The Permits Foundation, an international body advocating globally for direct work access for spouses, hosted leading multinational mobility practitioners and executives at the event on 16 October 2025. Helen Frew, Director of the Foundation, emphasised the headway they have made since their inception in 2001 and underscored the importance of South Africa as a high priority country for their advocacy efforts.
Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb and Immigration Advisory Board member to the Department of Home Affairs’ Minister, Dr Leon Schreider, was invited to present changes to the South African Immigration regime in the last 18 months.
She outlined key updates that mark a turning point for international companies and skilled foreign professionals considering South Africa as a destination.
3 Major Policy Shifts Highlighted
The support from DoEL is a big win in backing a legislation change with the Department of Home Affairs to introduce the direct work access benefit to accompanying spouses. The potential impact of this policy is evident from the Permits Foundations’ latest survey that 88% of the partners of critical skills expats hold a Bachelor’s degree and higher qualification (55% holding a Master’s degree). They are highly skilled talent in their own right and a talent pool South Africa could gain immediate access to.
The point is further supported by statistics cited by South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen, at the Xpatweb Global Mobility Conference in August 2025: “For every one highly skilled employee brought into the country, seven unskilled jobs are created.”
Sneak Preview of the Xpatweb 2025 Critical Skills Survey Results on Spouse Work Access in South Africa
Jacobs additionally shared insights from the upcoming Xpatweb Critical Skills Survey 2025 ahead of its official release on 28 October 2025.
Key Findings
South Africa remains a key investment destination for many multinationals, and discussions at the Roundtable focused on both the remaining visa hurdles and the recent improvements, garnering support for continued progress and momentum behind ongoing digitisation efforts, which have employers optimistic.
*Marisa Jacobs (Managing Director at Xpatweb) is presenting at the Permits Foundation Round Table in Paris.
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