South Africa · Work

South Africa General Work Visa — Points-Based System

Q: Who qualifies for this route to South Africa?

The official source states: “A foreign worker outside the Critical Skills occupation route may qualify through the current 100-point system and a mandatory job offer.” (gov.za, read 2026-07-27.)

Q: How much money do I need?

The lowest published threshold is ZAR 650,976/yr (salary), from the official record (gov.za, read 2026-07-27).

10 facts quoted from the official source

A foreign worker outside the Critical Skills occupation route may qualify through the current 100-point system and a mandatory job offer.

Salary required: ZAR 650,976/yr
Can bring: —
Requirements: 6

Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

6 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it

Employment, placement or host agreementThe employment contract must state the conditions of employment, be signed by both parties and comply with South African labour standards.via dha.gov.za
Job offer or appointmentAn offer of employment is mandatory under the Points-Based System.
Work authorisation requirementApproval grants a General Work Visa for the approved employment.via dha.gov.za
Minimum salaryGross annual pay above R976,194 earns 50 points; pay from R650,976 to R976,194 earns 20 points.
Qualifications or professional authorisationNQF levels 9 or 10 earn 50 points and NQF levels 7 or 8 earn 30 points.

What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

Passport or travel-document requirementPassport or travel document must remain valid for at least 30 days after the intended visit and have an unused endorsement page.via dha.gov.za

What rules you out

1 exclusion quoted from the official source.

Material restrictions or case-specific conditionsThe applicant must reach 100 points; experience of 5–10 years earns 20, 10+ years earns 30, a Trusted Employer offer earns 30, and official-language proficiency earns 10.

Family

Who you can bring

— Not stated in the official source. The official page for this route does not address dependent-family rights, so we do not publish a claim either way.

Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Validity

2 proven from the official source.

Initial duration or stay ceilingA General Work Visa may be issued for the contract duration, up to five years.via dha.gov.za
Renewal or extensionWork-visa extensions, renewals and changes submitted after publication of the Points-Based System are adjudicated under that system.via dha.gov.za

How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every South Africa route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.

Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.

Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.

FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to South Africa?

The official source states: A foreign worker outside the Critical Skills occupation route may qualify through the current 100-point system and a mandatory job offer.

02How much money do I need?

The lowest published threshold is ZAR 650,976/yr (salary), from the official record.

Every answer is quoted from the official gov.za page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 10 points against the official source; 10 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Fees and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source gov.zaLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this South Africa government page.

Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology

· Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.

Same category, same country

Other work routes to South Africa

5 other work routes to South Africa.

Commercial heavy-duty vehicle driver — special visitor/work exemption Corporate Worker Certificate Intra-company Transfer Work Visa Permanent Residence — permanent employment offer (section 27(a))Visitor visa — section 11(2) short-term work authorisation

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Does this route fit your numbers?

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