Intra-Company Transfer Visa in South Africa

Applying for the South Africa Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Visa

A South African Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Visa enables staff members to transfer from an overseas company to a branch, subsidiary, or affiliated business in South Africa.

It’s a convenient way to get a change of scenery via temporary immigration.
At the same time, your employers benefit from leveraging your expertise in another location.

One of the requirements to be eligible for an ICT visa is that you must have been with your current employer for no less than six months, and you must have documentation to prove the fact.
You must apply for the visa from your home country or country of residence and not within South Africa.

Please note: Your employer must submit a Transfer of Skills Plan, which details how they plan to transfer skills to a South African national or permanent resident. Without a Transfer of Skills Plan, you don’t qualify for a South African Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa

South Africa Intra-Company Transfer Visa Requirements, Forms & Documentation

In addition to having worked for your employer for at least six months, to meet the requirements for an ICT visa in South Africa, it’s necessary for the branch, subsidiary, or affiliation to already be in operation, and it must have at least one South African employee.

All Required Application Forms can be found at our Immigration Resources

Documentation required to apply for a South African Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa includes:

• The usual personal forms and documents are required for all types of visas in South Africa.
• Proof of employment that goes back at least six months.
• Letters confirming the transfer from the sending and receiving entity in South Africa.
• Transfer of Skills plan with a nominated local understudy.
• Written undertakings by the employer in South Africa.

Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa Costs

Contact an IBN immigration consultant for an accurate estimate of the total costs for an ICT visa. Our consultants know all the fees and expenses necessary to process ICT visa applications, so you won’t be caught unawares by hidden costs when you apply for your Intra-Company Transfer Visa.

How to Apply for a South African Critical Skills Work Visa

1. Your immigration consultant will give you all the advice you need to apply for an Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Visa in South Africa.
2. To get the ball rolling, your HR manager should contact your immigration consultant to find out precisely what qualification requirements must be met and what forms must be included in your submission pack.
3. Collate your documentation with your HR manager to ensure that all the forms have been correctly completed and that all supporting documents required for a South African Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa have been included.
4. Share the documentation with your immigration consultant, who will review it and submit it for our in-house quality check.
5. Once the application’s passed the quality check, your immigration specialist will submit your application pack to the relevant Immigration Authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that navigating the visa application process can be complex and sometimes overwhelming. This resource is designed to provide clear, concise, and comprehensive answers to the most common questions applicants have about obtaining a General Work Visa for South Africa.

The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Visa is valid for up to four years.

This puts South Africa in line with international best practices.

Your family can accompany you, but they must apply for one or several other types of visas, for instance, a Study Visa, Accompanying Parent Visa, or Spousal Visa.

Note : Spouses or partners don’t have an automatic right to work in South Africa.

Will the South African Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa allow for a path to Permanent Residence in South Africa?

Yes, according to clear wording in our legislation.

No, according to the Department of Home Affairs, the Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa does not count towards the 5 years of work visa in the Republic. The argument of DHA was and still is that the ICT is intended to be a temporary assignment into South Africa, therefore should not count towards the 5 years.

This interpretation is wrong and this has been confirmed in several court cases by 2023. Thus, although still risky, the clear legal answer to the above questions, is yes.