UPDATE: The Department of Home Affairs added 39 medical professions and veterinarians and veterinary nurses to the critical skills list.
The South African government gazetted a brand-new critical skills list on 2 February 2022. In our opinion, the new list is a massive improvement on the 2014 list.
The most significant differences between the 2022 and 2014 critical skills lists
Our team sat down with the new critical skills list as soon as it was released to compare it to the old list. This exercise highlighted 12 major differences between the two lists:
1. Clearer occupational definitions
Occupations are now clearly defined and stipulate a minimum level of education (NQF level). In some cases, where it’s relevant, the critical skills list also stipulates a professional body.
2. More senior managerial occupations on the new list
The new critical skills list includes more senior managerial positions than the old critical skills list.
In our opinion, this was a good decision because it’ll encourage foreign investment.
These are the positions that have been added:
- Director (Enterprise/Organisation) (Medium Enterprises or Larger)
- Policy and Planning Manager
- Programme or Project Manager
- Engineering Manager
- Supply and Distribution Manager
- Chief Information Officer
- Data Management Manager
3. Life and Earth Science is not as limited as before
Life and Earth Science occupations are much more general and are therefore not as limited as was the case with the 2014 critical skills list:
- Physicist
- Climate Change Scientist
- Chemist
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Materials Scientist
- Mineralogist
- Hydrologist
- Oceanographer
- Actuary
- General Biologist
- Biotechnologist
- Microbiologist
- Zoologist
- Agricultural Scientist
- Food or Beverage Scientist
- Conservation Scientist
- Environmental Scientist
4. Only one medical occupation on the new list
All medical occupations have been removed, but Nurse Educator has been included.
5. University lecturers and STEM school teachers have been added
The new critical skills list includes University lecturers and much-needed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) school teachers:
- University Lecturer – Senior Lecturer and above for only those CESM categories listed in Annexure 2 (this Annexure has not been released yet)
- FET Phase School Teacher (Grades 10 – 12) – Only for STEM subjects
- Senior Phase School Teacher (Grades 8 – 9) – Only for STEM subjects
6. New finance, tax, and investment occupations
The new critical skills list includes several finance, tax, and investment occupations:
- Tax Professional
- Forensic Accountant
- Investment Analyst
- Investment Manager
7. More corporate positions on the new list
The new list includes more corporate positions than the old critical skills list. For example:
- Policy Analyst
- Corporate Treasurer
- Organisational Risk Manager
8. The IT section has changed significantly
IT occupations have changed considerably, but, in our opinion, for the better.
Occupation titles are much more relevant and applicable to what’s available in the job market than titles on the 2014 list.
Some IT occupations that are new to the critical skills list are the following:
- Multimedia Specialist
- Applications Manager
- Data Scientist
9. No more Academics and Research section
The new critical skills list does not include any of the Academics and Research occupations that appeared on the 2014 list.
Instead, you’ll now find those specific research fields under the new, broader Life and Earth Science occupations.
10. Fewer occupations under Professionals and Associate Professionals
Home Affairs removed most of the occupations listed under Professionals and Associate Professionals on the 2014 critical skills list.
11. No more sheep shearers
Sheep shearers are no longer on the critical skills list.
12. Only one trade occupation on the new critical skills list
The only trade occupation on the new critical skill list is Millwright. Home Affairs has removed all other trade occupations from the critical skills list.
13. A Ph.D. no longer qualifies you for a critical skills work visa
Unfortunately, a Ph.D. acquired locally or abroad is no longer included in the critical skills list, and no longer makes you eligible to apply for a critical skills work visa.
There are also some similarities between the 2022 and 2014 critical skills lists
Engineers will be pleased to know that engineering occupations remain on the critical skills list. Home Affairs has also added some new ones:
- Biomedical Engineer
- Engineering Manager
Contact centre occupations also remain on the critical skills list.
“We can advise more confidently, and we’ll surely see fewer nonsensical rejections”
When asked her opinion about the new critical skills list, Intergate Immigration Director Lynne had the following to say:
The new list is much, much better than the previous list.
For starters, the occupations are broader, which means the list is shorter, making it easier to determine who is eligible for a critical skills work visa and who isn’t.
At the same time, the new critical skills list assigns a specific NQF level to each occupation, and each position is defined, which means the 2022 list is not as open to interpretation as the 2014 list. The 2014 list lacked occupation definitions.
These changes will enable us to advise our clients more confidently, and we’ll surely see fewer nonsensical rejections.
Most importantly, the new critical skills list includes occupations in short supply in South Africa and occupations that employers are recruiting for. The 2014 list was irrelevant in many areas.
It’s not just the critical skills list that has changed
Apart from updating the critical skills list, Home Affairs has also made two other major changes to the critical skills area:
No more ‘job seeker’ visa
The major plus about the critical skills work visa has always been that you don’t need a job offer at the time of applying for it.
Instead, you received a ‘job seeker’ visa if your application was successful. This visa gave you 12 months to secure a job offer. Once you had one, you finalised your critical skills work visa.
Unfortunately, Home Affairs released a directive shortly after the new critical skills stipulating that it will no longer issue a 12-month ‘job seeker’ visa.
That means you have to have a job offer to apply for a critical skills work visa based on the 2022 critical skills list.
First the job, then the work visa application.
No more PR for graduates in critical skills areas straight after graduating
Home Affairs used to grant graduates who studied in critical skills areas permanent residency after graduating from a South African tertiary institution.
However, Home Affairs has revoked the Ministerial Waiver, released in 2016, that made this possible.
Going forward, students graduating in critical skills areas must follow the usual visa application process if they wish to work and live in South Africa after their graduation.
How will Home Affairs implement the new critical skills list?
Home Affairs has stipulated the following transitional arrangements:
- Any critical skills work visa issued in terms of the 2014 list for a determined period shall continue to be in force and effect in accordance with the terms and conditions under which it was issued, but may only be renewed in terms of the 2022 list provided that:
- The applicant meets the prescribed requirements of the 2022 list
- Applications already submitted to Home Affairs prior to 31 January 2022 shall be processed in terms of the 2014 list including any appeals arising out of such applications
- No new applications in terms of the 2014 list shall be accepted with effect from 1 February 2022 except for those applicants who had already secured an appointment with the Visa Application Centre (VFS) or South African High Commission prior to 1 February 2022
- The holder of a valid critical skills work visa issued in terms of the 2014 list may apply for permanent residence from the date upon which he or she qualifies to apply
Want to know if your occupation is on the new critical skills list?
Your occupation being on the critical skills list is only the first step to being eligible for a critical skills work visa. You’ll also have to meet the NQF level and all other requirements associated with your occupation.
For this reason, we recommend speaking to an immigration consultant who can tell you if your occupation is on the new critical skills list – and assess you against all the criteria.
Our consultants can do this for you! To speak with one of them, call us on +27 (0) 21 424 2460 or email us at info@intergate-immigration.com. Alternatively, complete an immigration assessment, and one of our consultants will contact you to discuss your visa eligibility.
