After various delays and false dawns the South African Remote Work Visa was gazetted on the 9^th October 2024.

The Remote Work Visa (Digital Nomad Visa) allows a foreign person that is employed by an overseas company to continue to work for that company remotely from South Africa.

Encouragingly the income threshold for qualification for the Remote Work Visa which was originally pitched at R 1 million per annum has been reduced to R 650 796 gross per annum. The applicant will have to submit their last 3 months bank statements as proof of receipt of this amount.

The visa will be issued for 3 years and can be renewed provided the applicant still meets all the criteria.

With regards to their tax obligations: If the holder of a Remote Work Visa is a tax resident in a country that has a double taxation with South Africa then they will be required to register with the South African Revenue Services if they are present in South Africa for an aggregate period of 183 days during any 12 month period. If the holder is not a tax resident of a country with which South Africa has a double taxation agreement, then they will be required to register with the South African Revenue Services irrespective of the amount of time they spend in South Africa.