South Africa Business Visa: Investment Requirements and How It Works in 2026
South Africa's business visa (section 15 of the Immigration Act) is for foreign nationals who set up or invest in their own South African business, not for employees. A 2014 ministerial notice set the cash contribution at R5 million, which must come from outside South Africa, and the same set of notices lists national-interest sectors that can qualify for a reduction or waiver. Your application needs a letter of recommendation from the dtic (the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition), an accountant's certificate and an undertaking to meet a 60 percent local staffing rule. The Home Affairs fee is R1,520.
If you plan to start or buy into a business in South Africa rather than take a job with one, the work visas do not fit. The business visa is built for that case and runs on an investment test and a separate government recommendation instead of a job offer. This guide sets out what the Act, the Regulations and the 2014 gazette notices say.
If you already have a South African employer, our guides to the South Africa work visa and the critical skills visa cover those routes instead.
What the business visa is
The business visa sits under section 15 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 and regulation 14. It lets a foreign national live in South Africa to establish or invest in a business, and the holder may work only for that business. Regulation 14 allows the visa for up to three years at a time.
The R5 million threshold and who can get it reduced
Government Notice 560 of 15 July 2014 (Gazette 37837), issued by the Minister of Home Affairs after consulting the dtic, sets the amount at R5,000,000 in cash originating from outside South Africa, to be invested in a new or existing business. It also contains a line about the contribution being new machinery or equipment, so ask Home Affairs or the dtic how that applies to your plan. Home Affairs says the figure is set by gazette notice, so confirm that R5 million is still the current amount before you build a plan around it.
Notice 562 of the same date lists businesses the Minister has determined to be in the national interest, which qualify for a reduction or waiver of the capital requirement under section 15(3). The sectors include agro-processing, business process outsourcing and IT-enabled services, software development, green economy industries such as renewable energy, tourism infrastructure, film and creative industries, pharmaceuticals and mineral beneficiation, among others. Being on the list makes a business eligible to ask for a reduction. It is not a promise of one.
Worth knowing: Notice 561 lists three kinds of business as undesirable for a business visa: importing second-hand motor vehicles for export to other markets, the exotic entertainment industry and the security industry. Section 15(1A) lets the Minister add to that list by gazette.
What goes into the application
The dtic letter is part of the application itself, not a separate step with Home Affairs waiting behind it. Regulation 14 asks for:
- A certificate from a SAICA, SAIPA or SAIBA accountant that the required cash is available.
- An undertaking that at least 60 percent of the staff will be South African citizens or permanent residents, with proof through a Department of Labour letter within 12 months.
- Registrations with SARS, UIF, COIDA, CIPC and any relevant professional body.
- A police clearance certificate.
- A dtic letter of recommendation on the feasibility of the business and its benefit to the national interest.
- For a business that already exists, financial statements and proof of the investment.
Home Affairs' published target is 8 weeks for a business visa, counted in working days and applying to applications lodged in South Africa at Head Office. That does not cover the dtic's time, so allow for it separately.
Keeping the investment in place
Under section 15(4), the holder must show proof of the contribution within 24 months and then every two years. For permanent residence under section 27(c), the permit lapses if proof is not given within two years and again within three years after that. Regulation 24 sets the business plan, accountant certificate and 60 percent staffing requirements for that route.
Business, corporate and intra-company transfer visas
These three are easily confused:
| Visa | Who applies | What it depends on | Max validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business visa (s15) | An individual foreign national | R5 million cash contribution, dtic letter, 60 percent staffing undertaking | 3 years at a time |
| Corporate visa (s21) | A South African company employing foreign workers | A Department of Labour certificate and the 60 percent staff rule | 3 years |
| Intra-company transfer visa (s19(5)) | An employee of a multinational | A contract of at least 6 months abroad | 4 years, not renewable |
The general work visa and critical skills visa depend on a South African employer hiring you, as our work visa guide explains.
Fees and other costs
Under the Home Affairs fee schedule published on 17 August 2026 (Gazette 55209, Notice R.7834), the business visa fee is R1,520, the same as for work and corporate visas. VFS Global charges its own service fee. Home Affairs has waived the medical report for visa applications under Directive 10 of 2026.
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Is it the right route
If you are moving for a role with a South African employer, a work visa is the simpler route. The business visa suits people for whom the business is the reason for the move, who can commit the capital, and who can show the dtic a plan that benefits the country. Our guide to opening a business in South Africa as a foreigner covers the setup side.
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Check which visa I need →Sources, checked 5 November 2026
Primary sources only, each opened on 5 November 2026. Rules, fees and amounts can change by gazette notice, so confirm anything that matters to your case with Home Affairs before you act.
- Immigration Act 13 of 2002, updated 2015 (Department of Home Affairs): sections 15, 19(5), 21 and 27(c) on business, corporate and intra-company transfer visas and business permanent residence.
- Immigration Regulations 2014, updated 2018 (Department of Home Affairs): regulations 14, 20 and 24 on documents, staffing and the permanent residence conditions.
- Government Gazette 37837, Notices 560 to 563, 15 July 2014 (Department of Home Affairs, as published in the Gazette): the R5,000,000 contribution, national-interest sectors and undesirable businesses.
- Types of visas (Department of Home Affairs): business visa requirements as summarised by Home Affairs.
- Fee schedule, Gazette 55209, 17 August 2026 (Department of Home Affairs): the R1,520 fee.
- Turnaround times for visas and permits (Department of Home Affairs): published targets in working days.
- Directive 10 of 2026, Gazette 55016, 17 July 2026 (Department of Home Affairs): waiver of the medical report.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum investment for a South Africa business visa?
A 2014 ministerial notice (Gazette 37837) sets the amount at R5,000,000 in cash from outside South Africa, to be invested in a new or existing business. Businesses in sectors the Minister lists as being in the national interest, such as agro-processing, business process outsourcing and renewable energy, can qualify for a reduction or waiver, but being listed does not guarantee one. Home Affairs sets the amount by gazette notice, so confirm the current figure with Home Affairs or the dtic.
What is the difference between a business visa, a corporate visa and an intra-company transfer visa in South Africa?
The business visa (section 15) is for an individual foreign national who invests in their own South African business. The corporate visa (section 21) is held by a South African company that employs foreign workers, and needs a Department of Labour certificate and 60 percent South African staff. The intra-company transfer visa (section 19(5)) is for an employee of a multinational who has a contract of at least six months abroad, and runs for up to four years without renewal.
Can a South Africa business visa lead to permanent residence?
Yes, section 27(c) of the Immigration Act provides for a business permanent residence permit. Regulation 24 requires an accountant's certificate, a business plan and the 60 percent staffing condition, and the permit lapses if proof of the investment is not given within two years and again within three years after that. Home Affairs' target for these permits is 8 months, counted in working days.
How long does a South Africa business visa last?
Regulation 14 allows a business visa for up to three years at a time. The holder must show proof of the contribution within 24 months and every two years after that, and must meet the staffing condition, so plan to apply for renewal well before your visa expires and confirm the process with Home Affairs.
General information only, not legal, tax, immigration or medical advice. Rules and figures change; confirm current requirements and consult a professional.