South Africa updates the Critical Skills List and Critical Skills Work Visa framework

Local contact

EY Global
13 Oct 2023 PDF
Subject Tax Alert
Categories Immigration
Jurisdictions South Africa

On 3 October 2023, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) published a revised Critical Skills List, which includes updates to the Critical Skills Visa framework. Effective 3 October 2023, engineers who possess “candidate registration status” with a professional body are eligible to apply for Critical Skills Work Visas and permanent residence permits. Previously, only full members of professional bodies with professional designations (e.g., professional engineers) could apply for these visas or permanent residence permits. In addition, university lecturers who are not members of the South African Council of Educators (SACE) can now apply for Critical Skills Work Visas provided they are registered with a professional body in their field of expertise and employed as educators or lecturers in an accredited higher learning institution in certain subject matter areas.

A Tax Alert prepared by EY's People Advisory Services group, and attached below, provides additional details.

Show resources