Government cuts South African visa red tape

A new points-based system for work visas in South Africa will go a long way in addressing the bureaucratic hurdles that previously bogged down the visa process and bring the country more in line with international standards.

This is according to Xpatweb managing director Marisa Jacobs, who said this reform will see South Africa follow in the footsteps of countries like Canada and Australia.

Jacobs added that this reform will also position South Africa as a serious contender in attracting global skills necessary for stronger economic growth.

On 9 October this year, South Africa introduced the third amendment to its Immigration Regulations, modernising the system to attract global professionals. 

These reforms included introducing a new Points-Based System (PBS) to South Africa’s work visa process.

This system evaluates applicants based on their qualifications, work experience, salary, and language proficiency. 

This will not only make it easier for South Africa to select the best possible applicants but also simplify the process for prospective applicants.

Jacobs explained that the system will allow foreign professionals to evaluate their chances of a successful application for a Critical Skills Work Visa or General Work Visa.

“The PBS will help prospective applicants understand how their qualifications, work experience, remuneration, language proficiency, and employer status contribute towards the score required for a successful application,” Jacobs explained.

“The regulatory changes align closely with countries worldwide who are able to attract top global talent with skills in high demand.” 

“This presents South Africa as a compelling alternative for global professionals who might otherwise consider employment in Europe, the UK, Canada or Australia, for example.”

The Department of Home Affairs said the cutting-edge visa reforms form part of the Government of National Unity’s collective mandate to overhaul the visa regime to attract skills and investment and grow the tourism sector.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber described the new PBS for work visas as one of the single most progressive and pro-jobs regulatory reforms in South Africa in decades.

“The introduction of the PBS is more than an immigration update. It is a proactive strategy to attract top talent from all over the world to South Africa while fostering national development,” Jacobs said. 

“This approach underscores the country’s commitment to aligning with international standards and creating a system that benefits the nation’s economy, business, and the foreign professionals who choose to make South Africa their home.”

The PBS brings more certainty to the visa process, as it provides a checklist of what applicants need and predictability of who will qualify. It also provides a transparent framework to adjudicate visas to help tackle corruption.

The points-based system awards the required 100 points to occupations on the critical skills list, incentivising professionals in fields with substantial impact potential. 

For sectors like renewable energy, healthcare, and technology, the critical skills list continues to provide a unique opportunity to bridge talent gaps and stimulate long-term economic resilience.

Jacobs explained that this is significant because, under the previous regulations, companies faced uncertainty about whether a foreign hire would meet visa requirements where their occupation was not included on the critical skills list. 

Under the new system, they can now strategically assess candidate eligibility in advance, using transparent point allocations for education, salary thresholds, and years of experience. 

“This allows human resources teams to align recruitment strategies directly with regulatory guidelines, improving planning and execution for international hires,” Jacobs said.

In addition, the system rewards companies that participate in the Trusted Employer Scheme, offering points benefits to foreign hires of compliant, reputable companies. 

“By incentivising adherence to immigration standards, the government is enhancing both the credibility of the system and the efficiency of corporate hiring pipelines,” she explained.

Jacobs said this reform will go a long way in addressing the bureaucratic hurdles that previously bogged down South Africa’s visa process. 

Under the old system, subjective assessments led to delays, inconsistencies, and unpredictable outcomes for applicants. 

Now, by prioritising standardised criteria, the points-based system is expected to streamline the entire process and reduce processing times, administrative backlogs, and the potential for corruption.

“We anticipate this transparency will bring new assurance to companies investing in foreign talent, allowing them to predict timelines and budgets accordingly,” she said. 

“For professionals, the clear points-based criteria will reduce the anxiety around immigration decisions and visa applications.”