Immigration South Africa Blog

News 24 reported this weekend of the ongoing need for South Africans to obtain travel visa’s to visit the UK. From the article – extracts below it may appear that the South African government is getting frustrated for the need for its citizens to obtain these visa’s.

“Frustrated by Britain’s apparent reluctance to lift its visa requirements for South Africans, government is considering playing tit-for-tat and demanding the same from UK visitors.
This comes against the backdrop of the British government’s decision to halt development aid to South Africa worth £19m (R271m) from 2015.

Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor told MPs that there had been “no movement” after talks between the two nations.

“We had been given a promise that following the [London] Olympics, there would be a focus on whether this visa requirement can be lifted. There hasn’t been any movement and I think the time has come for us to consider reciprocity.

Pandor was responding in a debate on her department’s budget vote in Parliament.”

South Africans have required visa’s since 2009 when there was security concerns about corruption within home affairs and the ease with which foreign nationals could get South African passports.

This change from a visa free status meant many thousands of South Africans were now faced wit paying about R1 180 in visa fees to travel to our do business, in the UK. Further Diplomatic and official passport holders also have to apply for visas, making for cumbersome administration ahead of government visits.

Following this new requirement in 2009 home affairs redesigned the South African passport with new security features and introduced a more stringent issuing process.

Home affairs Director General Mkuseli Apleni claimed in February that the South African passport cannot be forged.

Gary Benham, the head of communications at the British High Commission in Pretoria, told City Press that there had been “dialogue with the South African authorities since 2009″, and that this was continuing.

“The issue was not so much whether or not the passport could be forged. It was more about people entering Britain on South African passports when they themselves were not South African citizens.

“There are concerns that South African passports are available to people who are not entitled to them. If government decides to implement a reciprocal visa regime, UK visitors – including government officials and diplomats – would have to apply for visas.”

The UK is South Africa’s biggest overseas tourism market, and growing and one wonders what effect such an introduction of a visa regime for UK tourists may have in terms or repercussions on the amount of UK tourists visiting our shores.

The DHA Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor was recently quoted as saying that South Africa would be looking at the business permit regulations in order to attract more investment and entrepreneurs into South Africa.

Below we look at the top points to consider under the current legislation:

Business Permit South Africa – investment criteria

The current regulations, for a business permit South Africa, dictate a minimum investment amount of R2,500,000 (two million five hundred thousand rand) into the book value of the business. These funds must be funds that are introduced to the business from a source abroad.

Although many websites make claim to being able to achieve waivers on this minimum investment amount, in reality very very few are ever given and the circumstances must be expectational. Bottom line is the R2.5 million is required.

Business Permit South Africa – Planning and proof of success potential

Not just anyone can run a business and not just any business concept will be successful. The DHA is obviously interested in approving business permits for South Africa to businesses it believes will be successful.

This potential success must be proven by a comprehensive business plan (one of the keys to a successful business anyways) along with the experience and qualifications of the individual running the business by means of a CV.

Business Permit South Africa – Employees

Business permits in South Africa are issued by the DHA with a clear intent of creating jobs for South African citizens of permanent residents.

It is a requirement of a business permit that the business plan clearly demonstrates when and how this will happen, detailing which positions are to be created and salaries. Further it is a condition that proof is supplied that the 5 people are working in the business within the 2 years.

Business Permit South Africa – Company structure

To obtain a business permit for South Africa a suitable company structure must be put in place. Whilst the recent rationale of the company structure options saw the removal of close corporations there are still important decisions to make. Pty Ltd’s are the most obvious company structure but careful consideration needs to be made as to whether Individual Memorandum of Incorporations (MOI)  need to be compiled or a standard one will suffice. Further a Pty Ltd is not the only option and companies setting up operations in South Africa should consider an offshore branch.

The company structure dictates things such as black empowerment opportunities, tax issues and also repatriation of funds. A proper consultation should always be sought.

The Intergate Way

For business permits for South Africa, Intergate have long been the go to company. Our track record is envied and our service second to none in terms of our expertise and comprehensive offering.

