GUIDELINES TO FACILITATE THE APPLICATION OF FOREIGN QUALIFIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO SERVE IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR - non exam route
(Last updated Jul 08)
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for expressing your keen interest to work in the South African Public Health Sector. Should you be successful in your endeavour, your stay will be a rewarding and enriching experience.
In order to proceed with your application you will need to complete the following documents, attached for your convenience. Please note, always keep notes on what you have done, to whom you have spoken and keep copies of all documents and forms. We recommend you give the whole process 4-6 months from first written enquiry.
DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE:
Step 1: Application for endorsement by the Foreign Workforce Management Programme (FWMP) of the National Department of Health
Step 2: Application for employment in the Public Health Sector: Form Z83
Step 3: Application for verification of credentials: Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
Step 4: Application for registration with the Health Professions Council of SA: Form 12 (Form 12S in the case of specialists)
Step 5: Application for a work permit: Temporary Residence Application
(UK Doctor’s – Please contact our AHP representative MARTIN SCHROEDER to assist you with getting your work permit and other queries you may have along the way. His e-mail address is - and his mobile no. is 07920520600.)
Step 1: Application for ENDORSEMENT from the Foreign Workforce Management Programme (FWMP) of the National Department of Health (NDOH)
Please complete the application to the FWMP and post, courier or fax it either to us or directly to the FWMP. You only need to send those documents that are relevant to your case. The AHP fax number and courier address is at the end of this document.
It is stated in the FWMP application that a covering letter should precede your application and IMPORTANTLY INCLUDE:
· who you are,
· what area you are applying for (i.e. where you would prefer to work) and
· some background on your employment history, experience, professional status, etc.
Reminder: Please include copies of your spouses’ passport and your children’s passports and birth certificates so that they can be mentioned in your approval and enable you to get the appropriate visas for them to join you. If your spouse is a South African citizen please indicate this.
Step 2: Application for employment in the Public Health Sector: Form Z83
- If you already have a job:
If you know the HOSPITAL you wish to work at then please complete this Z83 form and fax it to the hospital together with your FWMP initial approval obtained in Step1.
Should you have a written job offer/invitation already, please include it in your application to FWMP in Step 1.
- If you do not have a job:
We will help you with your job search, chat about various options and put you in communication with hospitals.
Please complete form Z83. You do not need to fill in the position you have applied for. We will complete that section for you at a later stage. Once we have received your FWMP initial approval (from step 1) we will include this with your Z83 application.
c. Job Offer received
Once you have received and accepted a job offer we will then forward it to the FWMP for you. They will then issue you with an application for support for:
1) Registration with the Health Professions Council of S A (needed in Step 4)
2) A work permit (needed in Step 5)
3) Subsequent employment in the S. African Public Health Sector (needed in Step 5)
Step 3: PLEASE DON’T DELAY – START THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! Application for verification of credentials: Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
You can start work in South Africa without having received this but the HPCSA will need proof that you have applied.
a. Cost of verification
The verification of credentials is performed by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates: International Credentials Services. You should obtain this at your own cost.
b. Submitting documents for verification
Please complete the forms headed “EICS: the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates: International Credentials Services”.
As per the checklist provided, attach 2 copies (They do not need to be notarised) of each of the following:
· Medical school diploma/ degree
· Medical school academic transcript
· Medical licensure/registration certificates for other jurisdictions
· Postgraduate training certificates
Don’t forget to complete the affidavit and release of the ECFMG forms with notary public certification.
Also, you must include:
· 5 photographs of yourself with your name signed on the back
· Payment of US $150
For further information regarding this process see:
HYPERLINK "http://www.ecfmg.org/eics/" http://www.ecfmg.org/eics/
HYPERLINK "http://www.ecfmg.org/eics/saapp.pdf" http://www.ecfmg.org/eics/saapp.pdf
c. Managing the verification process
PLEASE APPLY FOR THIS A.S.A.P. AND SEND IT TO THE ECFMG IN THE U.S.A. It takes a while and you will need to get all the required docs in your home country. You can start work in S.A. without having received this but the HPCSA will need proof that you have applied and that you will receive it in a timely manner after you have started work in SA.
Applicants failing to meet this requirement will be de-registered after six months from the date of registration with the HPCSA.
FROM EXPERIENCE: The reference request sent by the ECFMG to your hospitals can go missing. You can phone the ECFMG and make sure they courier it to your hospital. (You can pay for this by giving them credit card details). Alternatively, keep track of it and make sure the hospital gets the references and completes them before you leave for South Africa.
Step 4: Application for registration with the Health Professions Council of SA: Form 12 (Form 12S in the case of specialists)
You should qualify for registration as a medical practitioner in South Africa without having to sit for the qualifying exam.
a. Documents for application for HPCSA registration
Please complete the attached HPCSA forms for registration in the category Medical Practitioner: Public Service. The following must be completed:
i. The application Form 12 (3 pages) on Form 176MP/DP: Guidelines to Registration has to be signed by you and witnessed (by two medical practitioners) Or (A medical practitioner and another ) before a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner of Oaths.
ii. Please send NOTARISED copies of your:
· degree certificate and
· passport (page with your details and photo on it),
These will only be accepted if certified by an attorney in his/her capacity as a notary public and bearing the official STAMP. Copies certified by a Commissioner of Oaths only will not be accepted.
