South Africa introduces major visa reforms to boost investment and employment

Addis Ababa, October 10, 2024 (FBC) – South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has announced reforms to the country’s visa regime, aiming to bolster its attractiveness as a premier destination for investment and tourism. This is reported by BusinessTech.

South Africa’s government approved a new visa for remote workers and a points-based system for work visas. Schreiber expressed confidence that these “forward-thinking and market-driven” reforms would generate thousands of new jobs and position South Africa as a competitive global player in the investment arena.

Schreiber asserted that the introduction of the remote work visa alongside a new points-based work visa system is the most progressive and employment-centric regulatory overhaul we’ve seen in South Africa for decades.

Amendments to immigration regulations under the Immigration Act outline the criteria for awarding points for critical skills and general work visas. Applicants must fulfil all stipulated requirements and achieve a score of 100 points to qualify for either a critical skills work visa or a general work visa.

In summary, these reforms are poised to ease the process for South African companies and multinational corporations seeking to hire skilled professionals while making the country more appealing to remote workers looking to merge work with travel.

Schreiber highlighted that these initiatives are in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s earlier call for a coalition government to overhaul the visa regime to attract skills and investment and grow the tourism sector.