Introduction
The Critical Skills list is a list of occupations that the South African government considers to be in high demand and essential to the country’s economic growth and development. Applicants who have skills in one of the occupations on the Critical Skills list are eligible to apply for a Critical Skills Work Visa.
New Skills Added
The Critical Skills list is updated regularly to reflect the changing needs of the South African economy. In the latest update, which was published in the Government Gazette on October 2, 2023, two new occupations were added to the list:
- Registered Nurse – Veterinarian
- Registered Nurse – Veterinary Nurse
This is a significant development, as it shows that the South African government is recognising the importance of the veterinary sector to the country’s economy.
Operation Vulindlela
This update follows on from promises made by the Department of Home Affairs regarding regular reviews of the Critical Skills list, a promise made in the release of Operation Vulindlela.
Another promise mentioned in Operation Vulindlela was the possibility of a points-based work visa category, requiring a minimum score off 100 points. Scoring would work off the following system:
Being on the Critical Skills List automatically awards 100 points, while NQF level and salary thresholds contribute 50 points each. Applicants not on the list can also earn 50 points for passing a labour market test. The existing requirement for Critical Skills at NQF level 8 will remain, although we feel this should be lowered to NQF level 7.
What Does This Mean for Applicants?
The addition of Veterinarian and Veterinary Nurse to the Critical Skills list means that these professionals will now be eligible to apply for a Critical Skills Work Visa.
If you are a veterinary nurse or veterinarian from overseas and you are interested in working in South Africa, we recommend that you start preparing your application for a Critical Skills Work Visa. This includes meeting all the eligibility requirements and gathering all the necessary supporting documentation.
What does the lack of an accompanying directive mean?
The fact that we have not yet seen an accompanying directive for the Critical Skills list update means that we are still waiting for more information on how the changes will be implemented.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as soon as we have more information.
How IBN Immigration Solutions Can Help You
IBN Immigration Solutions has assisted numerous clients in successfully receiving their Critical Skills Work Visa in South Africa and would love to assist you too!
We are familiar with all the requirements for applications, possible red-flags, and hold-ups with the government’s immigration department, meaning that you’ll be in safe hands.
Written by Simon Carletti, PR and Creative Supervisor
