Finding Skilled Workers is Hard: Finding the Right Experience and Qualifications Even Harder

Amid the global race for critical skills, South Africa’s economic growth hinges on its ability to attract and retain top talent. Companies increasingly report challenges in finding these professionals locally, with the added difficulty of sourcing skilled workers with the right combination of work experience and qualifications.

Critical Skills Crunch Deepens in South Africa as Companies Battle to Fill Top Roles

South Africa’s strides in modernising its immigration framework and particularly the progress towards direct work access for the accompanying spouses and partners of expatriates to attract foreign talent, were showcased as key highlights at the recent Permits Foundation Roundtable in Paris, France.

Big Wins in South Africa’s Immigration System Highlighted at Paris Roundtable

South Africa’s strides in modernising its immigration framework and particularly the progress towards direct work access for the accompanying spouses and partners of expatriates to attract foreign talent, were showcased as key highlights at the recent Permits Foundation Roundtable in Paris, France.

Justice Delayed, But Not Denied: SA Court Grants UK Citizen Permanent Residency in Rare Legal Win

With a single court order, the High Court in Pretoria resolved what the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) failed to finalise for more than five years: declaring a UK-born citizen a Permanent Resident of South Africa.

Lesotho and Zimbabwe Permit holders

Lesotho and Zimbabwe Permit Holders Granted Reprieve Until May 2027

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Leon Schreiber, has extended the validity of both the Lesotho Exemption Permits (LEPs) and Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs) until 28 May 2027, granting an additional 18-month reprieve for thousands of permit holders whose documents were set to expire on 28 November 2025.

SARS targets High-Earning Expats

Why High-Earning Expats Are Top Targets for a SARS Audit in 2025

Imagine you are a high-earning South African Expatriate, well-compensated abroad, enjoying generous fringe benefits and filing your tax return from afar. Then a detailed audit letter from the Tax Man arrives, requesting payslips for specific months over a two-year period, full pay roll reconciliations, proof of foreign tax paid, a breakdown of international travel expenses, […]

South African companies navigating talent shortages and Work Visa Process for recruiting skilled workers in AI and critical roles

AI Fever Grips South African Companies in the Race for Top Talent

The global talent war for specialists in artificial intelligence (AI) with deep technical knowledge and practical experience has officially reached South Africa. The increasing number of South African companies reporting difficulty in filling skilled ICT, media and marketing positions from the local talent pool is indicative of a strong drive to attract AI specialists, says […]

Work Permit South Africa article banner showing travel and lifestyle concept for American retirees considering relocation to South Africa

More Americans Are Choosing to Call South Africa Home – Here’s Why

As of the 2022 Census, South Africa is home to over 2.4 million foreign-born residents, among them around 7,400 individuals originally from the United States. While Americans make up a small share of the expatriate population, signs indicate a growing interest in making South Africa a long-term home.

South Africa Labour Migration Policy banner highlighting skills attraction and business engagement

South Africa’s New Labour Migration Policy: Progress for Skills Attraction, But Business Must Stay Engaged

On 29 May 2025, the Department of Employment and Labour published South Africa’s White Paper on the National Labour Migration Policy. The document outlines government’s official approach to managing cross-border labour mobility and sets the framework for how foreign skills will be accessed in the future.

Business leaders contributing to the Critical Skills Survey in South Africa

Business Input Now Key to Address Critical Skills Shortages in South Africa

Almost 80% of multinational and large corporations in South Africa experience an ongoing struggle to recruit critically skilled individuals, highlighting the severity of the talent shortage and its impact on business development, says Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director at the immigration specialist Xpatweb.