Good news for South African businesses recruiting international talent

South Africa has launched the second phase of its Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), which fast-tracks visas for companies recruiting international talent.

The TES also expands access to critical skills needed to support economic growth.

The Department of Home Affairs launched the second phase of TES on 20 July 2026.

This marks another significant step towards making it easier for companies to attract the international skills needed to support businesses’ operations, innovation and economic growth.

The TES’s core purpose is to allow South Africa to more easily attract scarce skills and manage immigration, while supporting government initiatives to boost investment and create jobs.

Xpatweb Managing Director Marisa Jacobs explained that the TES has been one of the most significant rollouts by Home Affairs.

“Enhancing digital efficiency and providing more predictable pathways for critical skills to enter the economy sends a strong message that South Africa is ready to welcome businesses,” she said.

“However, the ultimate success of these reforms goes together with an understanding of where the country’s skills shortages exist so that the right skills are prioritised and attracted.”

The streamlined immigration process features reduced administration requirements, less documentation, and faster processing times for pre-vetted employers.

The Department reiterated that the process is particularly valuable for recruiting senior executives, technical personnel, corporate employees, and investors.

The expanded scheme now includes companies involved in strategic infrastructure projects, businesses establishing regional and global headquarters in South Africa, and qualifying entities in the financial sector.

Applications for the second round opened on 20 July 2026, and the application period for eligible companies seeking Trusted Employer status will close on 4 September 2026.

South Africa makes it easier for businesses to hire skilled employees

TES Phase II follows on from the success of the first phase, which saw 71 companies being approved to join the scheme.

The initiative was first introduced in 2023 to give effect to a recommendation from the Operation Vulindlela work visa review.

It was designed to address systemic delays in South Africa’s immigration system by creating a fast-track pathway for high-impact businesses to attract critical skills into the local economy.

Trusted Employers have indicated that they benefited significantly from faster visa processing times. Applications that previously took weeks or months are now processed within 5 to 20 business days.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber recently delivered a keynote address at the Xpatweb Global Mobility Conference in Johannesburg.

He reiterated that TES Phase II is uniquely and better positioned to establish Home Affairs as an economic enabler, rather than as a constraint.

TES uses a risk-based approach to simplify visa applications for accredited employers, enabling qualifying businesses to recruit critical skills faster, while upholding the integrity of the immigration system.

Jacobs explained that the scheme offers a practical mechanism to accelerate access to global expertise.

She also noted that the Xpatweb Critical Skills Survey complements the picture with real-world input from business, ensuring that future policy reflects the realities of the labour market.

While the 2026 edition is still underway, the 2025 survey found that 84% of employers have difficulty sourcing highly skilled talent from the local labour market.

Among the 10 most difficult roles to fill in 2025 were engineers, ICT specialists, artisans, financial professionals, media and marketing specialists, and foreign language speakers.

This has remained largely unchanged over the past few years. Importantly, 84% of survey respondents said international recruitment is essential to meet business needs.