South Africa opening the floodgates for critical skills
The Department of Home Affairs has approved 71 companies under Phase II of its Trusted Employer Scheme.
This is a significant boost to the department’s plan to cut red tape, open the floodgates for investment, and attract critical skills to South Africa.
Phase II of the programme launched on 20 July 2026, expanding the scheme to include strategic infrastructure projects, regional and global headquarters, and qualifying financial institutions.
The TES scheme simplifies the visa application process for accredited employers, enabling qualifying businesses to recruit critical skills workers more quickly.
To qualify, companies must demonstrate meaningful investment in South Africa, employ predominantly South African citizens or permanent residents, invest in skills development, and operate in priority sectors.
A total of 138 companies applied to join the scheme in the latest phase, with 71 being successful after the screening process.
“Successful applicants will now benefit from simplified visa processes, reduced paperwork and more predictable processing times, making it easier to access the critical international skills their businesses need,” the department said.
According to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, this marks a significant step forward in drawing investment to the country.
Together with the expansion of our Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, the TES is helping the department build a more secure and efficient immigration system, he said,
“By replacing manual processes with secure digital systems and biometric verification, we are closing the loopholes that enable fraud and abuse,” Schreiber said.
“At the same time, we are making it easier for legitimate investors and people with critical skills to contribute to our economy.”
The scheme is working
According to migration service provider Xpatweb, companies already participating in the TES have reported great success using the programme.
Participating companies reported that 80% of visa applications for international talent were processed within the DHA’s reduced turnaround times.
Most notably, the scheme has significantly reduced visa processing times from a historical average of around 22 weeks to approximately 20 business days.
TES companies also noted a 96% first-time accuracy rate in processing applications, helping reduce delays associated with visa rejections.
Trusted Employers further benefit from dedicated handling and an escalation path through the DHA Head Office.
According to Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director at Xpatweb, results from the group’s Critical Skills Survey showed that more than 80% of TES respondents reported a positive difference, with 83% indicating improved turnaround times.
“Besides operational efficiency, the strategic value of the TES lies in reduced documentation, including waivers for key supporting documents required for the recruitment of foreign talent,” she said.
“The expedited service also extends beyond the main applicant, with family members benefiting from efficient processing.”
Permanent residence applications submitted through the scheme are expected to be processed within a predictable eight-month timeframe.
Jacobs noted that the TES and DHA’s push for better systems brings South Africa in line with international benchmarks.
Canada’s Global Talent Stream, for example, provides employers with a 10-business-day service standard for eligible applications, expected to be met 80% of the time, together with personalised assistance.
Australia uses an accredited sponsor model. Accredited sponsors receive priority processing for eligible employer-sponsored applications and benefit from streamlined processing for certain low-risk nominations.
New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa system similarly puts employer accreditation at the front of the process, followed by a job check and then the employee’s visa application.
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