The presentation was made during a TES stakeholder engagement session on 22 May 2025, where updates were shared with existing TES employers and business representatives. Among the most groundbreaking changes is the move toward a fully digitised visa application process for trusted employers.
“This is a bold and encouraging step that will bring South Africa’s work visa processes on par with, and in some areas exceed, those of many first-world nations,” said Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb and the Organised Business representative on the Minister of Home Affairs’ Immigration Advisory Board, who attended the session.
“The elimination of in-person visa submissions will remove one of the biggest systemic hurdles faced by employers and expatriates alike. This barrier has been exceptionally difficult to resolve due to its widespread nature, but digitisation provides a practical and scalable solution.”
The new system is said to enable approved employers to submit applications directly online, mirroring the existing Trusted Travel Operator Scheme (TTOS).
The second round of the TES is due to launch in July 2025. This is welcomed as big corporations, which are currently recognised as Trusted Employers, testified to the significant benefits during the first round. Companies saw highly skilled foreign professionals having their visas to work in South Africa approved within days, compared to months, before the scheme was introduced.
Key enhancements and considerations discussed include:
Jacobs highlighted the importance of the July intake window, where new employers will have an opportunity to apply for TES status, subject to meeting the Department’s qualifying criteria.
“This development is a game-changer not only for companies already admitted to the TES, but for South African employers more broadly,” she said. “Now is the time for eligible organisations to prepare their application and secure their place within a future-ready immigration framework.”
With the combination of policy reform, digital innovation, and a clear path for public-private collaboration, the Trusted Employer Scheme is being positioned as a cornerstone for unlocking South Africa’s economic potential through skills-based immigration.
Companies who require information about applying to be part of the Trusted Employer Scheme or who are trying to understand how these changes will affect their organisation, should seek assistance from a trusted service provider.
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