Working in South Africa: visas and the reality

Working in South Africa from Mozambique is possible through two legal pathways: the work visa with a job offer (the points-based system South Africa has used since October 2024) and seasonal agricultural work, where many Mozambicans going south enter in practice.

The South African minimum wage in 2026 is R30.23 per hour, effective since 1 March, and the visa process begins at the South African embassy in Maputo, prior to any travel.

There is no free movement of workers between Mozambique and South Africa: the work visa is the legal route, and working without it is against South African law — President Ramaphosa publicly reminds employers that hiring foreigners without a visa can lead to fines and criminal prosecution under immigration law.

The response in 30 seconds

• 2 work visas are used by Mozambicans: the General Work Visa (with a job offer) and the Critical Skills Visa (occupation on the critical skills list).
• Since 8 October 2024, the system is points-based: you need 100 points for the visa to be approved.
• The minimum wage is R30.23/hour (since 1 March 2026), including agricultural and domestic workers, who since 2024 have the same minimum wage as the rest of the country.
• The visa is only applied for before traveling: the embassy in Maputo processes it, not at the destination.
• Without a visa, there is a risk of fines and deportation — working without it is illegal.
• 4-hour rule: on any worked day you are paid a minimum of 4 hours — R120.92/day at minimum wage, even if the day is only 2 hours.

The legal pathways

1. General Work Visa (with job offer)

It is the route for those who already have a contract or offer from a South African employer.

The points system evaluates 4 factors: occupation (being on the critical skills list gives 100 points, automatic approval), qualification (master's and doctoral degrees yield more points than bachelor's degrees), job offer (mandatory — with a salary above R976,194/year gives 50 points, between R650,976 and R976,194 gives 20), and experience (10+ years yields 30 points).

Employers in the Trusted Employer Scheme are worth more points. The duration, renewal, and what comes next depend on the rules in force at the time — check with the embassy before planning stage 2.

2. Critical Skills Visa (without mandatory job offer)

For occupations on the critical skills list published by the South African government (Department of Home Affairs). You do not need a job offer — you need proof of qualification recognized by SAQA (the body that accredits foreign diplomas in South Africa).

It is the route with fewer steps for those with an occupation on the critical skills list: the job offer is waived on this route — the list is short and updated periodically.

3. The seasonal route: agriculture and domestic work

In 2015, Mozambique and South Africa signed a memorandum of understanding to protect approximately 12,000 Mozambican agricultural workers in South Africa; at the time, it was estimated that 45,000 Mozambicans worked in the country's mines and agriculture. These figures have not been publicly updated since — the current number is uncertain.

In practice, the seasonal route involves contracts with agricultural employers who process the visa, and hiring tends to concentrate during harvest season: South African agricultural seasonality peaks outside the Mozambican wet season, and this calendar difference is the window of opportunity.

The domestic sector is the other door and, since 2024, has the same national minimum wage as other sectors.

How much they pay: the 2026 minimum wage

The South African minimum wage rose 5% on 3 February 2026: from R28.79 to R30.23 per hour, effective since 1 March. The 4-hour rule applies to any worked day: even if you work 2 hours in a day, you are paid a minimum of 4 — R120.92/day at minimum wage.

Public works programs (EPWP) have their own minimum wage: R16.62/hour. In agriculture and domestic work, the minimum wage since 2024 is the national one (the same R30.23), with no separate rate.

With 45 hours per week and 4.33 weeks, the minimum wage corresponds to around R5,895/month at minimum wage. What a Mozambican earns will depend on the sector, experience, and overtime — but this is the threshold that cannot be underpaid.

A note on documents: besides the job offer, the embassy requires a valid passport, photos, and the points system form. For Critical Skills, SAQA accreditation is also needed. The requirement set varies by visa type and your application — the exact list is what the embassy publishes at the time, not a fixed rule copied from a friend.

4. The route closest to you: Mozambican companies operating in the south

Not all routes go through the embassy. There are Mozambican companies operating in South Africa, and some of them recruit personnel in both countries. The contract is with your company, and the visa is processed by them.

