Hiring a foreign national: get the paperwork right first.
A simple employer checklist. It does not verify a visa or replace advice from an immigration professional.
Five practical checks before day one
Keep the person’s work documents and your employment records in one secure place.
- See the work authorisationAsk the prospective employee to produce the applicable valid work authorisation before employment starts.
- Put the job in writingUse a written offer and contract that record the role, pay, start date and any lawful condition linked to work authorisation.
- Record the expiry dateKeep a secure copy of the document and record its expiry date. Limit access to people who genuinely need it.
- Prepare the normal staff filePrepare a role description and the ordinary onboarding records you would keep for any employee.
- Apply the same workplace standardsForeign nationals employed in South Africa are entitled to the same labour law standards as other employees.
What ProperSA does not do
We do not check an ID number against government systems, confirm visa validity, give immigration advice or guarantee a person’s right to work. Do not rely on a scan, a checklist or a template as proof that status has been verified. Where there is uncertainty, use the Department of Home Affairs and a qualified immigration professional.
Get the onboarding file organised
The Foreign Worker Onboarding Pack includes a conditional offer letter, employment contract, document checklist, expiry tracker and referral checklist. It is a record-keeping and document-preparation service, not a visa-verification service.
Start the onboarding pack