The Department of Home Affairs has published its critical skills list for South Africa, outlining the skills which are in short supply in the country.
The list, which was last updated in 2014, will likely be welcomed with open arms by corporations across South Africa which may now fulfil the country’s objective of luring foreign professionals, says Moeketsi Seboko, immigration manager at Xpatweb.
“Foreign nationals may now establish whether their profession is in demand in South Africa and may be eligible to commence a career path in the country provided they fulfil the Act’s criteria. If you currently hold a Critical Skills Work Visa and your skill is no longer listed, you may be unable to renew your visa.”
Some of the most notable jobs which have been added to the list include:
• Director (Enterprise /Organisation) Chief Executive Office, Managing Director- NQF 9;
• Corporate General Manager (medium enterprises or larger) (Master of Business Administration NQF 8;
• Programme or Project Manager (Master’s Degree (NQF 9);
• Quality Systems Manager (Master’s Degree (NQF 9) Quality Control Manager Quality Assurance Systems Auditor;
• Data Scientist Master’s Degree (NQF 9).
A summarised overview of some of the skills in demand can be found in the table below. The complete list can be found in the embedded gazette.
Actuary External auditor Nurse educator
Aeronautical engineer FET phase school teacher (Grades 10-12) Physicist
Agricultural

scientist Geologist Policy and planning manager
Architect ICT System Analyst Quantity surveyor
Biotechnologist Industrial engineer Research and development manager
Chemist Investment manager Senior phase school teacher (Grades 8-9)
Chief Information Officer Mechanical engineer Software developer
Civil engineer Metallurgist Systems engineer
Conservation scientist Microbiologist Tax professional
Corporate Treasurer Mineralogist Zoologist
Economist Multimedia designer
“Whilst we celebrate this exciting news, we caution that technical guidelines on the qualification and implementation of the list are yet to be published. Once published, potential candidates will know with certainty if they squarely qualify for an occupation under the list or not,” said Seboko.
“With the release of the new Critical Skills List, applicants who plan to apply for permanent residence in categories that are no longer on the list will no longer be eligible. These visa holders must now reconsider an alternate visa category as well as their aspirations for permanent residence.”
Ultimately, it is critical for all South Africans to understand what skills our nation needs and how we as South Africans can contribute productively since the Critical Skills List is not just intended for foreign nationals but can also serve as a guide for matriculants in their professional pathways, Seboko said.
www.samigration.com V.3941

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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