The Critical Skills Work Permit (or CSWP) is a South African visa which allows the holder to work in the country for longer periods using his or her own skills. The Critical Skills Work Permit is in two categories, namely a permanent and temporary permit.

The South African economy is booming and Johannesburg has been placed as one of the best cities in the world by the Mercer Quality of Living rankings. Anyone can gain access through a local skills visa or a work permit to go live and work in South Africa. But it’s important to also be aware of the critical skills list, designed for foreign professionals who have specialised skills that cannot be found in South Africa. I would be more than happy to assist you with your visa process.

Critical Skills Visa For South Africa

The Skilled Migrant Programme is open to skilled persons being able to find a job in South Africa, who can support themselves for the first year and can afford to pay for their own travel.

The Critical Skills visa is designed for people who have a qualification that is needed in South

South Africa critical skills visa

South Africa is a dynamic country with a growing economy and exciting job opportunities in traditional as well as expanding sectors like tech. The South African lifestyle is relaxed but also has a lot to offer in terms of leisure and entertainment, with vibrant cities like Cape Town being magnets for young locals and foreigners alike.

It is normal that many consider making it their home. Some first visit South Africa on a temporary visa, fall in love with the place and decide to move here and look for a job. Others are offered a position with a relocation package and visa sponsorship.

There are many different types of visas for South Africa, including (among others) several short-term, medical, or working visas.

This page includes information about a long-term visa that allows foreigners to work and earn a salary in South Africa, the critical skills work visa (CSWV):

• What a critical skills visa is and its validity
• What are the critical skills sought after in the country
• How to get a critical or scarce skills visa for South Africa

The critical skill visa for South Africa

The critical skill visa was recently launched and replaced the former exceptional skills and quota work visas. It is a work visa that does not only benefit expats but also the South African economy.

In fact, the top goal of the critical skill visa is to assist the South African Department of Trade and Industry in achieving the objectives of programs like:

• The National Development Plan(NDP)
• The Industrial Policy Action Plan(IPAP)
• The New Growth Plan(NGP)

Under the CSWV system, foreigners who possess exceptional skills or qualifications that are scarce in South Africa will be allowed to move to the country and work. The occupations and skills that are in high demand were identified by the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

South Africa critical skills visa: validity

A critical skill work visa is not a permanent but rather a long-term visa. It can be used to enter the country to start work but it is not a pathway to permanent residency.

A CSWV can be issued to an applicant for a period of up to 5 years. The actual validity will depend on the applicant’s specific circumstances. If the applicant has not already secured a job and no offer of employment has been made, the CSWV will be valid for no longer than 1 year.

Critical skill visas allow the holder to add their spouse and dependent children to the permit. The applicant’s family members will be allowed into South Africa for as long as the CSWV remains valid.

The critical skills visa for South Africa can be renewed provided that all requirements for renewal are met. Foreign nationals wishing to renew their visa must pay the relevant fee.

Critical skills considered for the visa

The official list of critical skills was published by the Department of Higher Education and Training in its official Gazette in June 2018.

The most sought-after professional figures can be grouped into the following sectors:

Agricultural skills

• Agricultural Engineer
• Forestry Technician
• Agricultural Scientist
• Sheep Shearer

Construction

• Construction Project Manager
• Quantity Surveyor
• Architect
• Land Surveyor
• Urban and Regional Planner

Business, Management, and Economics

• Actuaries and Risk Assessors
• External Auditor
• Corporate General Manager
• Financial Investment Advisor

Information technology and communication

• CISCO Solution Specialist
• Network Analyst
• CISCO Engineers
• Integrated Developers (PHP, Perl, Java )
• System Integration Specialist
• Data Centre Operations