Internship Visa South Africa

The internship visa is allocated to students wanting to gain non-paying practical experience in South Africa. The requirements for the internship visa depend on the length of stay in South Africa, as well as whether or not the person will be earning a salary during the internship. There are three visa categories for those individuals wanting to intern in South Africa. These categories include the Section 11(2) permit, the voluntary permit, the exchange permit, and the general work permit for South Africa.

Internship Permits/Visas for South Africa

An internship visa is allocated to students wanting to gain practical experience in South Africa. The requirements for an internship visa depend on the length of stay in South Africa, as well as whether or not the person will be earning a salary during the internship.

There are three visa categories that might be useful for individuals wanting to become an intern in South Africa. These are each seen as individual visas, and the appropriate one will be chosen depending on which requirements the student fulfills. These categories include the Section 11(2) permit, the voluntary permit, the exchange permit, and the general work permit for South Africa.

South African internship permit option 1: The 11(2) Visitor’s Visa/Permit with authorisation to work in South Africa.

The 11(2) visitor’s visa holder can apply for authorisation to work in South Africa.
This Visitor’s Visa/Permit with authorisation to work requires the intern to send an application with necessary documents to Pretoria for approval before arriving in South Africa. The intern will require a letter from the company in South Africa to confirm the internship and its duration.

The intern also requires a letter from the Department of Home Affairs that states the name of the intern, the duty to be performed, and the duration of the intern’s stay in South Africa. This letter must be shown to officials on arrival at the South African airport.

This 11(2) permit or visitor’s visa/permit with authorisation to work is only valid for up to three months, and the intern is prohibited from receiving any payment in South Africa.

South African internship permit option 2: The Volunteer Permit for South Africa

Interns wanting to be involved in charitable or voluntary activities in South Africa with a non-profit, religious or other charitable organisation are able to apply for a Volunteer Visa/Permit. This differs from the visitor’s visa with authorisation to work in that it is valid for up to three years. The person still cannot receive payment for work done in South Africa.

To qualify for the Volunteer Permit , the intern will need to provide proof of adequate financial funds to support themselves while in South Africa. The intern will also need to provide documentation from the South African company to confirm the voluntary assignment, and proof that they will not be paid for the assignment.

Interns are required to have a valid return ticket to their country of origin. Alternatively they are required to pay a deposit to the South African government.

South African internship permit option 3: Exchange Permit for South Africa

Foreigners under the age of 25 who have received an offer to conduct work in South Africa for no longer than one year can apply for an Exchange Permit .

This permit cannot be extended. Those students who apply for the exchange permit will not qualify for a Temporary Residence Permit for one year, and will also not qualify for a Permanent Residence Permit for two years.

Initiate Immigration can provide assistance with the application for the approval of these visas on the intern’s behalf. This way we can keep track of and follow up on the permit process. Once the permit/visa becomes available, we can send it off without delay.

If you would like to find out more about the Internship Permit for South Africa, please feel free to get in contact with one of our experienced immigration consultants.

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