Key Points
- The government of South Africa plans to add more professions to its list of Critical Skills
- The list is being updated to compensate for a lack of skilled workers in South Africa
- Individuals in the new Critical Skills categories must meet existing requirements for a Critical Skills Visa
- The public may participate in a consultation process that is open through March 31, 2021
Overview
South Africa has proposed adding more professions to its list of Critical Skills.
What are the Changes?
The proposed list of Critical Skills now includes the following professions:
- Web Designers
- Chief Information Officers
- Data Management Managers
- Marine Geographic Information Systems Technicians
- Software Developers
Individuals in the professions above are considered to have skills that are critical to the economy. They may apply for a Critical Skills Visa if they meet existing requirements, including holding a diploma or a tertiary education degree and registering with a local body that regulates the profession. The Critical Skills Visa has a five-year validity.
South Africa is updating its Critical Skills list to stimulate its economy, which is experiencing low levels of growth due to a lack of skilled workers. Consequently, the government is updating its Critical Skills list to attract foreign workers.
What Should Employers and Applicants Know?
The public is invited to participate in a consultation process regarding the proposed list of Critical Skills. The consultation process is open through March 31, 2021.
Looking Ahead
When the Critical Skills list is published, foreign nationals may apply for a Critical Skills Visa in a qualifying category.
Originally published 19 February 2021
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.