South African Trusted Employer Scheme

The South African Trusted Employer Scheme is a corporate immigration facilitation programme administered by the Department of Home Affairs. It is designed for qualifying employers, investors and businesses that can demonstrate a meaningful economic contribution to South Africa, a strong employment profile, investment in skills development, and a commitment to immigration compliance.

Trusted Employer status allows approved companies to benefit from priority processing and reduced supporting-document requirements when submitting qualifying visa applications for foreign employees. The scheme is intended primarily to support the recruitment and movement of senior executives, technical personnel, corporate employees, investors and other skilled foreign nationals. It is not intended to facilitate the employment of unskilled or low-wage workers.

Phase II of the Trusted Employer Scheme expands the programme beyond established South African operations. It now includes qualifying companies that operate, or intend to establish, regional or global head offices in South Africa, businesses involved in strategic infrastructure projects, and certain qualifying entities operating within the South African financial sector.

Applications for Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II opened on 20 July 2026 and close on 4 September 2026. Applicants must select one of three available scorecard pathways and achieve at least 80 out of 100 points to qualify.

Last updated: 20/07/2026

Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II is open to qualifying corporate employers, investors and businesses that meet the requirements of one of the three available scorecard pathways.

Applicants must choose the pathway that best reflects their current South African operations, planned investment structure or financial-sector activities. Only one scorecard may be selected. Submitting an application under more than one pathway may result in disqualification.

South African-Based Operations

This pathway is intended for established companies operating in South Africa that can demonstrate significant investment, a substantial local workforce, participation in a recognised priority sector, and active skills development initiatives.

Regional or Global Head Office Operations

This pathway is intended for companies that already operate, or intend to establish, a regional or global head office in South Africa. It also includes certain businesses involved in the construction or maintenance of Strategic Integrated Projects in areas such as energy, transport, water management and digital communications.

Synthetic Financial Centres

This specialised pathway is intended for qualifying entities operating within the South African financial sector under the Synthetic Financial Centre framework. It is aimed primarily at new market entrants and dedicated financial entities that may not satisfy the financial contribution and employment thresholds under the regional or global head office pathway.

Each scorecard allows for a maximum of 100 points. Applicants must achieve at least 80 points to qualify for consideration under the Trusted Employer Scheme.

Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II uses a points-based assessment to determine whether a company qualifies for Trusted Employer status. Every applicant must select the single scorecard pathway that best reflects its business model and provide supporting evidence for the criteria within that pathway.

Each scorecard is worth a maximum of 100 points, with a minimum score of 80 points required to qualify. Applications are assessed by an interdepartmental committee comprising representatives from the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and other relevant government departments where applicable.

The three scorecard pathways have been developed to recognise different types of qualifying businesses. Established South African operations are assessed against investment, employment, sector participation and skills development. Companies establishing or operating regional or global head offices in South Africa follow a separate pathway, while qualifying Synthetic Financial Centres within the financial sector are assessed using a dedicated scorecard designed specifically for that industry.

Detailed information about each scorecard, including the eligibility criteria, points allocation and supporting documentation, can be found in the sections below.

The supporting documentation required depends on the scorecard pathway selected. Applicants should ensure that all evidence clearly demonstrates how the business satisfies the relevant assessment criteria, as incomplete or unsupported applications may not achieve the minimum qualifying score.

Depending on the pathway, supporting documents may include proof of qualifying investment or South African Investment Conference (SAIC) pledges, workforce information demonstrating employment thresholds, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) sector confirmation, evidence of active skills development programmes, tax compliance documentation, auditor reports, financial contribution records, regulatory approvals, and other documentation specific to the chosen scorecard.

Businesses applying under the Regional or Global Head Office pathway or the Synthetic Financial Centre pathway should be prepared to provide additional supporting evidence relating to their proposed South African operations, financial contributions, regulatory status, or market infrastructure commitments where applicable.

As the supporting document requirements differ significantly between the three scorecards, applicants should carefully review the applicable pathway before preparing their submission. Ensuring that all required evidence is complete and correctly presented can significantly improve the prospects of a successful application.

Applications for Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II must be submitted electronically through the Department of Home Affairs’ dedicated online application portal during the official application window. Expressions of interest opened on 20 July 2026 and close on 4 September 2026.

Applicants must carefully select the single scorecard pathway that best reflects their business model and ensure that all supporting documentation required for that pathway is included. Selecting more than one pathway may result in disqualification.

Once submitted, applications are assessed by an interdepartmental committee comprising representatives from the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and other relevant government departments where appropriate. The committee verifies the information provided and determines whether the applicant has achieved the minimum qualifying score.

The Department of Home Affairs has indicated that applicants will receive an outcome within approximately 30 working days after the application window closes. The Department’s decision is final, and there is no appeal process provided for under the Phase II Gazette.

Given the complexity of the assessment criteria and supporting evidence, many businesses choose to obtain professional assistance before submitting their application. At IBN Immigration Solutions, we assist employers in identifying the appropriate scorecard, reviewing supporting documentation, calculating likely eligibility, and preparing a complete application to maximise the prospects of approval.

The Trusted Employer Scheme is designed to reduce administrative barriers for qualifying employers while enabling the Department of Home Affairs to focus its resources on higher-risk immigration applications. By recognising compliant businesses that make a meaningful contribution to South Africa’s economy, the scheme creates a more efficient process for employing skilled foreign nationals.

Approved Trusted Employers benefit from reduced documentary requirements and priority processing for qualifying visa applications. Trusted Employer status is recognised for both applications submitted within South Africa and those lodged at South African missions abroad, helping employers recruit and mobilise foreign talent more efficiently.

Depending on the visa category, Trusted Employer status can remove or simplify several documentary requirements. For example, qualifying employers may benefit from exemptions relating to Department of Employment and Labour recommendations for General Work Visas, SAQA qualification evaluations and professional body registration for Critical Skills Work Visas, and Transfer of Skills Plans for Intra-Company Transfer Visas.

For organisations that regularly employ foreign specialists, executives or technical personnel, Trusted Employer status can reduce administrative burdens, improve planning certainty, and help minimise delays associated with South Africa’s standard work visa application processes.

Disclaimer

IBN Immigration Solutions, an Envoy Global company, is a private immigration consultancy. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the South African Department of Home Affairs, and we do not operate the Trusted Employer Scheme. Our role is limited to independent advisory services – assessing eligibility, identifying the appropriate scorecard pathway, reviewing supporting documentation, and preparing your submission. Trusted Employer Scheme applications are lodged by the employer directly with the Department of Home Affairs through its official channels. Information about the scheme is available free of charge from the Department of Home Affairs at www.dha.gov.za.