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    Visa Guide · 🇿🇦 South Africa

    South Africa TRV Critical Skills Work Visa from Bangladesh

    Trusted Employer Scheme pathway for eligible critical-skills professionals employed by an approved South African Trusted Employer.

    Last Updated: 30 August 2026

    The South Africa TRV Critical Skills Work Visa is the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) pathway for Bangladeshi nationals and eligible residents who have a qualifying South African job offer from an employer formally admitted to TES and who meet the Critical Skills Work Visa requirements. TES is designed to streamline work-visa processing for approved employers, but it does not replace the applicant’s underlying Critical Skills eligibility.

    Under the current points-based system, an occupation on South Africa’s Critical Skills List carries 100 points and can qualify the applicant for a Critical Skills Work Visa, provided all other prescribed requirements are met. A South African employment offer is mandatory. The TES checklist uses an online application form and provides selected document waivers, including SAQA evaluation and professional-body confirmation, while professional registration remains necessary where legally required. 

    Document Checklist

    1. Passport (Original): Original passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure from South Africa, with at least two unused/blank visa pages. Submit the current passport together with the required copies.
    2. Previous Passport(s) & Travel History: Full clear copies of previous passports, including relevant visa and immigration pages, where available. Travel history should be disclosed consistently with the application and supporting records.
    3. Photograph (South Africa Visa Format): Provide 2 recent colour passport photographs, 35mm x 45mm, taken within the last 30 days against a plain white background and meeting the current South Africa VFS photo specifications.
    4. Trusted Employer Scheme Admission Proof: Provide official proof that the South African employer has been admitted to the Trusted Employer Scheme, including the applicable admission or confirmation letter issued or signed by the Department of Home Affairs.
    5. TES Online Application Form: Complete the prescribed TES application online. The handwritten forms are not accepted by the Department of Home Affairs.
    6. South African Employment Offer / Contract: Provide a valid offer of employment or employment contract signed by both the employer and applicant and clearly stating the position, duties, employment conditions and intended period.
    7. Critical Skills Eligibility: The position should fall within an occupation on the current South African Critical Skills List. Under the points-based system, a listed Critical Skills occupation carries the required 100 points, subject to all other prescribed requirements.
    8. Employer Skills & Qualification Undertaking: Provide the Trusted Employer’s written undertaking confirming that the applicant is suitably skilled and has the required experience and qualifications to occupy the position being offered.
    9. Professional Registration (where legally required): Where the occupation requires a professional licence or registration before practising, provide proof of application for or registration with the relevant professional body, council or board recognised by SAQA.
    10. Professional Body & SAQA Evidence - TES Waiver: The current TES Critical Skills requirements marks the professional-body confirmation and foreign-qualification SAQA evaluation requirements as not required under the applicable Ministerial Waiver. Check the latest TES checklist before submission.
    11. Employer Deportation Cost Undertaking: Written undertaking by the employer accepting responsibility for costs related to the deportation of the applicant and dependent family members, should this become necessary.
    12. Employer Passport Validity Undertaking: Written undertaking by the employer to ensure that the employee’s passport remains valid throughout the period of employment.
    13. Police Clearance Certificate: Provide police clearance certificates from countries where the applicant resided for more than 12 months during the 5 years preceding the application. The certificate should meet the current validity requirements at the time of submission.
    14. Medical Report: Submit the prescribed medical report in original. The medical report should reflect the applicant’s general state of health and meet the current validity requirements.
    15. Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate (where applicable): Required if the applicant will travel through or stay in a yellow-fever-risk area before entering South Africa. Check the current South African yellow fever policy against the planned itinerary.
    16. Proof of Legal Residence in Bangladesh (where applicable): Applicants who are not Bangladeshi nationals should provide evidence of lawful residence in Bangladesh. 

    Process Roadmap

    Step 1

    Confirm TES Employer Status

    Verify that the South African employer is formally admitted to the Trusted Employer Scheme and can provide the required DHA admission evidence.

    Step 2

    Confirm the Critical Skills Occupation

    Match the offered position to the current Critical Skills List and confirm that the application should proceed as a TES Critical Skills case rather than another work category.

    Step 3

    Complete the TES Online Application

    Prepare the prescribed online application and align the applicant, employer, occupation, contract period and personal details with the supporting records.

    Step 4

    Build the Streamlined Employer File

    Arrange the employment contract, TES admission proof, employer skills confirmation and the required deportation and passport-validity undertakings.

    Step 5

    Prepare Remaining Compliance Evidence

    Add the applicable police clearance, professional registration, yellow-fever, residence and other documents that remain required after the TES waivers.

    Step 6

    Submit through VFS New Delhi

    Lodge the complete TES Critical Skills application through the applicable VFS New Delhi process and pay the prescribed visa and VFS charges.

    Step 7

    Track the Fast-Track Case & Review Conditions

    Follow available VFS updates and, after passport return, verify the employer, occupation, validity and endorsed visa conditions before commencing employment.

    Common Rejection Pitfalls

    Employer TES status is not properly evidenced

    How UnivEase helps

    We help identify the current Department of Home Affairs admission evidence required to establish the employer’s Trusted Employer status.

    The role does not clearly fit the Critical Skills List

    How UnivEase helps

    We help clarify the listed occupation and supporting employment evidence needed for a TES Critical Skills application.

    TES waivers are misunderstood

    How UnivEase helps

    We help distinguish the SAQA and professional-body items currently waived under TES from professional registration that may still be legally required.

    Employer undertakings or contract details are incomplete

    How UnivEase helps

    We help align the contract, skills confirmation, deportation responsibility and passport-validity undertakings before New Delhi submission.

    VFS & Embassy

    Embassy

    South African High Commission, New Delhi
    Address: B-18 Vasant Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057, India.
    Telephone: +91-11-2614 9411-14
    Immigration Queries: Infoza.india@vfshelpline.com
    Website: Click Here
    Working Hours: Monday to Thursday, 08:30-17:00; Friday, 08:30-14:15.
    Consular & Immigration Section: Monday to Friday, 08:30-12:30. 

    Visa Application Centre

    South Africa Visa Application Centre, New Delhi
    Address: Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Mezzanine Level, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001, India.
    Helpline: 02267866066 (Monday to Friday, 08:00-17:00)
    Website: Click Here
    Submission Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00-16:00. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Need help with your South Africa TRV Critical Skills Work Visa?

    Talk to a UnivEase consultant before you prepare your TES Critical Skills application.

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