South Africa requires 100 points for a General Work Visa

Start with the job offer and the current points table

South Africa’s General Work Visa is a route for foreign nationals taking up employment in the country. Under the points notice, applicants need a job offer and 100 points. Applicants whose proposed occupation supplies 100 points because it is on the critical skills list should check eligibility for that separate work visa. For the general route, start with the gross annual pay on the offer and calculate points across the other categories.

The government withdrew its October 9, 2024 points notice and issued a revised table on October 18. The earlier version remains accessible and credits a different lower salary figure and a different Trusted Employer score. If your calculation came from an old document or a saved link, look for notice 5448 before relying on it.

Calculate what the offer and qualifications contribute

The revised table gives 50 points for gross annual pay above R976,194. It gives 20 for pay between R650,976 and R976,194. Qualifications at National Qualifications Framework level 9 or 10 earn 50, while levels 7 or 8 earn 30. An offer from a Trusted Employer earns 30. Experience and proficiency in an official language can also contribute. For example, 50 salary points, 30 qualification points and 20 experience points add up to 100 if each is established.

Ask the employer to set out the position, intended start and pay clearly in the signed contract, with benefits identified separately. The South African mission checklist in Canada asks for a signed contract with position, start date and benefits. If your score depends on the offer being from a Trusted Employer, obtain confirmation of that status from the employer before relying on those points.

Check the foreign qualification evidence and employer papers

The ministerial waiver for General Work Visas assessed on points removes the requirement for a certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour. It also lets an applicant lodge proof of a pending South African Qualifications Authority evaluation when the result is unavailable. Where the visa is granted using that proof, the waiver specifies a 12-month period. A pending evaluation alone does not establish that the foreign qualification will be assessed at the level you expect.

Home Affairs says the visa can be extended to the applicable full term if the positive evaluation is provided within one year. Its checklist also asks for the employer’s details, registration evidence where applicable, and a written undertaking covering passport validity, potential deportation costs and reporting changes to employment. Ask the employer which person can sign and whether the registration certificate is ready. Keep the evaluation receipt and set a reminder to follow up if the result is slow.

Confirm the receiving office’s checklist and payment method

The Border Management Authority directs people lodging a work visa abroad to the relevant South African embassy, mission or consulate. It points to Visa Facilitation Services centres for applicable filings in South Africa. Check which office covers your residence and where it expects you to submit. The mission page in Canada lists C$115 by money order or bank draft for its Toronto instructions. Other offices publish their own charges and payment methods.

Canada’s checklist still asks for a medical report, as does the 2024 Home Affairs checklist. A later directive published in July 2026 waives the specified medical report for visa and permanent residence applicants, including files pending adjudication. Show the receiving office the directive if its checklist still requests the report and ask which version it uses. The Home Affairs work checklist separately requests applicable police clearances and a yellow-fever certificate where relevant.

Make plans around the decision and visa conditions

Home Affairs’ current performance plan measures how many domestic General Work Visa outcomes are completed within four weeks. That is a programme target for applications submitted in South Africa and includes time up to dispatch to the VFS hub. If your offer has a fixed start date or you are applying abroad, confirm the local intake arrangements and discuss a start date with the employer that accommodates the actual decision.