A business visa is issued under section 15 of the Immigration Act to a foreign national who is establishing a business in South Africa or investing in an existing one. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) visa types page says applicants must invest a prescribed financial capital contribution.
For a business visa in South Africa, the two defining tests are the capital and the staffing. The Minister fixed the cash amount at R5 000 000 in a 2014 Gazette notice, and the regulations require an undertaking that at least 60% of your staff will be South African citizens or permanent residents. Confirm the current position with DHA before you commit money.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
- Capital: Gazette notice 560 of 15 July 2014 fixed the cash amount at R5 000 000, originating from outside South Africa. Any capital contribution made in kind must consist of new machinery or equipment. We did not find a later notice, but that is not proof that none exists.
- Accountant’s certificate: a chartered accountant registered with SAICA, a professional accountant registered with SAIPA, or a business accountant registered with SAIBA must confirm the cash is available or already invested.
- Staffing: an undertaking that at least 60% of total staff will be South African citizens or permanent residents employed permanently.
- Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic): a letter of recommendation on the feasibility of the business and its contribution to the national interest.
- Validity: a business visa may be issued for a period not exceeding three years at a time.
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
Your passport must be valid and expire no less than 30 days after your intended date of departure from South Africa. Check the validity before you book anything.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) visa types page and the Immigration Regulations list what goes into the application:
- Form BI-1738 with the accountant’s certificate, and a signed application
- The dtic recommendation letter
- A police clearance certificate, not older than six months, from each country where you lived for longer than 12 months in the last five years
- A medical report not older than six months, and a yellow fever certificate if applicable. A blanket waiver signed on 8 July 2026 (gazetted on 17 July 2026) removed the requirement to submit a medical report for temporary residence visa and permanent residence permit applications. DHA’s own web pages still list it, and it is not confirmed whether the radiological report is also waived, so check the current VFS checklist before you apply.
- Proof of payment of the applicable fee
- Registration with SARS, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Compensation Fund and, where legally required, CIPC, or an undertaking to register if the business is not yet established. Where applicable, registration with the relevant SAQA-recognised professional body
- If you are investing in an existing business: its financial statements for the preceding financial year and proof of your investment
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
Beyond the capital, the main ongoing condition is the staffing undertaking. Within 12 months of the visa being issued, you must submit a letter from the Department of Labour confirming that the 60% staff complement is in place. The regulations are the source for this, so keep the letter with your business records.
The application fee is not published on the DHA pages we could read, so we cannot give you a rand amount. Confirm it with VFS Global or the South African mission handling your application. Any waiver or reduction of the capital requirement is likewise something to raise with DHA and the dtic, not to assume.
How to Prepare or Apply
- Get your accountant’s certificate and apply to the dtic for the recommendation letter. Ask the dtic for its current application form and process.
- Gather your police clearance, medical report and company registration documents.
- Lodge the application through a VFS Global centre or the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate abroad.
- If you are already in South Africa on another visa, submit in person at least 60 days before it expires (at least seven working days before if the visa was for under 30 days).
DHA’s published target for a section 15 business visa is 8 working weeks for applications submitted in South Africa and processed at Head Office; see the DHA turnaround times. This is a target, not a guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much capital is required for a business visa in South Africa?
The 2014 Gazette notice fixes the cash amount at R5 000 000. Confirm with DHA that no later notice applies before you rely on it.
What is the 60% employment undertaking?
You undertake that at least 60% of your total staff will be South African citizens or permanent residents employed permanently. Proof, in the form of a Department of Labour letter, is due within 12 months of the visa being issued.
Who certifies the capital?
A chartered, professional or business accountant registered with SAICA, SAIPA or SAIBA.
How long is a business visa valid?
It may be issued for up to three years at a time.
Can the capital requirement be waived?
Ask DHA and the dtic directly whether any waiver applies.
Is there an easier route?
If you want to work for an employer rather than invest, a work visa category may fit better. See the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) visa types page for the other categories.
Confirm all amounts, forms and documents with the Department of Home Affairs (or VFS Global) before you apply. See visa requirements and browse all travel and immigration requirements.