General Work Visa South Africa: How to Apply [2026]

The General Work Visa is the default category under Section 19(2) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 — the route most foreign nationals take to work legally in South Africa when their occupation is not on the Critical Skills List. It is also the most paperwork-heavy work visa, because the applicant must prove that no South African citizen or permanent resident is available for the role. This guide walks through the legal basis, the gating Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) certificate, the documents you need, the 2026 fees, and the realistic processing timeline.

If you have not already, check our broader Work Visa South Africa overview for how the General Work Visa fits alongside the Critical Skills, Intra-Company Transfer, and Corporate categories.

What Is a General Work Visa?

A General Work Visa is a temporary residence visa issued under Section 19(2) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 to foreign nationals who have a confirmed job offer from a South African employer for a position that cannot be filled by a local. Unlike the Critical Skills Visa (Section 19(4)), which uses the published Critical Skills List as proof of scarcity, the General Work Visa requires the prospective employer to obtain a labour-market certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour confirming that the position was advertised, that no suitable South African applied, and that the foreign candidate's qualifications match the job.

The visa is employer-specific and position-specific. If you change employer or your role changes materially, you must apply for a new visa or a change of conditions through the Department of Home Affairs.

Section 19(2) vs Other Work Visa Categories

The Immigration Act distinguishes four work visa types under Section 19, and the choice has material consequences for fees, timeline, and renewal rules:

• Section 19(2) — General Work Visa: requires DEL certificate. Most common route. Up to 5 years.
• Section 19(4) — Critical Skills Work Visa: skill must appear on the published Critical Skills List. No DEL certificate required. Up to 5 years.
• Section 19(5) — Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa: for staff transferred by a multinational employer for up to 4 years.
• Section 19(6) — Corporate Visa: bulk visa held by an employer that allows recruitment of multiple foreign workers.

If your occupation is on the current Critical Skills List, the Critical Skills Visa is almost always faster and less paperwork — see our dedicated Critical Skills List 2026 guide. If it is not, the General Work Visa is your route.

Who Qualifies for a General Work Visa?

To be eligible you must meet all of the following:

• Hold a confirmed written job offer from an employer registered in South Africa.
• Hold the qualifications and experience the role requires, with evidence (degree certificates, transcripts, professional registration, employment references).
• Have your foreign qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) where applicable. The SAQA evaluation must be specific to the role.
• Have a valid passport with at least 30 days' validity beyond the visa expiry and at least two unused visa pages.
• Pass the medical and radiological assessments required by the Department of Home Affairs.
• Provide a police clearance certificate from every country you have lived in for 12 months or longer since age 18.

The employer must also meet conditions: be tax-compliant, registered for UIF and PAYE, and able to demonstrate the legitimate business need for the role.

The Gating Step: Department of Employment and Labour Certificate

This is the single most important document in a General Work Visa application — and the step that derails the most applications. Under Regulation 18(3) of the Immigration Regulations 2014, the prospective employer must obtain a certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) confirming three things:

• That the job was advertised in a national newspaper, on the DEL Public Employment Services platform, or both, for a reasonable period.
• That despite the advertisement, no suitable South African citizen or permanent resident applied.
• That the foreign candidate's qualifications and experience are commensurate with the position.

Practical points the DEL examines:

• Advertising: at least one national publication and the Public Employment Services portal. The advert must include the job description, salary range, and required qualifications.
• Salary: must align with the prevailing wage for the occupation. Below-market salaries are a common refusal reason because they imply the employer is undercutting locals.
• Qualifications match: the foreign candidate's CV, qualifications, and experience must directly match the advertised role. Stretch matches are scrutinised.
• Recruitment record: the employer typically must submit interview records and reasons for not hiring local applicants.

The DEL certificate is valid for six months from issue. Submit your visa application within that window or restart the labour-market test.

