SA Critical Skills Visa 2026

ICT (12)

Engineering (12)

Healthcare (9)

Built Environment (5)

Sciences (8)

Business + Finance (6)

Agriculture + Environment (4)

Trade (5)

What is the Critical Skills Visa?

Section 19(4) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 and Regulation 18(4) of the Immigration Regulations 2014 allow the Department of Home Affairs to issue work visas to foreign professionals in occupations classified as critical to the SA economy. The current list is in Government Gazette 49402 (3 October 2023).

• Validity: up to 5 years, renewable, with permission to work for any employer in your critical-skills field.
• Family: spouse and dependent children may join on accompanying visas.
• Pathway: after 5 years on a Critical Skills Visa, you may apply for SA permanent residence.
• Application: at SA missions abroad (cannot apply inside SA on a visitor's visa). DHA visa fee R1,520 plus VFS Global service fee R1,550 (additional costs: SAQA evaluation R1,089 per qualification, professional body registration fees, police clearance, medicals).

General requirements

1. NQF-rated qualification (Bachelor's degree or higher for most occupations - NQF 7+). Foreign qualifications must be SAQA-evaluated.
2. Registration with the relevant SA professional body where applicable (HPCSA, SACNASP, ECSA, SACAP, IRBA, SAICA, SANC, SAPC, SAVC, etc.).
3. Proof of work experience in the field.
4. Police clearance from each country lived in for 12+ months since age 18.
5. Medical and radiology reports (DHA-1772 + DHA-1773).
6. Valid passport with sufficient validity + 2 blank pages.

Related

• OFO Code lookup tool - find the OFO code for your specific occupation
• SA salary ranges - 90+ professions
• SARS guides - tax registration on arrival
• Starting a company in SA - if entering as self-employed