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HR Service

Immigration
& Work Permits

Obtain work permits, business visas and residence cards for your teams across Africa. DI-Africa manages every immigration step in 14 countries — file opened within 48 hours.

14
Countries covered
48h
File opened
95%
Success rate
500+
Permits per year
Our services

Full immigration support
for every country we operate in

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Work permits

Filing and follow-up of work permit applications for expatriates and local employees: temporary permits, resident worker cards, renewals. We liaise directly with local labour ministries.

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Business visas

Preparation of visa application files for short and long stays, letters of support, coordination with embassies. Fast-track processing available for urgent assignments.

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Residence cards

Long-stay residence card applications, address registration, foreign national ID cards. Compliance with local immigration authorities in each of our 14 countries.

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Family procedures

Family reunification visas, dependent residence cards for spouses and children, school enrolment coordination. Complete family relocation support.

How it works

Four steps, one point of contact

The same process in every country, run by the local DI-Africa entity, which knows the authorities and the real lead times.

Your need

Country, profile, nationality, dates: a two-minute form on DI-Africa Global Mobility.

The right status

Business visit, rotation or residence: we set the route and the permits required.

A clear quote

Official fees and DI-Africa fees, itemised line by line, by country and filing city.

We handle everything

Filings, follow-up with the authorities, on-site welcome: you track progress until your employee arrives.

We also handle

Social security and tax registrationsMandatory medical checksDependants' permitsRenewals and amendmentsPermit cancellation on departureAirport welcome and transfers
Describe my need →

2-minute form · reply from the country referent

Country guides

Working in Africa: one guide per country

Statuses, steps, lead times and documents: our detailed guides are published on DI-Africa Global Mobility, our dedicated immigration and mobility site. For other countries, our local referent answers on request.

Working in Congo

Two routes depending on the assignment. Resident: job offer notified to ACPE (15 days minimum; with no reply within 22 days, the no-objection notice is deemed favourable), entry visa, provisional employment authorisation (APE) and approved contract, then a one-year visa, CNSS, NIU tax ID and resident card. Rotational or offshore: entry visa, temporary employment authorisation (AET), then a one-year visa.

Read the Congo guide →

Working in Namibia

A visitor visa does not allow work, even for a few days on site: up to 6 months you need a short-term work visa applied for online, beyond that a work permit (8 to 12 weeks for one year). Since 1 September 2026, investors confirmed by the NIPDB can obtain a Business Permit valid for up to 5 years. Nationals of Congo, the DR Congo or Morocco must obtain an e-visa before departure.

Read the Namibia guide →

Other countries: guide and quote on request

Average lead times observed for a work permit: Morocco 4 to 8 weeks · Côte d'Ivoire 6 to 10 · Gabon 6 to 12 · Mozambique 8 to 14 · Namibia 8 to 12 (one-year permit).

Frequently asked questions

Immigration and work permits in Africa: your questions

Which visas and permits does DI-Africa handle?

DI-Africa handles every permit needed to put a foreign employee to work in Africa: entry and business visas, invitation letters, work authorisations and permits, residence permits and resident cards, dependants' permits, plus the mandatory registrations (social security, tax ID, medical check). Each file is run by the DI-Africa entity in the country, which knows the authorities and the real lead times.

How long does it take to get a work permit in Africa?

It depends on the country and the permit. Average lead times observed by DI-Africa for a work permit: 4 to 8 weeks in Morocco, 6 to 10 in Côte d'Ivoire, 6 to 12 in Gabon, 8 to 14 in Mozambique and 8 to 12 in Namibia for a one-year permit. In Congo, the ACPE step alone takes at least 15 days. DI-Africa opens the file within 48 hours and gives you the timeline at the first exchange.

Is a business visa enough to work on site?

Generally not. A business or visitor visa covers meetings and prospecting, not productive work: technical work, installation, maintenance or rotations require a work authorisation, even for a few days. In Namibia, for example, assignments of up to 6 months require a short-term work visa applied for online. DI-Africa tells you the right permit before flights are booked.

How much does a work permit cost?

The cost depends on the country, the permit, its duration and the filing city. DI-Africa's quote separates official fees, set by the authorities, from our own fees, itemised line by line. Describe your need on DI-Africa Global Mobility to receive a quote.

Does DI-Africa also take care of the employee's family?

Yes. We prepare visas and residence permits for the spouse and children, then the relocation: housing, school enrolment, driving licence conversion. See our International mobility page.

Where can I find detailed procedures for Congo and Namibia?

On DI-Africa Global Mobility, our dedicated immigration site: the Congo guide (resident or rotational route, ACPE, APE, AET, CNSS) and the Namibia guide (visa on arrival, e-visa, work permit, 5-year Business Permit). For other countries, our local referent sends you the information on request.

Updated October 2026 · All our FAQs →

Our services in Africa

Your teams deployed in Africa,
compliantly and on time.

Contact our immigration specialists for a fast assessment of your needs.

Request an immigration quote → Contact us
Go further
The DI-Africa ecosystem