South Africa is making strides towards introducing a Digital Nomad visa, as President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed in his weekly newsletter. The Department of Home Affairs has proposed amendments to existing immigration regulations, aiming to incorporate two new visa categories: a remote working visa and a critical skills visa. President Ramaphosa emphasized that this step is a significant move to attract workers with essential skills to contribute to South Africa’s development.

The introduction of a remote working visa is a response to the evolving landscape of work, where a growing number of skilled professionals, especially in the tech industry, are drawn to the lifestyle advantages of remote work. The visa also caters to digital nomads, allowing them to work from virtually any location globally.

The President highlighted that individuals employed by foreign companies who wish to work in South Africa remotely can apply for this visa. Drawing from international experience, President Ramaphosa emphasized that employees with critical skills contribute to enhanced productivity, innovation, and the competitiveness of the firms they engage with.

The potential digital nomad visa in South Africa is expected to have specific eligibility criteria. The critical skills list, focusing on occupations in high demand locally, includes a minimum annual income requirement of at least R1 million ($55,000). This ensures that visa holders can make substantial contributions to the local economy and maintain a high standard of living.

President Ramaphosa mentioned that the proposed draft regulations also intend to implement a points system for critical skills visas. This system would consider factors such as age, qualifications, language proficiency, work experience, and having a job offer, among other criteria.