It is the most protected route: the corporate group stands behind you, and your salary base is that of the group, not what a South African employer decides in a job ad. Your registration on Inademy is the starting point to finding these opportunities.

Where and how to apply

The process starts in Maputo: the South African embassy processes work visas (the South African Department of Home Affairs handles applications at the country's diplomatic missions). The sequence is: job offer → application with documentation → points system evaluation → visa.

You only travel after the visa is approved — the South African government guidelines are explicit on this. Visa fees are in Rand and published by the embassy; check the fee currently in force. The Trusted Employer Scheme has Phase II open between 20 July and 4 September 2026 — this is registration for employers, not workers.

Before going, it is advisable to have your documentation organized. The process usually requires a valid passport, job offer (or Critical Skills listing, depending on the route), SAQA evaluation when required by the route, and the visa fee, in Rand, charged by the embassy. The amount changes, and the embassy publishes the current fee — confirm on the day of application, as the fee schedule updates.

The reality nobody tells you

Working in South Africa is one of the main sources of foreign exchange for Mozambique: remittances from Mozambicans working abroad are one of the country's main sources of foreign currency.

But the legal framework is tightening: the South African government approved the National Labour Migration Policy 2025 and the Employment Services Amendment legislation, which empowers the Minister of Employment and Labour to set quota limits for hiring foreigners, by sector, occupation, and region.

It is still under public consultation — concrete limits do not exist today. Anyone going in 2026 enters a regime where the trend is towards stricter control. Working without a visa is not an option: besides fines and deportation, there are restrictions on future applications. To compare your rights here, the Law 13/2023 guide is the starting point.

Before leaving: the checklist

• Written contract with the salary in Rand and contract type — without this, there is no minimum wage guarantee.
• Approved visa before your flight. Never work on a visitor's visa: it is a serious violation.
• Recognized qualification (SAQA) if going via Critical Skills.
• Documented experience — years of work, sectors, achievements.
• Health insurance for the initial period.
• Visa fee confirmed on the day — in Rand, published by the embassy; the fee schedule changes, so the active fee is the one at the time of application.
• Documents ready before the flight — valid passport, job offer (or Critical Skills listing), and SAQA evaluation when required.

If you don't have a visa yet: what to do here

The path to a work visa starts with a job offer. For the General Work Visa, the offer is mandatory and counts towards points; the Critical Skills route waives it when your occupation is on the list.

While it hasn't arrived yet, there is a practical step: apply for active job openings on Inademy. The profile is free and alerts arrive via email and WhatsApp, helping you not to miss the seasonal agricultural window.

Next comes preparing your CV in English, which many South African employers expect. The Cover Letter template serves as a structure. The Job Application letter template is the alternative for those without a specific position. And the Guide's CV template covers the rest.

Frequently asked questions

1. Do I need a job offer for a work visa?

For the General Work Visa, yes — the offer is mandatory and counts towards points. For the Critical Skills Visa, it is not mandatory: this route waives the job offer requirement for those with the right occupation.

2. How long does the visa process take?

The timeline varies depending on the embassy's volume in Maputo and document completeness; there is no fixed rule. Check current processing times at the embassy and plan your trip with that margin.

3. Can I go as a tourist and look for work there?

No: a visitor visa does not permit work. Entering as a tourist to work is a violation of immigration law.

4. Does the R30.23 minimum wage apply to agricultural and domestic workers?

Yes, since 2024 agriculture and domestic work have had the same minimum wage as the rest of the country. Today there is a single national rate.

5. What if my workday is less than 4 hours?

The 4-hour rule applies to any worked day: if you work 2 hours, you get paid for 4 — R120.92/day at the 2026 minimum wage.

Sources

Gov.za (3 February 2026) — R30.23/hour minimum wage; work visa FAQ; Fasken and Polity (February 2026) — minimum wage overview; Newland Chase (October 2024) and Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (November 2025) — points-based system and National Labour Migration Policy; VOA (2015) — MZ-South Africa agricultural agreement.