South Africa’s Visa/Permit system includes provision for the issuing of a Critical Skills Permit as per section 19 (4) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002, as amended. This type of permit is issued to an individual who holds qualification or skills that are crucial but nevertheless not adequately available amongst the local citizens of South Africa in identified areas of the economy and industry. The Critical Skills Permit is issued under a relaxed procedure as compared to other types of permits.
Unlike other Permits and/or Visas, the Critical Skills Permit is issued to qualified individuals prior to securing employment for an initial period of 12 months, which is renewable so that the holder may look for work. This is thought to attract qualified individuals to seek employment in the identified industries and therefore compensate for the skills crucially required, locally.
These identified skills must;
- Be in acute shortage or there being reasonable forecast that they will be in shortage in the foreseeable future;
- Essential for South Africa’s strategic priorities and growth;
- High level skills or advanced qualification;
- Require considerable time to develop and have enough amongst the locals.
The Department of Home Affairs in consultation with the Department of Higher Education and Training publishes a list of the critical skills for qualified individuals to apply for the Critical Skills Permit to seek employment. The list that is in place came into effect in 2014.
On 18 February 2021 the Department of Home Affairs published for comment, a draft amended list of critical skills along with a technical report. The new list has seen some skills included such as those in information technology, engineering and accounting while various other skills from the 2014 list have been left out. Public comment was opened from date of publication (18 February 2021) until 31 March 2021. The Department is therefore to release the updated and final list.
Amongst the skills and professions included in the draft are University Lecturer, Company Secretary, Management Consultant, Investment Manager, Digital Artist, Chef, Carpenter, General Accountant and Fraud Examiner.
However, Corporate General Managers, millwrights, pipefitters and foreign language speakers for sales support are some of the professions which have not been included in the draft.
It remains to be seen the final list of the critical skills, after which we will publish on our website the final list. Follow this link to see the draft list……
Immigration Law Associates assists with preparation, submission and facilitating follow ups of the Critical Skills permit as well as other permits and Visas. We have assisted hundreds of individuals to lawfully secure permits/visas to advance their careers in chosen industries.
We stand ready to assist in a wide array of legal immigration matters so that you can explore and pursue your opportunities across borders legally. Our approach is professional, comprehensive and counters the hurdles in immigration. Contact us for an appointment and consultation.
The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legally binding advice on any subject matter. One should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice. The contents of this site contain general information and may not reflect current legal developments or address one’s peculiar situation. We disclaim all liability for actions one may take or fail to take based on any content on this site.
