South Africa Business Visa Checklist
The Business Visa is for a foreign national who wants to establish a new business in South Africa or invest in an existing one, by investing the prescribed financial capital. Based on the official guidance (dha.gov.za), September 2026.
Who it is for
- A foreign national establishing a new business or investing in an existing business in South Africa.
- You must invest the prescribed financial capital amount (the amount is determined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette; no figure is given on the page used here).
Core documents
- Completed and signed application form, submitted with Form BI-1738.
- A certificate from a South African chartered accountant registered with SAICA.
- A valid passport, valid for at least 30 days beyond the intended departure date.
- Apply in person, not earlier than 60 days before the current visa expires (within 7 working days if the current visa has less than 30 days).
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate where applicable.
- Police clearance from countries where you lived more than 12 months in the past 5 years, issued within 6 months.
- Medical report, not older than 6 months.
- Family documents where applicable (marriage, spousal affidavit, divorce decree, custody order, death certificate, parental consent, adoption certificate, separation order).
- Proof of payment of the applicable fee.
New or unestablished business
- Certificate from a chartered or professional accountant (SAIPA) of the cash amount available or already invested (or cash plus capital), the amount being set by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.
- The applicant's undertaking that, during operation, at least 60% of the total workforce (permanent positions) will be South African citizens or permanent residents, with proof of compliance within 12 months of the visa being issued.
- Registration commitment: SARS, UIF, the Compensation Fund, CIPC where applicable, and a SAQA-recognised professional body or council (submit the certificates to the Director-General after registering).
- Department of Trade and Industry recommendation letter (business feasibility and contribution to national interest).
Established or invested business
- Financial statements for the previous financial year and proof of investment.
- Within 12 months of the visa being issued, submit to the Director-General a Department of Labour confirmation that at least 60% of employees are South African citizens or permanent residents in permanent positions.
Boundary note
This visa is an investment/business visa, distinct from the South Africa work-visa family (Critical Skills, General, ICT and Corporate). The official page interleaves Business Visa and General Work Visa clauses; check each item against the official text and do not mix work-visa thresholds with business-visa thresholds.
Not published
The specific financial capital amount and the application fee are not published on the page used here, so neither is asserted here.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Business Visa for?
A foreign national who wants to establish a new business in South Africa or invest in an existing one, and who invests the prescribed financial capital amount.
How much capital do I need?
The amount is determined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette; the page used here does not give a figure, so none is stated here.
What accounting confirmation is needed?
A certificate from a South African chartered accountant registered with SAICA, submitted with Form BI-1738. For a new business, the certificate confirms the available or invested cash amount.
What employment commitment is required?
The applicant commits that at least 60% of the total workforce (permanent positions) will be South African citizens or permanent residents, and must show compliance within 12 months of the visa being issued.
What registrations are needed?
The applicant commits to register with SARS, the UIF, the Compensation Fund, the CIPC where applicable, and a SAQA-recognised professional body or council, submitting the registration certificates to the Director-General.
What is not published?
The specific financial capital amount and the application fee are not published on the page used here, so neither is asserted here.
Related: the the South Africa Critical Skills Work Visa checklist, document translation and copies, and the checklists hub.
Source: Department of Home Affairs, South Africa (dha.gov.za), "Types of visas" — retrieved 2026-09-29. Requirements change, so confirm the current position on the official page before you apply.