{"id":836769,"date":"2025-09-03T18:17:50","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T16:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=836769"},"modified":"2025-09-08T10:31:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T08:31:23","slug":"bad-new-for-south-africans-working-in-the-uk-hoping-for-residency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/836769\/bad-new-for-south-africans-working-in-the-uk-hoping-for-residency\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad news for South Africans working in the UK hoping for residency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africans working in the United Kingdom could soon find the road to permanent residency far longer and more difficult than before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is according to JP Breytenbach, head of Nationality and Director at Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He warned<\/a> that the UK government\u2019s new immigration proposals could double the time migrants need to live in the country before securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), the stepping stone to citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe UK government\u2019s Restoring Control over the Immigration System White Paper has proposed a significant change. Most migrants may soon need to live in the UK for 10 years instead of five before becoming eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain,\u201d Breytenbach explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis change, if implemented, could affect thousands of migrants currently working towards settlement. Understanding what it means for your visa journey is crucial to safeguard your future plans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The matter specifically relates to individuals currently on a work visa with family members as dependants. Under the present rules, this route traditionally leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal under discussion could potentially extend that pathway to settlement. It does not apply broadly to all South Africans in the UK and to all visa routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breytenbach noted that while existing migrants may not be affected immediately, changes to visa categories or renewals in the coming years could reset their settlement clock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf your current visa expires soon, the timing of your renewal may determine whether you fall under the old five-year route or the new 10-year requirement,\u201d he warned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that switching visa categories may also bring applicants under the new rules, and the same applies to family dependants whose eligibility for settlement could be delayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To avoid being caught out, Breytenbach urged South Africans to take proactive steps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeek early advice. An immigration consultant can assess your specific circumstances and ensure you take action before rules change,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the reforms are not yet law, Breytenbach said they are a clear signal of the UK government\u2019s intention to tighten settlement pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The warning comes at a time when the UK remains one of the most popular destinations for South Africans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Routes to residency are narrowing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to the latest International Migration data from the England and Wales Census, 217,200 residents in these regions were born in South Africa, making the UK the second home for many. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Net migration has also been a major driver of population growth, with approximately two million residents, over half of the UK\u2019s population increase, coming from immigration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultural ties, shared language, and established South African communities make the UK particularly attractive, alongside the global demand for skilled professionals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rob Mailich, Global CEO of REDi Holbourne Recruitment Group in the UK, previously told<\/a> BusinessTech that international companies are aggressively recruiting South Africans to fill talent shortages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe global demand for skilled South Africans is growing, particularly in fields such as healthcare, education, engineering, and IT,\u201d Mailich said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that he has seen a strong wave of South Africans moving abroad, not just to the UK but also to the US, Amsterdam, Paris, and elsewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome of them often talk about the tax incentives that attracted them, while others are drawn by the many career opportunities and improved quality of life available in developed countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mailich emphasised that South Africans are valued internationally for their confidence, resilience, and adaptability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Countries like the UK are actively courting this talent pool, offering roles to young professionals eager to make the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, despite the demand, the routes to residency are narrowing. The UK\u2019s 2025 immigration White Paper proposes longer waits for ILR and introduces stricter conditions across the board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Migration specialists at Sable International added<\/a> that the reforms will reshape how businesses hire from overseas, manage compliance, and retain foreign workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile these are not yet law, they signal the government\u2019s direction and are likely to become policy,\u201d the group warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the key reforms is an overhaul of the Skilled Worker visa, one of the main pathways for South Africans entering the UK job market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The qualification threshold for these roles will rise from RQF level 3\u2014equivalent to a diploma or A-level\u2014to RQF level 6, which requires a full degree or a degree with honours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

English language requirements are also tightening, moving from A1 (basic) to A2 (pre-intermediate) proficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The changes could have far-reaching consequences. Should the proposals become law, around 180 job roles currently qualifying for Skilled Worker visas would be removed from the eligible occupations list, sharply reducing opportunities for migrants. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

South Africans working in the United Kingdom could soon find the road to permanent residency far longer and more difficult than before.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":705023,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9876],"tags":[16210,12372,853,20754],"class_list":["post-836769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-breytenbachs-immigration-consultants","tag-sable-international","tag-south-africa","tag-united-kingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=836769"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":837048,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836769\/revisions\/837048"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/705023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=836769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=836769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=836769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}