In March 2021, the new draft Critical Skills List (“CSL”) was published by the Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) for public comment before finalisation. While there is much speculation on last-minute changes to the list, the inclusion of tax professionals is one that is likely to remain.
Permanent Residency Permit (“PRP”) applications for South Africa have been on hold since March 2020, when the President declared the country to be in a national state of disaster. When the Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) was forced to down tools, PRP applications quickly began piling up.
On 28 November, a disappointed President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed South Africans following the UK Health Secretary’s decision to place the country back on their red list.
On 25 November 2021, the Cabinet has announced that no further concession will be allowed and as such ZEP holders will no longer be able to extend their permits in terms of this special dispensation. The Department of Home Affairs have granted a 12-month grace period from the current ZEP expiry to allow permit holders to apply for a visa in a different category to allow them to legally reside in the country.
The global trend of skills migration has resulted in numerous positions becoming vacant in South Africa. This means that foreigners with the desired skills are next in line to climb the company ladder, which makes residing in South Africa much more appealing.
