Johannesburg, South Africa – South Africa’s newly introduced work visa system has been lauded by industry experts as a significant step forward for the often-criticized Department of Home Affairs.
The new Remote Work Visitor Visa and Points-Based System for Work Visas, gazetted by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber on October 9, aim to streamline the visa application process and attract skilled foreign workers to the country.
“These reforms are a major boost for South Africa’s investment and tourism sectors, and will create thousands of new jobs,” Schreiber stated.
Under the new system, applicants for critical skills or general work visas must earn a minimum of 100 points by meeting criteria such as qualifications, work experience, and salary. Those who meet the threshold and whose occupation is on the critical skills list will be eligible for a critical skills work visa, while others may be issued a general work visa.
Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb, a firm specializing in immigration services, praised the directive for providing clarity to applicants, particularly those with pending applications.
“The directive ensures that visa applications submitted before the implementation of the points-based system will be processed under the existing rules, eliminating uncertainty,” Jacobs said.
For Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders, the directive offers temporary relief by exempting them from the points-based system. This allows ZEP holders to transition to mainstream work visas without meeting the new criteria.
Jacobs noted that the introduction of a points-based system aligns South Africa with other countries that prioritize economic needs and skill shortages. “The system is designed to attract the right kind of talent to support South Africa’s growth,” she said.
The directive also clarifies that future applicants must adhere to the points-based system, ensuring a consistent and transparent assessment process.
