Info & inquiries on the Internet
- Info on work-seeker's permits
- Online questions & comments form (select "deputy director: temporary residence")
- Access/download all the relevant application forms online (PDF file requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader, free download available)
Who should apply for a work-seeker's permit?
If you have one or more job offers in SA, and you wish to visit the country in order to assess the offer/s further or to attend an interview with your prospective employer, you should apply for a work-seeker's permit. Note that you must have an offer of a proper full-time job - offers of part-time jobs, or jobs paying on a commission basis, will not
qualify you for a work-seeker's permit. For the most part, work-seeker's permits are granted to people who are highly skilled and professionally qualified.
Does a work-seeker's permit allow me to look for other work while I'm in SA?
NO, it is NOT a permit for people to enter SA to seek work wherever they may find it. Your visit must be geared to assessing and possibly taking up a job offer that was made to you before you departed for SA. If you use the permit to look for any other work in the country, you will be liable for arrest and possible repatriation.
But what if I decide I'm interested in pursuing another occupation?
The field of employment on your work-seeker's permit cannot be changed. If you decide you want to pursue an occupation other than that specified on your permit, you'll have to return to your home country and re-apply for a work or work-seeker's permit from there.
How
long do I have to assess the job offer?
Work-seeker's permit are granted for a period of three months, and extensions are only granted for short periods under exceptional circumstances. If you get the job and decide to take it up, you should at once apply for a work permit at your nearest Dept of Home Affairs office in SA. Only once this has been issued can you start your new job.
Requirements for work-seeker's permits
As for when and where to apply for your work-seeker's permit - see When, where & how to apply for a work permit. As for how, you'll need to complete and submit a permit application form, along with:
- A valid passport and two passport photos.
- Certified copies of your highest academic and other qualifications.
- Testimonials from previous employers confirming your skills and competencies.
- Information on the employer with whom you are negotiating or entering into a contract, along with any relevant correspondence.
- Clear indication of the specific region in SA where you are considering working.
- The prescribed permit application fee must be paid (see the relevant Dept of Home Affairs web page) as well as a refundable cash deposit for possible repatriation purposes (check with your nearest SA office abroad).
| Page: 3 of 3 - back |