Documents You Need

The standard supporting document set for a General Work Visa application includes:

• Completed DHA-1738 application form (Department of Home Affairs work visa form).
• Passport with at least 30 days' validity beyond the intended visa expiry and two blank visa pages.
• Proof of payment of the application fee.
• Two passport-sized photographs that meet ICAO standards.
• The Department of Employment and Labour certificate (the gating step above).
• Signed employment contract specifying position, duration, salary, and conditions.
• Original or certified academic and professional qualification certificates.
• SAQA evaluation of foreign qualifications where applicable.
• Detailed CV listing relevant experience.
• Police clearance certificate from each country lived in for 12 months or more since age 18.
• Medical certificate (BI-811) issued within the last six months.
• Radiological report (chest X-ray) — exempt for pregnant applicants and children under 12.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate if you have travelled through a yellow fever zone.
• Proof of medical aid registered in South Africa.
• Marriage certificate, birth certificates, and dependants' supporting documents if family will accompany.

The DHA-1738 is the same form used for the Critical Skills Visa, Spousal Visa, and Business Visa applications — see our Spousal Visa and Business Visa guides for the related cluster.

Application Process: Step by Step

The typical sequence is:

1. Job offer secured. The South African employer confirms the role and signs the offer letter.
2. Labour market test. The employer advertises the role, runs interviews, and documents why no South African was suitable.
3. DEL certificate issued. The Department of Employment and Labour reviews the recruitment record and issues the labour certificate. Allow 4 to 12 weeks.
4. SAQA evaluation. Foreign qualifications are independently assessed. Allow 4 to 8 weeks.
5. Police clearance. Obtain certificates from all relevant countries. Times vary by country, often 6 to 12 weeks.
6. Medical and radiological reports. Issued by a licensed practitioner within six months of submission.
7. Application submitted at VFS Global. Book an appointment, submit biometrics, and pay fees. Applications from outside South Africa are submitted at the nearest South African mission.
8. Adjudication. The Department of Home Affairs decides. Standard processing is 6 to 8 weeks but expect 3 to 6 months in practice.
9. Visa issued. Collect the visa from VFS Global or the South African mission. Endorsement is added to your passport.

If you are already in South Africa on a different visa category and want to switch to a General Work Visa, you must apply for a change of conditions. In most cases this means leaving the country and applying from your home country, unless you can demonstrate exceptional circumstances under Section 10(6) of the Act.

2026 Fee Schedule

Total out-of-pocket excluding foreign police clearances and document translations is typically R5,500 to R8,500. The DEL certificate itself does not carry a direct fee but the employer's recruitment costs (advertising, interviews, legal review) often run R10,000 to R30,000.

Common Reasons for Refusal

• Weak DEL certificate: insufficient advertising, vague reasons for not hiring locals, salary below market.
• SAQA mismatch: the foreign qualification does not align with the advertised role.
• Incomplete medical or police records: missing certificates from a country lived in.
• Passport validity: less than 30 days beyond visa expiry or no blank visa pages.
• Inconsistent dates: contract dates, advertising dates, and DEL certificate dates do not align.
• Employer non-compliance: outstanding tax, UIF, or BBBEE issues.

If your application is refused you have 10 working days to appeal under Section 8(4) of the Immigration Act, and a further appeal to the Director-General under Section 8(6). Many refusals result from documentation gaps that can be cured on appeal — read the refusal letter carefully and address every point.

Renewal of a General Work Visa

General Work Visas are issued for the duration of the contract up to a maximum of 5 years. To renew, you must lodge the renewal application at VFS Global at least 60 days before the visa expires. Late renewals attract overstay penalties under Section 30(1)(h) and can prejudice future applications. The renewal pack includes:

• Updated DHA-1738 form.
• Letter from the employer confirming continued employment, current salary, and intended duration.
• Updated police clearances.
• Updated medical and radiological reports if more than 12 months old.
• Proof of continuing tax compliance from the employer.

A fresh DEL certificate is generally not required if you are renewing with the same employer in the same role. It is required if you change employer or move to a materially different role.

Changing Employer or Role

If you change employer or take on a substantially different role, you must apply for either a new General Work Visa or a change of conditions. The new employer must run their own labour market test and obtain a new DEL certificate. You cannot start the new role until the change is approved.

Working in breach of your visa conditions is a Section 49(1) offence — penalties include deportation, a 12-month to 5-year ban from re-entry, and prejudice to permanent residence applications. If your employer goes insolvent or your role is terminated, notify the Department of Home Affairs and apply for a new visa within 60 days.

