on the recommendation of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition for a business in a priority sector; must undertake that at least 60 per cent of the staff will be South African citizens or permanent residents, with proof within twelve months; and must obtain a dtic recommendation letter before Home Affairs will adjudicate. The guide to business visas covers the application.

The remote work visitor visa was created under section 11(1)(b)(iv) and regulation 11(4)(b) by the Second Amendment of the Immigration Regulations, Government Notice R. 4847 of 20 May 2024, and the Third Amendment of 9 October 2024 lowered its income test to the current figure. It is for a foreigner employed by an employer outside South Africa who wishes to work from South Africa, requires proof of gross income of at least R650 976 a year, does not permit employment by a South African employer, and interacts with tax residence once presence exceeds 183 days in twelve months.

Study visas are issued under section 13 for the duration of the course at a registered institution, with part-time work limited to twenty hours a week. A spouse or permanent life partner of a citizen or permanent resident applies under section 11(6) for a visitor's visa with authorisation to work, study or run a business, or under section 18 for a relative's visa; the spousal visa guide deals with the evidence of the relationship. Other relatives within the first step of kinship apply under section 18, and the South African relative must show the prescribed financial assurance; a relative's visa does not permit work. The retired person visa under section 20 requires the prescribed R37 000 a month per applicant from a pension, an irrevocable annuity or assets realising that amount, and may be issued for up to four years at a time. A visitor's visa under section 11(1) is for up to 90 days, extendable once, and does not permit work.

Worked example

Chidi, a Nigerian software engineer, has an offer from a Cape Town fintech at R780 000 a year. He has a bachelor's degree in computer science evaluated by SAQA at NQF 7, seven years' experience and no South African language. The employer is not on the Trusted Employer Scheme. "Software developer" is on the critical skills list.

The finder scores him: critical skills occupation 100, which is enough on its own, and returns the critical skills work visa as the category to read about, with the reminder that the listed title must match, that SAQA evaluation and professional body registration where the list requires it are needed, and that the list is the October 2023 one. Had his occupation not been on the list, the score would have been 30 for NQF 7, 20 for a salary above R650 976 and 20 for seven years' experience, 70 in total, and the finder would report a general work visa 30 points short, with the levers: a salary above R976 194, a trusted employer, or a master's degree. Had Chidi been working for the same fintech's Lagos office for a year, the intra-company transfer visa would be the simpler route, with no points at all.

Change the purpose: Chidi's sister wants to open a restaurant with R2 million of savings. The finder reports the business visa with capital short of R5 million and explains the waiver route and the dtic letter. His mother, on a pension of R25 000 a month, wants to retire in Cape Town: the finder reports the retired person visa with income below the R37 000 prescribed, and the retired visa income checker shows what an annuity would need to add.

What the calculator does not include

It does not decide eligibility. Police clearances, medical and radiological reports, proof of funds, a SAQA evaluation and professional registration, and for most categories an application from outside South Africa are all further requirements.

It does not model permanent residence, which has its own categories under sections 26 and 27, or citizenship; the permanent residence and citizenship calculator deals with those.

It does not model asylum or refugee status, which are governed by the Refugees Act, or the position of visa-exempt nationalities, whose visitor periods differ.

It does not know whether your occupation's title on the critical skills list matches your job, or whether your employer is on the Trusted Employer Scheme; both are checked against the Department's published lists.

It does not deal with changing status from inside South Africa, which is restricted and a frequent cause of refusal; the guide to changing status covers it.

When to get advice

The points-based system has made work visa eligibility more predictable and the finder gives a reliable first answer. Get advice from an immigration attorney or a registered practitioner if your occupation is near the critical skills list but not clearly on it, if your points are within 20 of the threshold and the employer could restructure the offer, if you are relying on a trusted employer, if you want a business visa with less than R5 million and need the waiver route, if you are applying as a life partner rather than a spouse, or if you are already in South Africa on one visa and want another. Refusals are appealable but slow, and the application done right first is cheaper than the appeal.

Frequently asked questions

How does the points-based work visa system work? You need 100 points. An occupation on the critical skills list gives 100 and a critical skills work visa. Otherwise points come from your qualification level (50 for NQF 9 or 10, 30 for NQF 7 or 8), the salary offered (50 above R976 194, 20 above R650 976), experience (30 for over ten years, 20 for five to ten), a trusted employer (30) and an official language (10), and 100 or more gives a general work visa.

How much money do I need for a business visa? R5 million of capital originating outside South Africa, certified by a chartered accountant, unless the Minister grants a reduction or waiver on the dtic's recommendation for a priority sector. You must also undertake that 60 per cent of staff will be South African.

Can I work remotely from South Africa for a foreign company? Yes, on the remote work visitor visa, if you earn at least R650 976 a year and are employed by an employer outside South Africa. You may not work for a South African employer on it.

How much income do I need to retire in South Africa? R37 000 a month per applicant, from a pension, an irrevocable annuity or assets that realise that amount. The retired person visa is issued for up to four years at a time.

Can my spouse work on a spousal visa? On a section 11(6) visitor's visa, yes, if the authorisation to work is applied for and endorsed. It is not automatic.

Can I apply from inside South Africa? Generally only for the categories the regulations allow a change to from within the country. A visitor cannot usually apply for a work visa from inside South Africa; the application is made at the mission in your country.

What is the Trusted Employer Scheme? A Home Affairs scheme under which approved employers' applications are processed faster and an offer from one scores 30 points on the work visa scorecard. It is not a visa.