What is the Trusted Employer Scheme?
South Africa’s immigration system has long faced a balancing act. On one hand, the country needs to attract highly skilled foreign professionals to support investment, infrastructure, and economic growth. On the other, government must ensure that immigration controls remain effective and that employers comply with South African labour and immigration legislation.
The Trusted Employer Scheme was introduced by the Department of Home Affairs to address this challenge. Rather than treating every corporate employer the same, the programme recognises organisations that have demonstrated a meaningful contribution to South Africa’s economy, employ substantial local workforces, invest in skills development, and maintain strong compliance standards.
You can access and read the newly-published Gazette here.
From Phase I to Phase II
The first phase of the Trusted Employer Scheme was introduced in 2023 and was available to a limited number of qualifying employers. It focused primarily on established South African businesses with significant investment and employment footprints, allowing successful applicants to benefit from several immigration concessions when sponsoring foreign employees.
Building on the success of the initial programme, the Department of Home Affairs has now launched Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II, which significantly expands access to the programme and introduces a fully digital application process.
Perhaps the most important change is that Phase II no longer follows a single assessment model. Instead, qualifying businesses can now apply under one of three dedicated scorecard pathways, recognising that different types of organisations contribute to South Africa’s economy in different ways.
Three Pathways to Trusted Employer Status
Phase II introduces three distinct application pathways.
Scorecard 1: South African-Based Operations
The first pathway is intended for companies with established South African operations and assesses factors such as qualifying investment, employment, participation in priority economic sectors, and skills development.
Scorecard 2: Regional and Global Head Offices
The second pathway has been created for businesses that already operate, or intend to establish, regional or global head offices in South Africa. It also accommodates certain companies involved in Strategic Integrated Projects, reflecting government’s objective of attracting regional investment and supporting major infrastructure development.
Scorecard 3: Synthetic Financial Centres
The third pathway is a specialist route for qualifying Synthetic Financial Centres operating within South Africa’s financial sector. This new scorecard has been designed to attract highly specialised financial institutions that would not necessarily qualify under the traditional corporate assessment model.
Although each pathway measures different criteria, all three use a 100-point scorecard, with applicants required to achieve at least 80 points to qualify for Trusted Employer status.
How the Scheme Benefits Employers
The Trusted Employer Scheme remains one of the most significant corporate immigration facilitation programmes currently available in South Africa.
- For General Work Visas, Trusted Employers are no longer required to obtain a recommendation from the Department of Employment and Labour, removing one of the most time-consuming stages of the application process.
- For Critical Skills Work Visas, Trusted Employer status removes the requirement to obtain a SAQA qualification evaluation and professional body registration during the visa application process.
- For Intra-Company Transfer Visas, employers are no longer required to submit a Transfer of Skills Plan, further simplifying the application process.
Collectively, these concessions reduce administrative burdens, shorten preparation times, and provide greater certainty for employers recruiting international talent.
A Modernised Application Process
Phase II also modernises how applications are submitted.
Rather than relying on paper-based expressions of interest, applications are now lodged through a dedicated online portal developed by the Department of Home Affairs. Expressions of interest for the current intake opened on 20 July 2026 and close on 4 September 2026, with the Department indicating that outcomes will be issued within approximately 30 working days after the closing date.
Applications are assessed by an interdepartmental committee, and companies must select the single scorecard pathway that best reflects their business. The Department has also confirmed that decisions are final, with no formal appeal process available.
Why the Trusted Employer Scheme Matters
The expansion of the Trusted Employer Scheme demonstrates a clear shift towards a more risk-based approach to corporate immigration.
Rather than applying identical procedures to every employer, the Department of Home Affairs is recognising organisations that have already demonstrated strong compliance, meaningful investment, and a commitment to developing South African skills. This allows immigration officials to focus greater attention on higher-risk applications while providing a more efficient service to trusted businesses.
The introduction of additional pathways also reflects South Africa’s broader economic priorities. By expanding eligibility to include regional headquarters, strategic infrastructure projects, and qualifying financial-sector entities, the programme is positioned to support foreign investment, job creation, and economic growth across multiple industries.
Looking Ahead
Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II represents a significant evolution of South Africa’s corporate immigration framework. The introduction of a digital application platform, expanded eligibility pathways, and a more flexible assessment model demonstrates the Department of Home Affairs’ continued commitment to modernising immigration processes for qualifying businesses.
For employers that regularly recruit foreign executives, technical specialists, or other highly skilled professionals, Trusted Employer status can provide meaningful operational advantages while reducing administrative complexity. As the programme continues to evolve, it is expected to become an increasingly important component of South Africa’s broader investment and economic development strategy.
Written by Andreas Krensel, Senior Director, Africa and Europe
