South Africa Business Visa and Business Visits

“Doing business” in South Africa covers two different things. Short business trips (meetings, negotiations, trade fairs, market research) use the business-visit category of the visitor visa or an ETA, for up to 90 days. Investing in and running your own company needs a business visa, which normally requires at least R5 million in cash brought from abroad. As of October 2026 the government fee is R1,520, and applications lodged in China take about eight weeks.

Passenger jet taking off – South Africa business visa — Passenger jet taking off. Photo: redcharlie / Unsplash

The two cases compared

Item	Business visit (short trip)	Business visa (invest and run)
For	Meetings, contract talks, trade fairs, market research, client visits	Setting up or buying into a South African business and running it
How	ETA online, or visitor visa at a visa centre	Long-term visa at a visa centre
Government fee (as of Oct 2026)	ETA processing fee R500; visitor visa R425	R1,520
Processing	ETA target 24 hours; visa centre usually 5–10 working days	About 8 weeks
Stay	Up to 90 days per visit	As issued
Employment in SA	Not allowed	Only running your own investment, not working for others

Short business visits

If you land at an ETA airport such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban or Lanseria, you can apply for an ETA online and choose business as the purpose. At a visa centre, choose business visit on the DHA-84 visitor visa form. You will usually need:

passport valid 30+ days after departure, photo, return flights and hotel booking;
an invitation letter from the South African company stating purpose, dates and who pays;
a dispatch letter from your Chinese employer, matching the invitation’s travel plan;
company documents such as the business licence (the Shanghai district is detailed, and every page of South African documents must be certified and stamped in South Africa);
for trade fairs: the organiser’s exhibitor list, proof of payment to the organiser, the booth layout and other exhibition documents.

For frequent travellers: VFS lists a 10-year multiple-entry visa for BRICS business executives, with its own checklist.

Note that in July 2026 the Chinese Embassy reminded travellers that visitor visa, business visa and ETA holders may not work in South Africa. Sending technicians to install equipment, support a construction site or work in a family shop may count as illegal work. Use a work visa or an intra-company transfer visa instead.

Business visa (investing and running a business)

Home Affairs issues business visas to foreigners who establish or invest in a South African business, with the capital amount set by the Minister in the Government Gazette. Requirements published by South African missions for a new business include:

Capital: at least R5,000,000 in cash from outside South Africa, invested in a new or existing business;
Accountant’s certificate: confirmation of the investment by a chartered accountant (SAICA) or professional accountant (SAIPA) registered in South Africa;
DTIC recommendation: a letter from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the business’s feasibility and national interest;
Local staff undertaking: at least 60% of staff to be South African citizens or permanent residents, with Department of Labour proof within 12 months of the visa being issued;
Registration undertakings: SARS, the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund, plus CIPC registration where required;
Personal documents: DHA-1738 form, medical certificate, police clearance from every country lived in for 12 months or more since age 18, and a yellow fever certificate if applicable.

Many Chinese investors first make a short business visit, then register a company, open a bank account, transfer funds legally from China, and apply on that basis. See registering a company with CIPC and China–South Africa import and export.

Tips for Chinese applicants

Move money out of China through legal channels and keep the bank records; the accountant’s certificate must match the source of funds;
Get your police clearance in China, have it notarised and apostilled, and add an English translation;
The 60% local staff rule is a real cost for small trading shops; do the numbers first;
Renew well before expiry; a renewal also costs R1,520.

FAQ

Can I get a business visa for a small shop?

You must meet the R5 million capital, DTIC recommendation and 60% local staff conditions, which most small shops cannot. Do not run a shop on a tourist visa or ETA.

Can my family come with me?

Your spouse and minor children can apply for accompanying visas using the visa centre’s checklist. An accompanying spouse cannot work on that visa.

Will the R5 million threshold come down?

The amount is set by the Minister in the Gazette and can change, and some national-interest sectors have had waivers or reductions. Check the latest Home Affairs and mission requirements before you apply.

What other rules matter for doing business?

Besides visas, learn about B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment); see our B-BBEE guide and other visa types in the visa section.

South Africa Business Visas and Business Visits