| South African work permits and visa options for | | | | Individual Corporate workers permit - many |
| immigration to South Africa | | | | organisations have a need to recruit a number of |
| South Africa's regulations and success criteria for | | | | foreigners, be it due to a skill shortage in South Africa |
| immigration to South Africa as a work permit or visa | | | | or because of a unique requirement to carry out the |
| holder can seem complex to prospective immigrants | | | | role (for example foreign language requirement). The |
| and employers. For work permits alone there are 5 | | | | company is able to apply for a corporate permit which |
| different categories. | | | | gives them permission to recruit a specified number of |
| With the United Kingdom moving over to a points | | | | individuals for specified roles. Companies which hold |
| based system of immigration, similar to Australia, this | | | | these permits can then apply for individual corporate |
| style of requirements has become the norm and | | | | workers permit for their foreign staff. |
| made South Africa's immigration rules pertaining to | | | | General work permits - Applicants who do not fit |
| work permits and visas all the more confusing. | | | | under the other 4 categories must apply for a general |
| The main categories of work permits and visa are: | | | | work permit. General work permits cannot be applied |
| Intra company Transfers - individuals that are required | | | | for until a job offer is received and it should be noted |
| to move within their existing or associated company to | | | | that the employer had to provide proof that they have |
| take up a temporary position in the South African | | | | undertaken certain actions in searching for a suitable |
| operation should apply within this category. | | | | South African before offering the position to a |
| Quota Work Permit - South Africa has a skills | | | | foreigner. |
| shortage in certain professions and this is recognized | | | | Corporate Permits - Companies can preempt the |
| by the Department of Labor. Periodically it is reviewed | | | | immigration process by applying for a corporate permit. |
| in terms of current human resource conditions and | | | | This permit is suited to companies that have a number |
| revised. For individuals with the appropriate | | | | of vacancies that they envisage they may have to fill |
| qualifications and experience they may apply for a | | | | with foreign employees over the next 2 - 3 years. |
| quota work permit. The huge advantage of a quota | | | | With global competition for skilled labor, and the travel |
| work permit is that it can be issued prior to the | | | | mind set of people, immigration is forming an integral |
| individual getting a job offer - making the job search | | | | part of employers and employees recruitment |
| much easier. | | | | strategies. Knowing the correct permit can only be of |
| Exceptional skills permit - assessed on a case by case | | | | help and often give the employer and employee the |
| basis this permit applies to individuals who have unique | | | | edge in getting the desired result. |
| skills, experience and qualifications. | | | | |