South Africa may opt to offer digital nomad visas after public feedback. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has reportedly invited the public to share their two cents on proposed major changes to the immigration law of the region by March 29, 2024.
South Africa to Offer Digital Nomad Visas
The document which was titled “Draft Second Amendment of the Immigration Regulation, 2014,” proposes to issue out digital nomad visas and then introduce a point-based system for the easy and effective assessment of work visas, among many other recommendations. Both businesses and individuals that wish to submit these commedations must forward them to the department just before the deadline set for it making use of the provided channels, which are either being delivered to the DHA office, via emails, or through email.
Once the deadline for submission has passed, the Department will conduct a thorough review of the comments received. Based on this feedback, amendments to the proposed legislation may be made as deemed necessary. Following this review process, the amended legislation will proceed to become law.
What You Should Know About the Digital Nomad Visa
According to the proposed amendments, a Digital Nomad visa, not currently available in South Africa, would be introduced to cater to foreign remote workers earning at least R 1 million (~$52,575) annually. This visa would provide an immigration pathway for individuals who wish to reside in South Africa while employed by a foreign company, with a particular focus on highly skilled individuals in the information technology (IT) sector.
The introduction of the Digital Nomad visa reflects the Department of Home Affairs’ (DHA) initiative to attract talented foreign nationals to contribute to the growth of the Southern African economy, as well as to enhance tourism and investment opportunities.
What the South African President Has To Say About This Development
In his weekly newsletter on Monday, February 12, 2024, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of attracting individuals with the requisite skills to thrive in the ever-evolving global economy. The president highlighted that specific immigration reforms, such as those proposed by the Department, are essential to ensuring South Africa’s economic competitiveness while fostering growth and creating employment opportunities.
What It Means If This Bill Is Passed Into Law
If the proposed bill is enacted into law, South Africa will join the ranks of Namibia, Cape Verde, Mauritius, and Seychelles as the fifth African nation to offer visas for digital nomads, contributing to the continent’s growing recognition as a destination for remote work.
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