S11 Work Authorisation Catch Up

There are currently three types of S11 Work Authorisations applicable to the Film Industry:

• S.11.1.A – Oversight Category ( Client, Agency, Production, Post Supervisors, Dialect Coaches etc ) This is a Visitors Visa that is given for a stay of no longer than 90 days. It cannot be extended and, for visa exempt countries, is received at the port of entry on arrival in South Africa. The required paperwork is handed to the airport customs official and the passport is stamped before entering.
• S.11.2 – Specialist Category ( Director, DP, Stylists, Make-Up, Talent, Specialist Technicians etc ) This is a Work Authorisation that is given for a stay of no longer than 90 days. It can be extended once, under special conditions… so don’t count on this for long term stays. This is issued at the local SA embassies in the travellers home country. The required paperwork is handed in at the local SA embassy and the passport is stamped before departing for South Africa. Bank on 5 – 10 working days to process the application – it does vary from embassy to embassy.
• S.11.1.b.iv – Specialist Category Long term Work Visa. This is a Work Visa that is given to anyone staying longer than 90 days in South Africa. This visa can be issued for up to 3 years, is multiple entry and is recommended for people who travel to South Africa very often. It can be extended and is issued at the local SA embassy in the travellers home country. The required paperwork is handed in at the local SA embassy and the passport is stamped before departing for South Africa. This visa can be applied for at the same time as the S.11.2

Please note that all non-visa exempt countries will need to apply at the local SA embassy regardless of their oversight or specialist categories. Red Petal will advise you on your status from the outset.

Applying in another country to your birth country? 

One of the biggest complaints about the specialist category is the fact that the application needs to be done in the travellers home country. Great news is… your specialist traveller is able to apply in a different country under the following two conditions:

• He / She has a valid WORK PERMIT for the different country they are applying in. They may not apply in that country with a tourist or visitors visa.
• EU countries allow you to apply in their neighbouring countries. So, if a French DP is working in London, he / she is able to apply in London as long as a letter from the International Production house confirming their employment accompanies their application. In this instance allow 2 weeks for the application to be processed as the embassies have to communicate amongst themselves.

Paperwork required for S11’s:

• Valid Passport ( 30 days after return and 2 full, completely blank pages )
• Flight Itinerary
• Colour Copy of FIVA letter ( provided by Red Petal Productions )
• Completed DHA84 form ( IN BLACK INK AND IN ENGLISH )
• Payment of Applicable Fee ( SPECIALIST category only )
• Copy of Passport ( SPECIALIST category only )
• 2 x Passport Photos ( SPECIALIST category only )
• Yellow Fever Certificate ( If Relevant )

Additional Paperwork needed for the S.11.1.b.iv:

• Medical Report
• Radiological Report
• Police Clearance

As simple as that… there are a few protocols that will assist in smoothing the applications processes, but we will explain these when we assist with the applications on a confirmed job.

Changes to Embassy Systems:

There always has to be someone to buck the system, doesn’t there? The following embassies have slight differences to the standard procedure. On job confirmation, we will confirm the current requirements and advise you accordingly.

• Berlin – Payment 5 days prior to appointment. This can be circumvented by paying cash into their account on the day, with a EUR 5,00 surcharge. They also require a self-addressed DHL envelope to be provided with the application.
• Munich – Must call for an appointment
• Belgium – Payment made before the application appointment
• Sweden – Payment made before the application appointment
• Switzerland – Payment made before the application appointment
• United Kingdom – All applications to be made through the VFS offices. There are offices in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Allow 7 working days for London and 10 working days for Manchester and Edinburgh.
• India – All applications to be made through VFS Global. There are offices in Bangalore, Deli and Mumbai. Allow 7 working days for Deli and Mumbai and 10 working days for Bangalore.

That about sums it all up! We will look after you every step of the way and will do our very best to make this entire process as quick and easy as it should be.