South Africa pushes visa reform to attract digital nomads
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — The South African government has proposed reforms to existing immigration regulations, including the introduction of remote working and critical skills visas, to attract international talent.
The remote working visa aims to cater to digital nomads and remote workers employed abroad who want to work from South Africa. The critical skills visa prioritizes occupations where skill shortages exist locally, using a points-based system weighing qualifications, work experience, and language ability.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that visas make it easier to attract talent and promote innovation.
“With South Africa fast becoming an increasingly attractive destination for industries like business process outsourcing and customer experience, attracting more skilled workers will be important,” he said.
Moreover, Ramaphosa mentioned the “Trusted Employer Scheme” launched last October, aiming to simplify the visa application process for companies employing foreign nationals. This scheme is part of a broader effort to enhance South Africa’s business process outsourcing sector, which has seen over R3 billion (US$158 million) in government investment since 2016, with a job creation target of 500,000 by 2030.
The president referenced City of Cape Town Alderman James Vos, who oversees economic growth and tourism, in urging modernized visa application processes. Vos said CapeBPO, a special purpose vehicle for the BPO industry, has noted visa barriers currently hindering critical knowledge transfer for local jobs.
The remote working and critical skills visas signal South Africa’s commitment to enabling business investment and economic expansion.
