Individual Visa Solutions
Browse every route we handle, from South African work, family, retirement and study visas to Botswana and Namibia, and find the one that fits your move.
Not every route fits every situation.
South Africa has a distinct route for almost every reason to relocate, and the right one depends on your work, your family and your timeline. The categories below group every visa and permit we handle so you can start from the situation that matches yours.
Each route carries its own evidence thresholds and processing realities. We assess which one fits before you commit, so you are not paying to pursue a path you cannot qualify for.
Find the right route for your move
Work in South Africa
Critical skills, general work, intra-company and corporate work visas.
Work Remotely from South Africa
The Digital Nomad Visa, for employees of a company outside South Africa.
Learn more →Live with Family in South Africa
Relatives, spousal and life-partner visas and permits.
Study in South Africa
Study visas for dependent and independent students.
Learn more →Retire in South Africa
The Retired Person Visa, on guaranteed income or net worth.
Learn more →Settle in South Africa on Your Net Worth
The Financially Independent Permit: permanent residence in one step, no job, business or investment required.
Learn more →Start a Business in South Africa
The Business Visa, for setting up or buying into a business here.
Learn more →Permanently Reside in South Africa
Permanent residence through work, family, a business or retirement.
Learn more →Become a South African Citizen
Citizenship by birth, descent or naturalisation.
Learn more →Extend Your Stay in South Africa
Tourist visa extensions, applied for in good time before your current visa expires.
Learn more →Botswana Visas & Permits
The right status to work, invest, study or visit Botswana.
Learn more →Namibia Visas & Permits
The right status to work, invest, study, join family or settle in Namibia.
Learn more →A Cape Town team that has done this for two decades
Intergate Immigration has worked on South African visas and permits since 2005, from our base in Cape Town with a submissions presence in Johannesburg. Our team of more than 20 professionals covers English, German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Japanese and Afrikaans, so you speak to someone in your own language rather than through a translator.
Every client is assigned a file administrator, and we hold ourselves to a 24-hour response policy on calls and emails. When the Department of Home Affairs is slow to respond, we stay on your case and keep it moving through the proper channels.
What people worry about, and how we handle it
Choosing the wrong route
Most wasted time comes from applying for a visa you were never going to qualify for. We assess your profile against the actual requirements first and tell you plainly which routes are realistic.
Qualification delays
Many work routes depend on a SAQA evaluation of your qualifications, which you submit yourself and which takes time. We guide that step and build it into your timeline rather than letting it surprise you.
Cost and DIY risk
A refused application costs you the fee and the months it took. Getting the route, the evidence and the order of steps right the first time is usually cheaper than recovering from a refusal.
Sources
South African immigration is decided by the Department of Home Affairs. These are the official pages behind what you have just read, so you can check it against the source rather than take our word for it.
- Department of Home Affairs: immigration services
Authoritative for visa and permit categories, requirements and application channels.
Guided by our team in Cape Town
Every page here is maintained by Intergate Immigration’s client managers in Cape Town, the same people who handle your case from the free assessment to approval.
Meet the team
Questions people ask
Which South African visa is right for me?
It depends on why you are moving, your qualifications and your family situation. There is a distinct route for work, business, study, family, retirement and permanent residence, and each has its own requirements. We assess your profile against those requirements before you commit, so you pursue a route you can realistically qualify for.
How long does a South African visa application take?
There is no single fixed timeframe. Processing depends on the visa category, the completeness of your documents and current Department of Home Affairs turnaround, which varies over time. Some routes also depend on earlier steps you complete yourself, such as a SAQA qualifications evaluation, which add to the overall timeline. We give you a realistic estimate for your specific route at consultation.
Can my family move with me?
In most cases, yes. A spouse or life partner and dependent children can apply for the appropriate visas to join you. The right class and the work or study rights attached to it depend on your situation, so we map the family routes alongside your own case.
Do I need a job offer to work in South Africa?
Yes, for both work visas. The General Work Visa and the Critical Skills Work Visa each need a formal job offer or contract from a South African employer. Neither is a work-seeker visa, so you cannot come to look for work and convert later. A few routes do not start from a South African offer: the Intra-Company Transfer Visa, if your employer abroad moves you to its South African branch; the business visa, if you invest in and run your own business; and the Digital Nomad Visa, if you keep working remotely for a foreign employer. We confirm which route fits you before you start.
Can a temporary visa lead to permanent residence?
It can, depending on the route. Five years on certain work visas together with an offer of permanent employment, and spousal or life partner relationships of five years, may open a pathway to permanent residence, and there are direct permanent residence routes for some applicants. Whether you qualify depends on your circumstances, which we assess before advising on it.
Speak with our South African team.
A focused conversation about your case, before any money is spent.