Are you looking to make a career move in 2022? Why not consider a career in the UK under the Skilled Worker visa route.
The Skilled Worker Immigration Route is one of the most popular immigration routes for South Africans coming to the UK. There are, however, many misconceptions about how the route works in practice. The consultants at Sa Migration have subsequently compiled some answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions on the Skilled Worker Visa Route.
Do I first need to secure employment before I can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa?
Yes. You first need to secure employment in one of the eligible Skilled Worker occupations with a UK registered sponsor employer before you are eligible to apply for it.
The sponsor will provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This CoS will enable you to apply for the Skilled Worker visa.
Can my spouse work in the UK if they accompany me on a Skilled Worker Visa?
Yes. Your spouse or partner can apply to accompany you to the UK as your dependant. If your spouse or partner is successful in their application, they will be able to work without any restrictions in the UK.
Do I require a Police Clearance Certificate for a Skilled Worker Visa application?
Some occupation codes, mainly in the teaching and medical industries, require a Police Clearance Certificate. Your Sa Migration consultant will be able to advise in every case.
How soon do I need to travel to the UK once my Skilled Worker Visa has been granted?
Initially, you will receive a travel

vignette valid for three months. You will have to travel to the UK within these three months of validity. However, you cannot start working for your UK employer more than 28 days from your employment start date as per the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Do the same rules apply if I want to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa for Guernsey instead of the UK?
Yes, except for a few differences. You still need to first secure employment in one of the eligible occupations with an eligible employer. However, you will not be required to pay the National Health Surcharge. Also, instead of having to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer, your employer needs to apply for an Employment Permit from the Population Management Department and a Work Permit from the Immigration Department. These permits must be submitted with the entry clearance (Skilled Worker Visa) application. Your Sa Migration consultant will be able to assist you.
Does the Skilled Worker Visa lead to British Citizenship?
Yes. After spending five years in the UK on the Skilled Worker Visa, you can qualify to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. However, holders of Skilled Worker Visas have to fulfil very specific requirements regarding the minimum salary threshold when applying for ILR. Please speak to your Sa Migration consultant for specific advice in your case and to plan your route to British citizenship.
www.samigration.com V.4130

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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