South Africa introduced a remote work visitor visa along with a new points-based system for work visas. These initiatives aim to attract talent and investment while boosting the country’s tourism sector.
The Department of Home Affairs stated that the remote work visitor visa aims to attract high-income individuals employed overseas to visit South Africa, encouraging them to spend their money on local restaurants and goods.
South African Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber said, “The department’s meticulous attention to detail to ensure that these reforms are fit-for-purpose and market-friendly has resulted in two products that begin to reposition South Africa as a world-class destination for investment and tourism to create thousands of new jobs for South Africans.”
The new points-based system establishes a clear framework for processing visa applications, aiming to reduce corruption and streamline procedures. This initiative aligns with the government’s primary goal of fostering economic growth and generating new employment opportunities for South Africans, Schreiber noted.
Research conducted by the South African Reserve Bank and the International Food Policy Research Institute indicates that increasing the proportion of high-skilled workers in South Africa by just 0.02 percent could enhance annual economic growth by as much as 1.2 percent. Additionally, the findings reveal that a more favorable visa policy could generate seven new jobs for each skilled worker brought into the economy.
Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber added, “By harnessing the power of market-based regulatory reform to cut red tape and enhance transparency, Home Affairs is fighting corruption in our immigration system while delivering on the GNU’s apex priority to grow the economy and create thousands of new jobs for the people of South Africa. I want to thank the Presidency and Operation Vulindlela for their valuable support and I look forward to continue working together to roll out further reforms that combat corruption and create jobs.”
While the Department prepares for a full digital transformation to move to online applications and adjudication, applicants for the Remote Work Visa, as well as the Critical Skills Visa and General Work Visa under the new points-based system, may still submit their applications through the appropriate service providers and South African missions overseas.