From General Work Visa to Permanent Residence

General Work Visa holders have two main routes to Permanent Residence:

• Section 26(a) — five years of continuous lawful residence on a work visa allows direct application for PR. The most common route for General Work Visa holders.
• Section 27(b) — for senior or skilled workers in specific categories, direct PR application without the 5-year wait.

The 5-year period does not need to be on a single visa — renewals count. Time spent on a Critical Skills Visa, Intra-Company Transfer, or Spousal Visa can also count under Section 26(a). PR application is via form BI-947 — see our full Permanent Residence guide for the document requirements and timeline.

Family Members and Dependants

The General Work Visa holder can apply for accompanying visas for family:

• Spouse: Spousal Visa under Section 11(6) or Section 18.
• Children under 18: relative's visa under Section 18(2). Requires the unabridged birth certificate — see our Unabridged Birth Certificate guide.
• Children studying: study visa under Section 13.

The accompanying visas are tied to the principal General Work Visa holder. If the principal visa is withdrawn or expires, the dependants' visas fall away with it. Apply for all family visas at the same time as the General Work Visa to keep the timeline aligned.

General Work Visa and Your South African ID Number

A General Work Visa does not give you a South African ID number. ID numbers are issued only to South African citizens (Section 6 of the Identification Act 68 of 1997) and permanent residents. While on a temporary work visa you use your passport and visa endorsement as your identity document for banking, signing leases, and dealing with the South African Revenue Service. After PR, you become eligible to apply for a non-citizen smart ID card — see our Non-Citizen ID guide for the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a General Work Visa take to process?

Officially 6 to 8 weeks at VFS Global plus DHA adjudication. In practice 3 to 6 months from submission to outcome is realistic, with the DEL certificate adding another 4 to 12 weeks before you can submit. Plan for at least 6 months from job offer to visa in hand.

Can my employer apply for the General Work Visa on my behalf?

The employer obtains the DEL certificate and provides supporting documents, but the visa application itself is lodged by the foreign national in person at VFS Global or the South African mission. Biometrics must be captured in person.

Can I apply for a General Work Visa from inside South Africa?

Generally no. Section 10(6) requires that visa applications be made from the country where you are ordinarily resident. Limited exceptions exist for visa renewals and changes of conditions where you already hold a temporary residence visa, but switching from a visitor's visa to a General Work Visa from inside South Africa is rarely granted.

Do I need a SAQA evaluation?

If your foreign qualification is the basis of the role, yes. The SAQA evaluation must be specific to the role and dated within the last 12 months. Standard turnaround is 4 to 8 weeks; expedited is 5 to 10 working days at double the fee.

What is the difference between a General Work Visa and a Critical Skills Visa?

The General Work Visa requires a DEL certificate proving the labour market test. The Critical Skills Visa uses the published Critical Skills List as proof of scarcity — no DEL certificate, faster process, no employer-specific advertising. If your occupation is on the list, apply for Critical Skills first.

Can a General Work Visa lead to South African citizenship?

Indirectly. After 5 years on a General Work Visa you can apply for Permanent Residence under Section 26(a). After holding PR for 5 years and meeting the residence test you can apply for naturalisation under Section 5 of the Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 — see our full South African Citizenship guide.

Quick Reference

The General Work Visa is the default Section 19(2) work visa for foreign nationals filling roles that are not on the Critical Skills List. The DEL certificate is the gating step — start it early and over-document the labour market test. Total fees run R5,500 to R8,500 plus employer recruitment costs. Expect 6 months from job offer to visa in hand. After 5 years of continuous lawful residence you can apply for Permanent Residence and ultimately South African Citizenship.

For neighbouring categories, see our Work Visa overview, Critical Skills List 2026, Business Visa, Spousal Visa, Study Visa, and Retirement Visa guides. The full Department of Home Affairs application form catalogue is available at dha.gov.za; biometric appointments are booked through VFS Global; the Department of Employment and Labour Public Employment Services portal is labour.gov.za.

Related: Criminal Record Expungement South Africa: How to Clear Your Record [2026] — the 10-year Section 271B route for clearing minor convictions from the SAPS Criminal Record Centre.