The release of the gazetted updated Critical Skills List has not only added occupations but also brought clarity to those wanting to apply for a Critical Skills Work Visa.
Addition of New Occupations
As with the previously Gazetted updated list released in August 2022, new occupations were added to the list released this week. The new list sees the addition of Veterinarian and Veterinary Nurse, which is a welcome change for the industry and profession that previously had not been considered or included on the list.
Professional Body Registration
Notes have been added to the updated list, amongst which is the addressing of the level of registration. As it stands, those applying to a Professional Body for membership are required to obtain a “Professional” status and not a status of “Candidate” to qualify to apply for a Critical Skills Work Visa. This is proving difficult in some industries due to the requirements.
One of such professional bodies is that which regulates Engineers. Currently, the requirement for professional membership is to provide references from Engineers whom the applicant has worked under, the Engineer however needs to be registered with the specific body. This proves to be an impossible task, as in order to be able to provide the references, the applicant will need to work in South Africa which will require a work visa.
It seems now that Home Affairs has made provision for such circumstances by allowing those with “Candidate” status to apply for a Critical Skills Work Visa, provided they meet all other requirements.
To view the updated list, please click here.
