Big Wins in South Africa’s Immigration System Highlighted at Paris Roundtable

South Africa’s strides in modernising its immigration framework and particularly the progress towards direct work access for the accompanying spouses and partners of expatriates to attract foreign talent, were showcased as key highlights at the recent Permits Foundation Roundtable in Paris, France.

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The Permits Foundation, an international body advocating globally for direct work access for spouses, hosted leading multinational mobility practitioners and executives at the event on 16 October 2025. Helen Frew, Director of the Foundation, emphasised the headway they have made since their inception in 2001 and underscored the importance of South Africa as a high priority country for their advocacy efforts.

Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb and Immigration Advisory Board member to the Department of Home Affairs’ Minister, Dr Leon Schreider, was invited to present changes to the South African Immigration regime in the last 18 months.

She outlined key updates that mark a turning point for international companies and skilled foreign professionals considering South Africa as a destination.

3 Major Policy Shifts Highlighted

Through the Trusted Employer Scheme, introduced on 1 March 2024, vetted employers benefit from reduced documents, faster processing times and less red tape. The Scheme has been praised for its success, with 80% of participating employers confirming in the 2025 Xpatweb Critical Skills Survey improved outcomes in securing work visas for foreign hires. A second round of applications is expected before year-end, with high interest from companies eager to be part of this highly efficient visa system.
The Remote Work Visa allows many spouses of expatriates to continue to work for their international employers while relocating to South Africa with their spouse on assignment. However, Jacobs cautioned that while the visa offers flexibility, it comes with tax complexities, including no automatic tax relief for visa holders and potential permanent establishment risks for foreign employers. Careful tax planning is needed where this option is pursued.
Finally, the recent publishing of the White Paper on National Labour Migration Policy on 28 May 2025 by the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) supports “automatic issuance of work visa for spouses”. It cites this as a decisive factor in the retention of highly skilled migrants. The Department added that this benefit should also be extended to the spouses of Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa holders.

The support from DoEL is a big win in backing a legislation change with the Department of Home Affairs to introduce the direct work access benefit to accompanying spouses. The potential impact of this policy is evident from the Permits Foundations’ latest survey that 88% of the partners of critical skills expats hold a Bachelor’s degree and higher qualification (55% holding a Master’s degree). They are highly skilled talent in their own right and a talent pool South Africa could gain immediate access to.

The point is further supported by statistics cited by South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen, at the Xpatweb Global Mobility Conference in August 2025: “For every one highly skilled employee brought into the country, seven unskilled jobs are created.”

Sneak Preview of the Xpatweb 2025 Critical Skills Survey Results on Spouse Work Access in South Africa

Jacobs additionally shared insights from the upcoming Xpatweb Critical Skills Survey 2025 ahead of its official release on 28 October 2025.

Key Findings

100% of participants say that dual career partner issues always have been and/or are becoming increasingly important in their mobility strategies. This is an increase from 84% in 2024.
62% of participants confirm they have received enquiries from international employees about the right of their partner to work virtually during their assignment.
96% of participants support direct work access for spouses of Critical Skills Work visa holders.

South Africa remains a key investment destination for many multinationals, and discussions at the Roundtable focused on both the remaining visa hurdles and the recent improvements, garnering support for continued progress and momentum behind ongoing digitisation efforts, which have employers optimistic.

*Marisa Jacobs (Managing Director at Xpatweb) is presenting at the Permits Foundation Round Table in Paris.

Big Wins in South Africa’s Immigration System Highlighted at Paris Roundtable

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Please select the visa category you require assistance with:(Required)

How old is the child?(Required)

Does the child's parent/ guardian have valid status within South Africa?(Required)

What is your marital status?(Required)

What is the status of your spouse?(Required)

What is the number of foreign nationals you are looking to employ?(Required)

CS - Do you currently have a formal offer of employment from a registered South African company?(Required)

CS - What is your highest level of Education?(Required)

CS - What is your expected annual income for the position you have been offered?(Required)

CS - How many years of work experience do you have?(Required)

CS - Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?(Required)

* Trusted Employers who have received this status form the DHA often meet the following criteria: - Have invested more than R100 million into the South African Economy - Employ more than 150 staff

CS - In which country did you complete your highest qualification(Required)

CS - What position have you been offered(Required)

CS - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

GWV - What is your highest level of education?(Required)

GWV - In order to qualify for a General Work Visa, you must have an offer of employment from a South African employer. What is your expected annual income for the position you have been offered?(Required)

GWV - How many years of work experience do you have?(Required)

GWV - Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?(Required)

* Trusted Employers who have received this status form the DHA often meet the following criteria: - Have invested more than R100 million into the South African Economy - Employ more than 150 staff

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ICT - What is the expected duration of your secondment/ assignment?(Required)

RV - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

RV - What is the expiry date of your current visa(Required)

RV - Are you currently residing in South Africa?(Required)

RV - Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?(Required)

RWV - Are you currently employed by a foreign entity outside of South Africa?(Required)

RWV - Do you earn an annual salary exceeding R650,000? (UDS $37,000 / EUR 33,000)(Required)

RPV - Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000?(Required)

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RPV - Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?(Required)

RPV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

STWA - What is the duration of your assignment in South Africa?(Required)

STWA - Does your current employer support your work in South Africa?(Required)

SV - Do you have an enrollment letter from a recognized learning institution?(Required)

SV - What level of education will you be completing in South Africa?(Required)

VV - What is your intention in South Africa?(Required)

VV - What is you intended duration of stay in South Africa?(Required)

RNW - What visa do you currently hold?(Required)

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What is the expiry date of your current Critical Skills Work Visa?(Required)

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PR - What Visa do you currently hold for South Africa?(Required)

PR - Have you received a permanent offer of employment?(Required)

PR - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_CS - What is the expiry date of your current Critical Skills Work Visa?(Required)

PR_CS - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_GWV - What is the expiry date of your current General Work Visa?(Required)

PR_GWV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_GWV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

PR_ICT - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_ICT - Have you been offered Permanent employment by a South African employer?(Required)

PR_RV - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

PR_RV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_RV - Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?(Required)

PR_RV - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_RPV - Do you receive an irrevocable income of at least R37,000 per month (Rental income, dividends, interest, pension, ect )(Required)

PR_RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least ZAR 1,8 million(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

RV - What is the duration of your relationship?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - What is the duration of your relationship?(Required)

Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least R2.4 million?(Required)

RPV - Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?(Required)

RPV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

Are you being sent on a secondment or assignment to South Africa?(Required)

PR - Do you have direct family members that are South African Citizens or Permanent Residence holders?(Required)

BV - Do you intend to establish or invest in a business in South Africa?(Required)

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BV - Are you able to invest a minimum of R5 million into the South African economy?(Required)

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Big Wins in South Africa’s Immigration System Highlighted at Paris Roundtable

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