What funds, insurance, onward travel or similar preparation is particularly important?
For the under25 work-exchange route, the applicant must show a valid return air ticket or an undertaking from the relevant employer/institution accepting return or deportation costs, a police clearance certificate from the country of ordinary residence, and medical cover throughout the exchange with a registered South African medical scheme. Section22(b) also requires the employer to commit to lawful remuneration and to provide for the worker’s welfare and needs. The May2024 general police-certificate definition refers to countries of residence for12months or more after age18 during the preceding five years and certificates no older than six months.
See recorded sources
Limits of the record- These sources do not establish a fixed applicant funds balance or minimum insurance cover amount. The learning-institution responsibility under22(a) is not transferred to this22(b) work route.
- https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/ImmigrationRegulations2014-Updated2018-compressed.pdf
21 Exchange visa
(1) An applicant for an exchange visa in terms of section 22(a) of the Act shall-
(a) in the case of a learning institution in the Republic, in conjunction with a foreign
education and training institution or a foreign state institution organising or
administering the programme, submit a letter from-
(i) the Department of Basic Education or Higher Education and Training or a
learning institution in the Republic confirming that it is responsible for
organising or administering the existence of the programme, outlining the
activities, terms and conditions and duration thereof and accepting full
responsibility for the student while he or she is in the Republic; and
(ii) the foreign state institution or education and training institution confirming
the particulars of the applicant, the applicant's enrolment with the foreign
education and training institution, and the date on which the programme
shall commence;
(b) in the case of a programme of cultural, economic or social exchange, organised
or administered by an organ of state or a learning institution, in conjunction with
a foreign education and training institution or a foreign state institution, submit a
letter from-
(i) the organ of state or foreign education and training institution confirming
the existence of the exchange programme; or
(ii) the foreign education and training institution confirming the enrolment of
the applicant or the foreign state institution conducting the programme, as
the case may be.
(2) An applicant for an exchange visa in terms of section 22(a) or (b) of the Act, shall
submit-
(a) proof of a valid return air flight ticket or written undertaking by the organ of
state, learning institution or employer accepting responsibility for the return or
deportation costs of the applicant, as the case may be;
(b) a police clearance certificate from country of ordinary residence; and
(c) proof of medical cover for the duration of the exchange period with a medical
scheme registered in terms of the Medical Schemes Act.
(3) An organ of state or a learning institution shall report to the Director-General as
contemplated in section 22(a) of the Act and provide information on Form 16 illustrated in
Annexure A.
(4) The period contemplated in section 22(a)(ii) of the Act that a person should stay out
of the Republic before making an application for a different type of visa to return to the
Republic shall be one year.
(5) An exchange visa may be issued for a period not exceeding the period of the
exchange programme.
- https://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/IMMIGRATION-ACT-2002---UPDATED-2015.pdf
22. Exchange visa
Prepared by: In partnership with:
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An exchange visa may be issued by the Director-General to a foreigner -
(a) participating in a programme of cultural, economic or social exchange, organised or
administered by an organ of state or a learning institution, in conjunction with a learning
institution or an organ of a foreign state, provided that-
(i) such organ of state or learning institution reports to the Director-General on the stages
and the completion of the relevant programme together with other prescribed information;
and
(ii) it may be prescribed that, in respect of certain programmes, upon expiration of such visa
such foreigner may not qualify for a status until he or she has complied with the
requirement of a prescribed period of physical presence in his or her foreign country or of
domicile outside the Republic; or
(Section 22(a) substituted by section 23(a) of Act 19 of 2004)
(b) who is under 25 years of age and has received an offer to conduct work for no longer than one
year: Provided that--
(Words preceding section 22(b)(i) substituted by section 14(a) of Act 13 of 2011)
(i) the prospective employer certifies that the position exists, and has committed himself or
herself to -
(aa) pay such foreigner remuneration which complies with applicable legal
requirements;
(bb) provide for the welfare and the needs of such foreigner while in the Republic under
the aforesaid visa; and
(cc) report to the Director-General the failure of the foreigner to comply with the terms
of his or her visa or to depart when so required;
(ii) such foreigner may not conduct work other than work for which the visa is issued;
(Section 22(b)(ii) amended by section 14(b) of Act 13 of 2011, the Gazette refers to paragraph
(iii), but we are of the view that the intention was to delete the word “and” at the end of
Paragraph (ii))
(iii) such foreigner may not qualify for a permanent residence permit within two years after
the expiry of the exchange visa, which requirement may be waived by the Director-
General in extraordinary circumstances.
(Section 22(b)(iii) substituted by section 23(b) of Act 19 of 2004)
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(iv) no visa may be granted under this section if the offer to conduct work pertains to an
undesirable work as published by the Minister from time to time in the Gazette, after
consultation with the Minister responsible for trade and industry.
(Section 22(b)(iv) added by section 14(c) of Act 13 of 2011)
(Section 22 amended by section 47 of Act 19 of 2004)
- https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202405/50675rg11704gon4847.pdf
Amendment of regulation 1 of Regulations
2. Regulation 1 of the Regulations is hereby amended—
(a) by the substitution for the definition of “police clearance certificate” of
the following definition:
““police clearance certificate” means a certificate issued, in respect
of criminal records or the character of an applicant, by the police or
competent authority in each country where an applicant, after having
attained the age of 18 years, resided for 12 months or longer during
the five years immediately preceding the date of application, which
certificate shall not be older than six months at the time of submission:
Provided that in the case of a renewal or extension of a visa, such a
certificate shall be issued by the South African Police Service or
competent authority of the Republic;”; and
(b) by the deletion of the definition of “radiological report’.
