UIF Registration for South African Employers
Register with SARS and the Department of Labour. Required from your first hire. We file the UI-8 employer application for you.
Any South African business must register as an employer for UIF the moment it takes on its first employee. Registration gives you a UIF reference number, which you need to pay the monthly contributions (1% from you and 1% from the employee) and to apply for a COID letter of good standing. Govchain files the UI-8 employer application with the Department of Employment and Labour for you.
CostR1 620
Timeframe20 working days
ForSouth African companies with at least one employee
When you need to register for UIF
Any South African company that pays salaries must register for UIF. The fund covers maternity, illness, parental, adoption, and unemployment benefits for your employees. Registration is required from your first hire.
- New companies hiring their first employees
- Existing businesses that have never registered for UIF
- Employers who want to skip the SARS and Department of Labour visits
- Employers of domestic workers (covered by UIF since 2003)
Looking to claim UIF benefits as an individual? You apply through the Department of Labour or uFiling directly. This page is for employers registering their company.
What’s included
A fixed-price service that covers everything from the UI-8 paperwork to receiving the SARS and Department of Labour reference numbers.
- UI-8 employer registration with both SARS and the Department of Labour
- Online application from anywhere in South Africa, no SARS branch visits
- Document review so SARS doesn’t reject the application for missing or expired IDs
- Submission of supporting documents (proof of business address, ID copies, bank confirmation)
- Direct contact from our team if SARS or Labour queries the application
- Your UIF employer reference number emailed to you once issued
- Quick-start guide for filing your first monthly UI-19 declaration
- Setup of your uFiling profile so you can declare employees online from month one
How UIF registration works
You complete the form online. We file with SARS and the Department of Labour.
Step 1
Tell us about your company and your employees.
Step 2
Credit card, EFT, or cash deposit at any ATM.
Step 3
We prepare the UI-8 application and submit it to SARS and the Department of Labour on your behalf.
Step 4
Once approved, your UIF employer reference number is emailed to you. You can then file monthly UIF contributions.
What you’ll need
- Registered company (CIPC registration certificate / CoR 14.3)
- Business bank account
- Director’s certified ID documents (not older than 3 months)
- Proof of business address (not older than 3 months)
- Employee ID documents and start dates
- Employee salary schedule (monthly gross)
- SARS tax number (we can register the company for tax first if needed)
Used by companies across South Africa
Over 124,000 small business owners use Govchain. UIF, tax, and CIPC compliance handled in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about UIF Registration for South African Employers
When does a company need to register for UIF?
From your first hire. Every employer with at least one employee must register with both SARS (which collects contributions) and the Department of Labour (which handles employee declarations). Domestic workers count too.
How much does UIF registration cost?
R1 620 once-off through Govchain. SARS and the Department of Labour don’t charge a registration fee. The cost covers preparing the UI-8 employer application, document review, and follow-up with both agencies.
How long does UIF registration take?
Around 20 working days from the point we have your signed documents. Turnaround can vary if SARS or the Department of Labour come back with queries. We keep you updated if it runs longer.
What is the UIF contribution rate?
2% of employee remuneration: 1% deducted from the employee’s salary, 1% paid by the employer. Contributions are capped at the monthly earnings ceiling set by the Department of Labour.
What forms are involved in UIF?
UI-8 is the employer registration form, and that’s what we file. After registration, you submit a UI-19 each month declaring your employees’ earnings. Domestic employers use UI-8D and UI-19D instead.
Do I need to register if I only have one employee?
Yes. The threshold is one employee, not five or ten. Even part-time workers count, unless they work less than 24 hours per month for you.
Do domestic workers need UIF?
Yes. The UIF Amendment Act of 2003 brought domestic workers into the system. You register as an employer with the Department of Labour and contribute 2% of their wages each month.
What happens after I get my UIF number?
Each month you submit a UI-19 declaration with your employees’ earnings, and pay the 2% contribution to SARS. UIF is collected as part of the EMP201 return alongside PAYE and SDL.
Can I register for UIF online without going to SARS?
Yes. With Govchain the whole process is online. You complete the form, sign a power of attorney, and we file the UI-8 application with SARS and the Department of Labour. No branch visits.
What is the difference between SARS UIF and Department of Labour UIF?
SARS handles the collection of UIF contributions through your monthly EMP201 return. The Department of Labour (uFiling) handles employee declarations and benefit claims. Most employers need both, and we set both up at the same time.
What is the UIF earnings ceiling?
The UIF contribution cap is R17,712 per month per employee (since June 2021). If an employee earns more than that, you still only contribute 1% of R17,712 (about R177.12) and the employee contributes the same. Any earnings above the ceiling don’t attract additional UIF.
What happens if I don’t register for UIF?
The Department of Labour can fine an employer up to R10,000 for failing to register, plus you’re liable for back-contributions and interest. Affected employees can also lodge claims against the company for benefits they were denied.
Do I need to register UIF for an independent contractor?
No. UIF only applies to employees, not independent contractors or freelancers invoicing your company. SARS uses the "common-law employee test" to decide whether someone is genuinely a contractor. If the person works set hours under your control, SARS may classify them as an employee even if you call them a contractor.
Can foreign nationals be registered for UIF?
Foreign workers on a permanent residence or asylum permit must be registered for UIF in the same way as South African employees. Workers on a critical skills visa or general work visa are also covered. Only those on a contract that explicitly excludes them from social security (rare) are exempt.
What is the UI-19 form?
The UI-19 is the monthly employee declaration filed with the Department of Labour. It lists each employee’s ID number, gross pay, and the reason for any earnings change (new hire, salary change, termination). Submitting the UI-19 on time is what makes employees eligible to claim UIF benefits later.
Is UIF the same as PAYE and SDL?
No, they’re three separate levies that get collected together on the EMP201. PAYE is the income tax withheld from salaries above the tax threshold. SDL is a 1% skills development levy that only applies once your annual payroll exceeds R500,000. UIF is the 2% unemployment fund contribution (1% employee, 1% employer) that applies from your first hire.
Can I backdate UIF registration?
Yes, but it triggers back-contributions plus interest from the actual hire date. If your first employee started six months ago, we can still register the company, but you’ll owe contributions for those six months. Better to register at hire and pay forward.
Does Govchain handle the monthly UIF filings too?
The R1 620 fee covers the once-off employer registration. Monthly UIF declarations (UI-19) and EMP201 filings are part of Govchain Payroll, which handles payroll, payslips, and SARS/Labour filings together for a fixed monthly fee.
Related terms and definitions
Plain-language definitions of the forms, numbers, and acronyms that come up when registering and running a uif registration for south african employers.
Register your company for UIF
Required as soon as you have one employee. We file the UI-8 application with SARS and the Department of Labour.
Last reviewed: 12 May 2026. Govchain reviews this page against current CIPC and SARS rules every quarter.