South Africa Revamps Visa Policy to Boost Economy

South Africa is overhauling its visa system to attract skilled workers and boost tourism, aiming to stimulate economic growth. Changes include a points-based work visa and a remote work visa. The reforms address criticisms of xenophobia and existing backlog. Digitization aims to improve efficiency and reduce fraud.

South Africa is implementing crucial reforms to its stringent visa regime in a bid to attract more skilled workers and tourists, according to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber. This marks a significant departure from previous immigration policies often criticized as xenophobic.

The immediate changes will encompass a new points-based system for work visas, allowing automatic eligibility for applicants with certain qualifications, and the initiation of a remote work visa. Schreiber emphasized these reforms as critical short-term strategies to revive economic growth.

The current system, fraught with delays and unexplained visa denials, is set to be replaced with more efficient, digitized processes. The move aims to alleviate a backlog of 306,000 pending visas, thereby addressing the lack of skilled labor as a key barrier to economic progress.

(With inputs from agencies.)