Home Affairs announces new points-based work visa
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has announced a points-based remote work visa for people who work in another country but want to live in South Africa.
Merits include qualifications, work experience, language skills, and the salary level offered.
One requirement for the remote working visa is that the applicant earns at least R1 million a year.
The minister spoke at the RMB Morgan Stanley Investor Conference on Tuesday, saying the points-based system has the potential to transform the economy.
"Gone will be the days when highly-skilled workers had no pathway to help build this country if their skills happened not to be included in arbitrary critical skills list.
"Of course, under this new system, a person whose job is included on the critical skills list will automatically qualify for a work visa.”
Earlier this year, the department revised the regulations, which said remote workers may apply to be exempt from registering as taxpayers, and those who are issued a remote work visa for a period longer than six months in a 36-month period must register with SARS.
Schreiber said the regulations will bring the remote working visa to life after the tax implications of the new system are resolved.
"In terms of the remote working visa, a person who is employed and paid in another country will now be able to move to sunny South Africa to spend all of their dollars, yen, 3uros, pounds or renminbi right here.
"To add to the attraction, only if someone spends more than six months out of the year in South Africa will they even be required to register with the Revenue Service," he added.
ALSO READ:
