WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA AS A SKILLED WORKER

South Africa is a key player in the economic boom that Africa is undergoing. As these countries modernise and grow, the demand for skilled talent continues to rise.

The South Africa Critical Skills Work Visa is your key to working and settling in South Africa.

One of the most beautiful countries in the world, South Africa has seen a dramatic rise in its economic and cultural profile in the past two decades. It also has a thriving expat community with Indian, British, Dutch and other nationalities calling it home. Y-Axis can help you leverage this opportunity and establish yourself in South Africa.

South Africa’s Critical Skills Work Visa is a permit issued to individuals that have exceptional skills/qualifications considered to be scarce in the country. Skills or qualifications, that is, determined “to be critical for the Republic of South Africa in relation to an application for a critical skills work visa or permanent residence permit”. A critical skills work visa might be issued for a period not exceeding five years. In situations wherein there is no job offer in South Africa, a critical skills visa will be issued for a period not beyond one year. If an applicant has already been issued a Critical Skills Work Visa for a year, the extension of the same can’t exceed four years till the next renewal. The spouse and children (dependent) of the holder of a South Africa critical skills work visa will be issued with a suitable visa valid for a period not more than the validity of the critical skills visa.

South Africa Critical Skills Work Permit Visa Details

The South Africa Critical Skills Work Visa is aimed at skilled professionals whose occupation is on the critical shortage occupation list. It allows workers holding this visa to visit South Africa and search for a job. Once the applicant has found a job, he or she can then convert it to a work permit. Key features of the South Africa Critical Skills Work Visa are:

• An applicant can enter South Africa without a job offer
• Visa is based on skills and qualification as per the Critical Skills list defined by the South Africa Department of Home Affairs
• Visa is initially granted for 12 months and is extendable as per the Authority
• Applicant needs to find a job within the Visa grant period
• Visa is then extended to 5 years to a Critical Skills Work Permit
• No need to go through the onerous labor certification process which is required for a General Work Visa application

On February 2, 2022, a new critical skills list was released by South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi. The previous list came out in 2014. A clear focus on engineering, financial, technology, and medical sectors can be seen, showing a definite shift in the country’s requirements. Many skills on the 2014 list have been completely excluded.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR A SOUTH AFRICA CRITICAL SKILLS VISA:

• Completed permanent residency application form
• Receipt of payment of applicable application fee.
• Copy of birth certificate.
• Complete biometrics.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate where applicable.
• Provide police clearance certificates
• Submit medical reports
• Submit marriage certificate
• Include birth certificates of dependent children
• Proof that your skills belong to the critical skills category
• Certificate of registration with the professional body.
• Proof of post-qualification experience of at least five years.
• Testimonials from previous employers
• Letter of motivation proving that the critical skills of the applicant will benefit South Africa

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

The documentation required for the South Africa Critical Skills Work Visa includes:

• Current passport and travel history
• Educational credentials
• Professional credentials
• Recent medical report
• Police clearance certificate
• Other supporting documents

HOW Y-AXIS CAN HELP YOU?

Y-Axis has the knowledge and experience to advise you at every step of your South Africa Critical Skills Work Visa application. 

Your Y-Axis consultant can guide you through the process and help you file an application with the highest chances of success talk to us today.