Introduction
2014 saw the inclusion of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) into the business visa application process, a decision made by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) with the sole intention of smoothing out the entire process.
Now, the DTI can actively provide input into a business’s application process, and help the business by providing insight into how they can work alongside South Africa’s best interests.
Overview of the Business Visa Application Process
The steps involved in the business visa application are relatively simple, but it is imperative to take considerable care when working through the process.
Firstly, you need to acquire a recommendation from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Their recommendation comes from investing a minimum of ZAR 5 million, and if that is not a possibility, they need to decide to grant you a waiver.
If the DTIC has issued a recommendation for your application, in spite of an inability to invest the full ZAR 5 million, then you can go about submitting a waiver request. This request can be submitted either through the South African mission abroad or through VFS while in South Africa on a tourist visa, or any other visa. The DTI application is an online application.
Selecting the Correct South African Embassy or Mission
To ensure you have a smooth and streamlined application process, it’s essential to select the correct South African embassy or mission for your business.
Firstly, your location is important. You need to figure out which South African mission or consulate has jurisdiction over you and your place of residence. South Africa has embassies, high commissions, and consulates all over the globe and it’s advised to check the official website of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) or the South African embassy/consulate websites for relevant and specific information.
Naturally, you’ll have to deal with the South African embassy that serves the country in which you legally reside and review the application process for your specific mission. There may be slightly different guidelines and processing times, depending on their internal systems.
Key Considerations and Tips for Submission
When applying for and submitting your business visa application, there are a number of things to keep in mind regarding correct procedures and necessary documentation. Make sure to consider the following tips for a smooth submission process.
- Thoroughly review the requirements and the documents, consistently. Ensure that you well and truly have all the required documents ready.
- Plan ahead of time, well in advance of your intended travel dates. Also, ensure that you’re planning your application such that your visa won’t expire before that if you are already in South Africa on another visa
- Organise your documents and seek professional help if need be. All your supporting documents need to be clear and concise, and acquiring assistance from a professional to help work your way down a checklist is also highly advisable.
- Prepare for your interview and be honest and transparent. You need to be ready for anything, and the best way to do this is to fully understand what you aim to do, business-wise, in South Africa. And always keep in mind, that honesty really is the best policy when dealing with the government.
Required Documentation and Information
When applying for a South African business visa, there are several documents that must be submitted. The following is a list of documentation to be collected and submitted:
- A completed visa application form.
- This can be found online on the Department of Home Affairs website.
- A valid passport.
- There must be at least two blank pages and it must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the intended stay.
- Passport photographs.
- You need two recent passport-sized colour photographs.
- DTI approval letter and supporting documents.
- DTI Waiver letter if applicable.
- Proof of accommodation.
- You need to provide details of your arrangements regarding accommodation throughout your stay in South Africa.
- Yellow Fever certificate
- If you’ve been in or travelled through a Yellow Fever zone, you also need to provide a vaccination certificate.
- Police clearance certificate.
- In some cases, especially if you’re bringing with you dependents, you will be required to produce a police clearance certificate from your home country.
- Biometrics
- More often than not you will also be required to provide photographs and fingerprints when submitting your application.
- Medical certificate
It is highly recommended to begin this process well in advance of your intended travel date, given the wildly varying processing times.
Common Challenges and Solutions
A South African business visa is well sought-after and can be quite a complex and time-consuming process. As such, you may experience a number of challenges along the way.
- Firstly, the processing times are lengthy.
Quite possibly the most significant challenge you will face is the time it takes for the visa application to be fully processed. This time may also vary wildly depending on factors, most of which can be mitigated, such as the applicant’s country of residence and the sheer volume of applications being handled by the DHA.
Solution: apply early, and ensure you have all the correct documentation at hand well in advance so as not to waste the DTI or the DHA’s time.
- Stringent documentation and biometric requirements, and interviews
There is a long list of very specific documentation required for a business visa application and any missing or incomplete documents will lead either to delays or a complete rejection of the visa application.
You may also be required to attend in-person interviews and provide biometric data which can be challenging if you are not near a consulate or embassy.
Solution: alleviate stress by planning well in advance and making travel arrangements, or organising interviews as close to you as you can.
- Constantly changing visa regulations
One more thing to consider that could hamper your application process is the ever-changing nature of local and international regulations.
Solution: stay updated with the latest news and changes regarding laws and regulations, and make sure you consult the nearest embassies and/or consulates for any questions or concerns you may have.
Conclusion and Expert Advice
Navigating the South African business visa application visa can be at times tumultuous and taxing, but it doesn’t have to be. Following the advice listed above, making sure to, as best you can, mitigate the potential issues that may arise, will ensure a smooth and streamlined application process.
There are many organisations and individual professionals who are readily available to assist with your application, most of which at a fee so as to guarantee quality and accuracy.
Just remember, every visa application is unique, and your individual circumstances could greatly affect your process.
Written by Simon Carletti, PR and Creative Supervisor
