The Minister, in consultation with the Department of Labour and Trade and Industry, identify areas of scarce, critical and special skills required by the South African economy and draws up a list of professional categories and occupational classes needed each year. Permits are then made available for the various categories.



The Minister therefore has the discretion to remove a skill on a list in the preceding year where the skill no longer qualifies as scarce, critical, or special. Holders of quota work permits or critical skills permits whose skills have been removed from the new lists cannot renew such permits.

View the South African Critical Skills List.

Such persons will need to apply for a new visa or permit based on the new regulations and are encouraged to consult an immigration consultant for which visa they may qualify in order to regularize their stay in the Republic.

The Department seems to be making great efforts to retain skilled foreign nationals in the Republic. Speaking at a briefing this month Gigaba announced that discussions are being held with the Human Resources Department about students studying towards critical skills. New measures are being deliberated on in order to allow these students to regularize their stay in the Republic without them having to leave the country.

Presently, persons on a corporate visa who have critical skills may convert their visas without having to leave the country. The Minister explained that this is part of their efforts to “lessening the burden on visa holders. So they can continue making their positive contributions” to the country.

By : Geruza Bumba