Short Stay Business visa

 

With a Short Stay Business Visa, a foreign national can immigrate to South Africa for an agreed period. An investor or entrepreneur has to apply for a South Africa Business Visa which can be later extended. 

 

South Africa Business Visa is also known as an Investor Permit or an Entrepreneur Permit. This Visa is meant for foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to South Africa, for a short period, on the purpose of investing in a new or existing business.

 

A South Africa Business Visa is a temporary resident visa, which allows a foreign resident to stay here for a specified period. South African business visas are granted for a period of twenty-four months, which can be extended indefinitely providing that the SA visa requirements continue to be met.

Investors and entrepreneurs holding a Business Visa in South Africa can later apply for permanent residency in this country. 

 

In South Africa, immigration via this route requires a minimum investment of R2.5 million, around £175,000, to be made in either an existing business or a new venture.

 

The applicant can request for a capital reduction if his business falls under the sectors of IT/Communications, Metals/Minerals, Chemicals/Biotechnology, Clothing/Textiles/Crafts, Tourism, Automotive/Transport and Agricultural Processing. 

 

It is also expected that the entrepreneur or the investor will satisfy the following requirements:

 

• a detailed business plan must be submitted; 

• the applicant must be employed in the investment or entrepreneurial venture; the business must demonstrate export potential of the transfer of a technology not generally available in the country; 

• evidence must be supplied to show that the investment capital will originate from abroad; 

• documentary evidence of the applicant's business experience and entrepreneurial skills must be submitted; 

• a signed agreement must be made to register, if required, with the relevant statutory body for the sector. 

 

If a person applies to extend his/her South Africa Business Visa, then he/she has to maintain the same eligibility criteria that were assessed during securing the visa. It should be also noted that if any investor or entrepreneur fails to perform then his/her business permit can be withdrawn. 

 

South Africa Business Visa is meant for temporary residence in the country. However, since South African visas, of this class, can be extended and may ultimately lead to permanent residence in South Africa, it is likely that successful candidates establishing or investing in a South African business will be present in the country for some years if not indefinitely.

As a result, spouse and dependent immigration are permitted and the spouse or partner and dependent children may accompany the principle applicant to South Africa. Dependents will be granted visitor visa status to immigrate to South Africa for the same length of time as that granted to the business permit holder.