TIP – when you are at the notary public you can also take along your form 12 and two witnesses (one a Doctor)
Also your ECFMG application form (the page with your photo on) as this also needs a notary stamp
Translated documents
iii. Please make sure a registered translator seals/stamps all your personal and educational translated documentation (to English) and the copies of this translation must be certified by a notary public
iv. An ORIGINAL Certificate of Status (Certificate of Good Standing)
indicating that the applicant is in good standing, issued by the foreign registration authority where the applicant is currently registered. This is your medical council or medical board.
v. Form 10 on Form 176MP/DP: Guidelines to Registration: Documentary proof of internship training or equivalent training/experience, issued by the relevant institution(s). Form 10 can be filled out by you to the best of your ability and please sign that you have done so. Do not let this delay your application process.
vi. Letter from the FWMP regarding your employability (this you will get after Completing Step 1 and Step 2 (C) and you need to sign it and fax it to and to us (AHP) on +27 31 7651755
vii. The following funds need to be deposited into the AHP (part of Family Health foundation) account:
· R880 fee and
· The pro rata annual fee – I will let you know what this is when you have to pay. Annual fee for April 08 to March 09 R1090
You can deposit these amounts into our account and then we will make a payment to the HPCSA on your behalf – this way nothing gets lost or is untraceable!! Our bank account details have been included at the end of this letter.
b. AHP assistance with registration
In order to make sure all the documents are correct, please send them to me and I can courier them directly to the relevant persons.
These should be couriered direct to me at the physical address disclosed at the end of this letter.
IMPORTANT: please make sure you keep COPIES of EVERYTHING!
Step 5: Application for a work permit: Temporary Residence Application
Once you have received a letter of allocation from the FWMP, (i.e. a letter allocating you to a specific institution in a specific province, as applied for per Step 2 above), you should proceed to apply to Home Affairs/S.A. Embassy in your country for a work permit.
If you live in the United Kingdom, the please contact our consultant, Martin Schroeder who has an appointment weekly with the S.A. Embassy in the UK and will handle this application on your behalf. His cell number is : 07920520600
a. Governing Act
The work permit is issued in terms of section 19 of the Immigration Act as amended with effect from 1 July 2005.
The Department of Health has a waiver on the Labour and Chartered Accountant requirements. One of the letters you will receive from the FWMP will specify this.
b. Application procedure
The work permit is processed via the Department of Home Affairs. Ideally, it should be handled via the nearest SA Embassy, SA High Commissioner or South African Consulate in your country.
i. Phone them first and ask to whom you should address the letter.
ii. Write and tell them you are applying to work as a doctor in South Africa.
iii. Attach a copy of the NDOH letters.
iv. Ask them to send you the relevant work permit forms (it is advisable that you do this as soon as you get the NDOH letter even if your HPCSA is not through yet).
v. Please send a self addressed envelope with your letter.
From experience, you will probably need the following. Please confirm with your S.A. Embassy in YOUR COUNTRY that this is correct:
· A passport valid for period of stay in SA plus 1 month
· Administration fee payable at the Embassy
· Prescribed medical report from your G.P (included with application)
· Radiologist report – a chest x-ray (T.B)
· Police Clearance certificate (Your police clearance certificate can usually be obtained from your local police station and does take a little time –if you submit proof to the Embassy you have applied for it, you can proceed with your work permit application.)
· Proof of enough money to reside in S.A. until you receive you first salary
· Proof of registration with the HPCSA (check on this as the FWMP letter from Shaun Allen Smith may be enough proof that you have applied for the certificate from the HPCSA and the ECFMG)
From the prospective Employer you will have to submit to the Embassy:
· An offer of employment – Applied for in step 2
· Endorsement and “NDOH Certification” – 5 pages: This is the FWMP application applied for in Step 2 (C).
· Part P of your permit application form: We will organise for the employer or FWMP making offer for employment to complete this section. We will then fax the completed form to you for inclusion with your application.
The staff at most of the Embassies are well-informed of the health crisis in South Africa and will gladly assist you. Normally, the applications for doctors, nurses and pharmacists are treated as a priority. The FWMP has reported the swift issuance of permits in order to fast track the departure of healthcare workers to South Africa.
c. Period of permit
You may apply for an initial work permit for up to three-years. This will give you temporary residency status in South Africa for three years and allow you to take up employment during that time. It is recommended that prospective Employers and Employees agree on three years as an initial period of engagement or allow for the maximum period of first entry.
IN CONCLUSION
This is a working document and will be updated from time to time. Its primary purpose is to support you throughout the processes and to guide you step by step.
We wish you success in your applications and hope that you have a happy and prosperous opportunity to further your career in South Africa.
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IF YOUR CONSULTANT IS FROM THE JOHANNESBURG OFFICE
IE: XOLISWA LUKHALO & Glenda Middleton & karabo marumo
Postal address Physical Address
P.O. Box 351 sUITE 265 DUNKELD WEST CENTRE