Department of The Home Office has announced proposed amendments to the law on key skills and so-called “digital nomad” visas in a bid to attract highly skilled talent to the country.
“To succeed in an ever-changing global economy, our country needs more people with the right skills. This is so our economy can be competitive, grow, and create jobs. ” President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his regular newsletter on Monday.
“Remote workers who wish to work in South Africa while employed by a foreign company will be able to receive such a visa.”
If passed, South Africa will become the fifth country in Africa to offer digital nomad visas, following Namibia, Cape Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles. Highly skilled workers in the IT sector, such as programmers and software architects, are typically eligible for such visas.
Regarding critical skills visas, the draft regulations propose a points system that takes into account the applicant's age, qualifications, language skills, work experience, and whether or not they have been offered employment at a local company. This practice is similar to other jurisdictions around the world. High-income workers in the IT sector are particularly targeted.
“The introduction of remote work visas is a response to the rapidly evolving world of work, where a growing number of skilled workers, particularly in the technology industry, are attracted to the lifestyle benefits of working remotely.” said Mr Ramaphosa.
critical skills
As a popular tourist destination, South Africa has the potential to attract many remote workers and people with critical skills. In addition to the benefits they bring to the professional world, they help boost the economy by spending the money they earn abroad in local businesses.
“Typically, people who qualify for this visa are high-income earners. They will stay in hotels or rent a big house and spend their money in the local economy,” said the chairman and CEO of software engineering company MIP Holdings. said Richard Firth, CEO.
Mr Ramaphosa advised companies looking to import skills on the Critical Skills List to refer to the Trusted Employer Scheme announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs in October 2023. Under this program, companies can apply for trusted employer status, which will help streamline visas. New employee process.
Read: Digital nomad visas are on the rise in Africa – but South Africa is far behind
“International experience shows that employees with critical skills help the companies they work for to be more productive, more innovative and more competitive,” Ramaphosa said. said. – © 2024 News Central Media