It is a heartbreaking scenario we see frequently. You are in South Africa on a valid Spousal Visa. You interview for a dream job, ace the assessments, and receive an offer letter. You hand over your passport to HR for onboarding.

Then, the phone rings. The offer is retracted. "Your visa says you are a Visitor. You cannot work."

Confusion sets in. You are married to a South African! Surely you have the right to work?

The answer is Yes, but it is not automatic. This is the single most common misunderstanding among foreign spouses in South Africa.

 

The "Visitor" vs. "Worker" Confusion

 

The confusion stems from the name. What most people call a "Spousal Visa" is technically classified by the Department of Home Affairs as a Visitor’s Visa under Section 11(6) of the Immigration Act.

By default, a Visitor’s Visa—even one based on marriage—only grants you the right to reside in South Africa. It does not grant you the right to work, study, or run a business.

To work, you must apply for a specific add-on called a Work Endorsement.

 

The Catch-22: You Need a Job to Get the Rights

 

Unlike Permanent Residency, which gives you the freedom to work anywhere, a Section 11(6) Work Endorsement is tied to a specific employer.

You cannot apply for a "general" work endorsement that lets you freelance or job-hunt. The process works in reverse:

  1. You must first secure a job offer.

  2. You then take that contract to VFS Global and apply to have your visa "endorsed" for that specific company.

  3. Only once the new visa sticker is in your passport—with the specific condition "To take up employment with [Company Name]"—can you legally start working.

 

The "Employer Specific" Trap

 

This endorsement is not a "blank cheque." If you resign or lose that job, your work rights expire immediately. If you find a new job, you cannot simply start on Monday. You must apply for a new endorsement for the new employer.

This creates a significant risk for employers. If they let you work before the endorsement is finalized, they are violating the Immigration Act and face fines or imprisonment. This is why cautious HR departments often retract offers if they don't see the correct stamp.

 

How NAC Travel Bridges the Gap

 

The delay between getting a job offer and getting the endorsement is where deals fall apart. Employers don't want to wait 3 months for a visa.

The immigration team at savisa.nac-travel.org speeds up this critical transition:

  • Employer Education: We speak directly to your potential employer to explain the Section 11(6) process, reassuring them that you are eligible and that the process is standard.

  • Contract Review: We ensure the employment contract meets Home Affairs standards (e.g., duration and salary clauses) to prevent rejection.

  • Endorsement Application: We prioritize the submission of your Section 11(6) application to minimize the gap between your offer and your start date.

Don't assume your marriage certificate is a work permit. Let us get the right stamp in your passport so you can build your career.