Any foreign national who has skills or qualifications that the South African Department of Home Affairs has deemed to be critical for the Republic may apply for a temporary residence visa under the category of critical skills work visa.
There are two relevant criteria grounds (*note the requirements that rest on the prospective employer):
- Visa specific criteria:
The foreign national applying for a critical skills work visa must be able to show that he or she has skills or qualifications that the Department of Home Affairs has deemed to be critical for South Africa; and an undertaking by the proposed employer of the foreign national in South Africa to be responsible for the costs relating to the deportation of the foreign national and his or her dependent family members should it become necessary; and ensure that the passport of the foreign national is valid at all times for the duration of the foreign national’s intended stay in South Africa.
- Standard criteria:
The foreign national applying for a critical skills work visa must be in possession of a valid passport; be of good and sound character; be in good health and free from communicable disease; not be or become a prohibited or undesirable person; and if applying in South Africa, be a temporary residence visa holder other than as a visitor (excluding as an accompanying spouse or child of a foreign national with business or work visa status), intra-company transfer work visa holder or corporate worker visa holder.
Source: LexisNexis South Africa – Practical Guidance