South Africa has taken a significant step toward revitalising its economy by announcing new guidelines for work visas, aimed at attracting skilled foreign workers.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber unveiled these reforms on Wednesday, marking a departure from previous immigration policies criticized for their xenophobic tendencies.
Under the former system, foreigners with job offers faced lengthy waiting periods for visa approvals and often received no clear explanations for denials. The newly proposed changes include two key reforms designed to streamline the process and enhance the country’s appeal to international talent.
The "Remote Work Visa" will enable well-compensated foreign employees working for overseas companies to reside in South Africa without competing with the local job market. This initiative allows these individuals to contribute to the economy through local spending, including dining, shopping, and paying taxes.
In addition, a "Points-Based System for Work Visas" has aimed to combat corruption and inefficiency by creating a transparent assessment process for visa eligibility.
This system will evaluate applicants for critical skills or general work visas based on specific criteria.
Notably, those applying for a general work visa outside the Trusted Employer Scheme must now meet a minimum gross annual income threshold of R650,796—twice the median income in the formal sector—ensuring that lower-income jobs remain protected while attracting highly skilled workers.
Minister Schreiber praised the reforms as "the single most progressive and pro-jobs regulatory reform South Africa has seen in decades."
He emphasised that these measures are meticulously designed to make South Africa a premier destination for investment and tourism, ultimately creating thousands of new jobs for South Africans while introducing a transparent framework to reduce visa adjudication corruption.
