CRITICAL SKILLS WORK VISA SOUTH AFRICA

The South African Critical Skills work visa is the most sought-after visa aimed at skilled foreign national professionals whose skills have been identified as critical or scarce in South Africa.

Aaron Motsoaledi, Department of Home Affairs Minister, has Gazetted the long-awaited South African Critical Skills List 2022, which had not been updated since 2014. This has been welcomed with open arms by corporations across South Africa, which may now fulfil the country’s objective of luring foreign professionals and sought-after critical skills. South Africa’s Critical Skills work visa offers freedom and opportunities to live and work in South Africa.

The South African Critical Skills work visa is issued for periods of up to five years and may be renewed, while also offering a pathway to permanent residency.

Talk to one of our immigration experts to find out whether you meet the required Critical Skills criteria for South Africa.

TALK TO US

DOWNLOAD 2022 CRITICAL SKILLS LIST

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CRITICAL SKILLS VISA AND CRITICAL SKILLS LIST 2022:
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Critical Skills DHET Technical Report

Whilst the methods to which the Critical Skills List came about are noteworthy, there are particular points of interest in the technical report that make an impact on the process of applying for a Critical Skills work visa, leaving some with the uncertainty of how to approach a Critical Skills Visa application.

Foreign applicants need to adhere to the guidelines set out in the technical report when compiling their applications for a Critical Skills Work Visa as the report is concise in its description of what the DHA will be considering when adjudicating such applications.

The South African Critical Skills List 2022:
What’s Changed, And What Does It Mean For My Pending Application?

Foreign nationals now have access to previously unattainable opportunities thanks to the new Critical Skills List. If you currently hold a Critical Skills Work Visa and your skill is no longer listed, you may be unable to renew your visa. Despite the removal of certain important categories from the Critical Skills List, the following noticeable occupations have been added to South Africa’s Critical Skills List 2022:

Director (Enterprise /Organisation) Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director- NQF 9

Corporate General Manager (medium enterprises or larger) (Master of Business Administration NQF 8)

Programme or Project Manager (Master’s Degree (NQF 9)

Quality Systems Manager (Master’s Degree (NQF 9) Quality Control Manager Quality Assurance Systems Auditor

Data Scientist (Master’s Degree (NQF 9)

Multimedia designer (Bachelors degree (NQF7)

The new categories and Critical Skills work visa qualifying components may make the application procedure more onerous. Throughout your immigration journey, our immigration specialists can help you navigate these challenges and guide you through out the process.

Things You Need To Know About The New Critical Skills List

Both Corporate General Manager and Director are on the new Critical Skills List. For each occupation on the new list, a minimum NQF level qualification is required, ranging from level 3 to level 10, with the majority of NQF levels 8 and 9 being required. Numerous engineering occupations, such as electrician engineer, chemical engineer, and mining engineer, are still on the list, even though they were originally left from the draft list.

Those who held Critical Skills visas under the old Critical Skills List 2014 and whose skills did not make it onto South Africa’s new 2022 Critical Skills list will be able to apply for Permanent Residency if they meet the new Critical Skills List’s requirements. New guidelines state that all applicants for the Critical Skills Visa category must have a job offer in hand at the time of application.

The new Critical Skills List 2022 now includes a revised occupation of outbound and inbound contact centre consultants, with expert language abilities including German, Swiss German, Flemish, Greek, Swedish, Danish, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin, and French, as well as previously listed languages.

STEM instructors in grades 8 through 12 with a NQF level 7 prerequisite, as well as University Lecturers with NQF levels 9 and 10, are now included in South Africa’s Critical Skills List 2022.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A CRITICAL SKILLS WORK VISA?

A Department of Labour Certificate is not required if your occupation is on the South African Critical Skills List.
An employment offer is not required when you apply but you will only be issued with a visa valid for one year to enable you to secure employment within your Critical Skills category.
You immediately qualify for permanent residency once you have been offered permanent employment in an occupation that appears on the Critical Skills List.
The South African Critical Skills Visa is valid for up to five years.
Can be renewed in South Africa.
Critical skill visa enables the visa holder to add spouse and dependents of the Critical Skills visa holder are eligible for accompanying visas.

A Department of Labour Certificate is not required if your occupation is on the South African Critical Skills List.
An employment offer is not required when you apply but you will only be issued with a visa valid for one year to enable you to secure employment within your Critical Skills category.
You immediately qualify for permanent residency once you have been offered permanent employment in an occupation that appears on the Critical Skills List.

The South African Critical Skills Visa is valid for up to five years.
Can be renewed in South Africa.
Critical skill visa enables the visa holder to add spouse and dependents of the Critical Skills visa holder are eligible for accompanying visas.

WHY US?

Xpatweb offers a bespoke, -inclusive service to corporates and professionals, from identifying the category of visa best suited, through to the compiling of a fully compliant application for submission, in the most administrative efficient and timely manner.

Our multidisciplinary team of professionals has extensive expertise in the industry and is in a unique position to provide you with pertinent service ensuring the optimal approach to immigration.

Our Main Focus Remains To Serve Corporates, Professionals and High Net Worth / Affluent Families With Legally Correct Immigration and Permanent Residency Services.

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.