Legal Requirements

 Immigration

The country is experiencing a huge skill shortage within the construction and property industry, due both to unprecedented growth and the tendency of local skilled staff to look for international experience. However, South Africa remains notoriously difficult to obtain a work permit for as it has so often been targeted as the African haven for illegal immigrants and opportunists. Only the sectors of Engineering, Medicine and Information Technology enjoy less stringent rules. This said; the government is currently in the process of reviewing immigration laws pertinent to several other industries, financing and construction included.

It will most certainly be necessary for you to find a consultant or legal aid to represent you when immigrating to a new country, or gaining work permit. In African countries, the sooner the enquiries are initiated the better, as the process can be time consuming. The office responsible for the issuing of work permits in South Africa is the Department of Home Affairs.

Contact Details:

Department of Home Affairs

Chief Directorate: Immigration Services

Postal address:

Private Bag X114

Pretoria 0001

South Africa

Physical address:

Civitas Building

242 Struben Street

Pretoria

Telephone: +27(0)12 314 8011

Fax: +27(0)12 325 3351

In brief, to qualify for residence in South Africa as a worker, you will need the following:-

• Be within the age group of 18 to 51.
• You must be in possession of a permanent offer of employment made by a South African registered company
• The position offered must be commensurate with your qualifications and experience
• Your prospective employer must demonstrate why a South African citizen or permanent resident cannot fill or be trained to fill the position
• Your prospective employer must submit proof - for example, press clippings of advertisements placed over a period of at least one month in national newspapers - that the post has been advertised and that no suitable South African has applied, unless it is obvious that a South African would be unsuitable for the post (for example, a key managerial post in the South African branch of an international firm)
• If professionally qualified, you must register with the appropriate South African bodies
• A non-refundable application fee is payable, and you must apply abroad

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