South Africa critical skills work visa

You must select one occupation on the latest Critical Skills List and prove you fall within it. You need a valid offer or contract of employment signed by both parties, and written undertakings from the employer to keep your passport valid and to bear deportation costs if necessary. A critical skills visa is not a work-seeker's visa: the employer must be verifiable and in good standing with the Department of Employment and Labour.

You also need confirmation in writing from a SAQA-recognised professional body, council or board, or a relevant government department, of your skills and post-qualification experience; proof of application for professional registration where the law requires it; and the SAQA evaluation of your foreign qualification, translated by a sworn translator, or proof that you applied for it. Police clearance certificates are needed from every country where you lived more than 12 months in the last five years.

Under the points-based system determined by the Minister on 18 October 2024 for general and critical skills work visas, applicants must reach 100 points. An occupation on the Critical Skills List scores 100 points on its own. Other criteria: NQF level 9 or 10 qualifications 50 points, NQF 7 or 8 30 points; a mandatory job offer above R976,194 gross a year 50 points or between R650,976 and R976,194 20 points; 5 to 10 years' experience 20 points, more than 10 years 30 points; an offer from a Trusted Employer 30 points; proficiency in an official language 10 points. If 100 points come from a Critical Skills List occupation, a critical skills visa can be issued; otherwise a general work visa.

Apply at the South African mission abroad or, if you are in South Africa on a valid visa, through VFS Global, with a passport valid 30 days beyond your stay and the R1,520 fee. Extensions must be lodged in person at least 60 days before expiry. The visa is issued for up to five years; if the SAQA outcome is still pending, it is issued for one year and extended to the full term once you submit a positive evaluation within that year. The medical report was waived for all visa applications on 8 July 2026.

Spouses provide a marriage certificate; life partners provide an apostilled notarial agreement showing a permanent relationship of at least two years, with neither party in another marriage or partnership. Dependent children need full birth certificates. Family members apply for the appropriate visas to accompany you.