We provide you with help and support that includes all the permit issues but also advising on:orrect company structure

• Tax issues
• Comprehensive business plan
• Needed undertakings
• Foreign exchange
• Premises
• Banking

Request your free call back here for an initial consultation or telephone us + 27 (0) 21 424 2460

NETWORKING BUSINESS BREAKFAST IN JOHANNESBURG!! 29 MAY 2013!!

Greetings from Intergate Immigration!

You are cordially invited to attend our monthly Networking Business Breakfast.

Take the opportunity to talk about your business and enjoy a delicious breakfast.

Date of event: Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Language of event: English

Location / Venue:

Venue: Junipa’s Cafe & Bistro- Shop D4/D5 Hobart Grove, Cnr. Hobart & Grosvenor Rd, Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa

Map: https://maps.google.co.za/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=junipa’s&aq=&sll=-26.061486,28.027689&sspn=0.012125,0.022724&vpsrc=0&ie=UTF8&hq=junipa’s&hnear=&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A&ll=-26.061708,28.026054

Website: http://www.junipas.co.za/

Could we be seeing the sweeping changes to South Africa’s immigration rules that many have been calling out for over the last few years.

Often South Africa’s immigration rules have been criticised as being difficult to meet and whilst South Africa needs inward investment from foreign businesses the current immigration rules are often seen as putting them off.

In addition South Africa also suffers from a net loss of skills as qualified people emigrate to tother countries.

HOME Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor has been reported as promising “sweeping changes to South Africa’s immigration regime to make it easier for foreign businesses and investors to come to the country and to improve competitiveness in the global skills market. The existing immigration situation is frequently criticised as being too restrictive, and in effect a disincentive to foreign businesses.”

Introducing her budget vote in an extended public committee of the National Assembly on Thursday, Ms Pandor said South Africa should provide clearer guidance about the numbers and skills needed, and “we want those with the right skills to come here: the investors and the entrepreneurs who will create the businesses and the jobs of tomorrow, and the scientists who will help keep South Africa at the heart of the great advances in medicine, biotech, advanced manufacturing and communications. They merit a permit policy that shows we are ready to compete with other countries for global talent.

“In regard to business, we’ve increased the opportunities for foreign investors and entrepreneurs — 1,346 visas were issued to entrepreneurs in 2011. We are on track to issue more than we did last year. We also plan to increase efficiency in issuing permits to investors in South Africa. Currently we issue waivers for employees of many multinational corporations. We have had many complaints about delays in issuing permits — we are addressing these concerns. I’m aware that some companies prefer to use staff from their overseas headquarters in their South African branches.

“Government has an obligation to promote job creation and skills development for South Africans. Our immigration system must help us to respond to this challenge while also welcoming investment.”

She said the target for attracting scarce skills had been 50,000 permits issued in 2011 but that only about 20,000 were issued and that the Immigration Advisory Board would look into this area again. “We are finalising the regulations for the 2011 Immigration Amendment Act.

“They will streamline the process of scientists applying for work permits. The Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Higher Education will assist us in reducing the bottlenecks being experienced in evaluating visa and permit requests for scientists and researchers.

“If we manage immigration competently, we can attract critical skills to expand the economy and promote trade and investment for job creation and development.

“We have to compete globally to attract the best and the brightest to work with us in building a better South Africa in a better Africa,” Ms Pandor said.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Fatima Chohan reported to the House on a reduction in the numbers of asylum seekers entering the country.

“In our reception centres, our efforts have in large measure been focused on improving efficiencies in dealing with applications for asylum,” she said. “In this regard, we have been mindful that genuine asylum seekers were not best served by the prolonged periods that they had to endure while their matters were adjudicated.

“We implemented a fast-track system, first at the Durban refugee reception centre, and are doing likewise in Musina and Pretoria. Our preliminary findings indicate positive trends in that the number of asylum seeker applications has decreased quite dramatically, particularly at the Durban centre.

“We are pleased to announce an overall decrease in the number of asylum seekers who have come into our centres throughout the country. In 2010, we received a total of (185,918) applications for asylum. In 2011, this figure dropped to 87,020 applications and last year the figure reduced further to 85,058,” Ms Chohan said.