visas

While South Africa welcomes international property buyers, securing a mortgage is controlled by strict Exchange Control Regulations rather than standard bank policy. The primary constraint is the “50% Borrowing Rule,” which mandates a 1:1 ratio: for every Rand borrowed, a non-resident must invest an equivalent amount of their own capital, effectively capping loans at 50% of the purchase price.

The release of the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) interim report on allegations of permit and visa irregularities and findings of malfeasance within the Department of Home Affairs is a defining moment for the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system.

Paper-heavy services, ink-stained forms, and long queues when accessing government services may soon be relics of the past.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent a clear and uncompromising message to employers across South Africa to comply with immigration and labour laws or face the consequences.

South Africa has taken a welcome step toward easing long-standing restrictions that make it difficult for spouses of Critical Skills Work visa holders from working in the country. Excluding accompanying partners — many of whom are highly skilled in their own right – from the labour market has long been seen as undermining the country’s competitiveness in attracting scarce global talent.