Hire a Japanese Chef in South Africa: General Work Visa in 2026

For years the main obstacle to bringing a chef to South Africa was a certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour confirming that no suitable South African could be found. The Minister of Home Affairs said in 2024 that hospitality employers in particular had struggled to meet it, and announced its replacement. This guide explains where that change stands on official sources, what the current general work visa checklist asks for, and which route suits a Japanese restaurant group.

1. The market

• MAFF counted about 230 Japanese restaurants in South Africa in 2025, about 30 fewer than in 2023 (MAFF rounds to the nearest ten). That is still the largest count of any African country in MAFF's table.
• MOFA recorded 1,004 Japanese nationals in South Africa on 1 October 2025, up 6.9% in a year: 761 long-term stayers and 243 permanent residents.

Three quarters of the Japanese community is on assignment or fixed-term stays, so the local pool of experienced Japanese chefs is small. Many South African kitchens will combine one experienced chef with a trained local team. See our guide to training local staff in Japanese cuisine.

2. Three work visas, one realistic for most restaurants

JETRO describes three main work visas for foreigners in South Africa:

• General work visa (section 19(2) of the Immigration Act): for a foreigner with a job offer who does not fall under critical skills. Issued for up to five years at a time.
• Critical skills work visa (section 19(4)): for skills on the Minister's Critical Skills List, and usually requiring registration with a professional body recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Check the current list before assuming a chef qualifies.
• Intra-company transfer visa: for employees of a foreign company sent to its South African branch or affiliate. See section 5.

For an independent restaurant hiring a chef directly, the general work visa is the usual route.

3. The labour certificate: what changed

At a media briefing on 9 April 2024, Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi set out the old rule and the plan to replace it:

• Under the previous regulation 18(3), a general work visa application needed a certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour confirming that, despite a diligent search, the employer could not find a suitable citizen or permanent resident with equivalent skills and experience.
• The Minister said those requirements "had not been met in the hospitality industry, domestic work, agriculture and other menial work".
• The amendments were to remove the labour department requirement and replace it with a points-based system, scoring at least age, qualifications, language skills, work experience, the offer of employment, and ability to adapt (with income under consideration as a criterion). The scoring itself still had to be gazetted.

The Department of Home Affairs' general work visa checklist, marked effective 9 October 2024, does not list a labour department certificate. JETRO's page, updated in October 2025, still describes the certificate and a waiver option. We could not confirm from official sources whether the points scoring has since been published or how it is applied. Treat this as the one point to confirm with VFS Global or an immigration practitioner before you apply.

4. The general work visa checklist

The DHA checklist effective 9 October 2024 lists:

• Application form, fee payment and a passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended departure.
• A medical report and a police clearance certificate from each country where the chef lived for more than 12 months in the last five years, each no older than six months.
• A yellow fever certificate where relevant.
• A written undertaking by the employer to keep the employee's passport valid, to accept responsibility for deportation costs of the employee and dependants if necessary, and to inform the Director-General if the employee breaches visa conditions, leaves the job or changes role.
• An evaluation of foreign qualifications by SAQA, translated where needed, or proof that one has been applied for.
• Full particulars of the employer, including company registration (CIPC).

The visa is issued for up to five years. If the SAQA outcome is still pending, it is issued for one year and extended to the full term once a positive outcome is submitted within that year. Extensions in South Africa must be filed in person no less than 60 days before expiry. For a Japanese chef, gather culinary school certificates and employment letters early; our MAFF certification guide covers one more document that may help.

5. For restaurant groups based in Japan

If your South African restaurant is a branch or affiliate of a Japanese company, the intra-company transfer visa may fit better. JETRO notes it is issued for up to four years, based on the employment contract with the Japanese company, and requires at least six months of employment with that company before the application. It is commonly used by people posted from Japan for the first time. Plan the transfer with HR in Japan well before the opening date. Our staffing plan guide for overseas openings covers the timing.

6. Step by step

1. Decide the route: general work visa for a direct hire, intra-company transfer for staff of a Japanese parent.
2. Confirm with VFS Global or a practitioner whether a labour certificate or points assessment currently applies.
3. Interview with a practical test. See remote skills tests.
4. Start the SAQA evaluation of the chef's qualifications as early as possible.
5. Sign the employer undertaking and gather company particulars.
6. The chef collects police clearance and a medical report (both within six months) and applies.
7. Plan arrival with our onboarding guide.

For other African markets, see our Middle East and Africa data guide and the Kenya guide.

General information gathered from official sources in September 2026, not legal or immigration advice. South Africa's work visa regulations were amended in 2024 and parts of the new system were still to be published; confirm the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs before acting.