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South Africa · Business & self-employment

South Africa Business Visa — standard capital route

9 facts quoted from the official source

A foreigner may establish, invest in, or operate an eligible South African business and work in that business.

Savings required
ZAR 5,000,000
the lowest published threshold
Can bring
—
Not stated in the official source
Requirements
5
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

5 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Admission or enrolment requirementThe application requires prescribed accountant certification and a Department of Trade and Industry recommendation on feasibility and national interest.
  • Employment, placement or host agreementAt least 60% of the total staff complement must be South African citizens or permanent residents in permanent positions.
  • Financial resourcesThe prescribed cash investment originating outside South Africa is R5,000,000; capital contribution may consist of new machinery or equipment.via gov.za
  • Purpose or legal basisA foreigner may establish, invest in, or operate an eligible South African business and work in that business.
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Passport or travel-document requirementPassport or travel document must remain valid for at least 30 days after the intended visit and have an unused endorsement page.
Also stated by the source
  • Work rightsThe holder may work only in connection with the business for which the visa was issued.
  • Dependent-family rightsImmediate family members may receive an appropriate visa for the duration of the business visa.
  • Long-term residence or conversion pathA corresponding section 27(c) business-investment permanent-residence route exists.
Family

Who you can bring

  • Dependent-family rightsImmediate family members may receive an appropriate visa for the duration of the business visa.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Validity
1 proven from the official source.
  • Initial duration or stay ceilingA business visa may be issued for no more than three years at a time.
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every South Africa route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to South Africa?
The official source states: A foreigner may establish, invest in, or operate an eligible South African business and work in that business.
02How much money do I need?
The official source states: The prescribed cash investment originating outside South Africa is R5,000,000; capital contribution may consist of new machinery or equipment. The lowest published threshold is ZAR 5,000,000 (savings).
03What does this route lead to?
The official source states: A corresponding section 27(c) business-investment permanent-residence route exists.

Every answer is quoted from the official dha.gov.za page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 9 points against the official source; 9 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Fees and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source dha.gov.zaLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this South Africa government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other business & self-employment routes to South Africa

1 other business & self-employment route to South Africa.

Business Visa — start-up with capital-requirement waiver
Same category, elsewhere

Business & self-employment routes in other countries

163 other countries publish at least one business & self-employment route. Nearest first.

Eswatini4 business & self-employment routes Botswana1 business & self-employment route Lesotho1 business & self-employment route Canada22 business & self-employment routes Rwanda12 business & self-employment routes Italy9 business & self-employment routes

Does this route fit your numbers?

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