Work Permit South Africa Podcast

In this insightful interview on OFM’s Business Hour, Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director at Xpatweb, shares findings from the 2025 Critical Skills Survey. With 84% of large corporates struggling to hire highly skilled professionals, Marisa explains how new policies like the Trusted Employer Scheme and the Remote Work Visa are reshaping the mobility landscape.    Visit our website for the Critical Ski...

Visa rejections are rising in South Africa and at foreign missions abroad, catching applicants off guard and creating uncertainty.   Senior Immigration Consultants Aadil Wadee and Manfred Barnard reveal why rejections are surging and share practical strategies to safeguard your status, this discussion provides the insights needed to make confident, informed decisions.  Book a consultation with our...

South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign nationals, and choosing the correct visa is essential for a smooth entry into the country.    In this video, Jaco Brits (Head of Immigration at Xpatweb) explains how identifying the right visa category becomes a simple process when supported by an expert team.    With fully digital visa processing on the horizon and improved efficiency across...

The Critical Skills Visa is one of South Africa’s most reliable pathways for highly skilled international professionals. In this video, Marisa Jacobs (Managing Director of Xpatweb) explains everything employers and applicants must know to secure a Critical Skills Visa under the latest regulations.    This video covers:  Why outdated information and small mistakes cause visa failures  What the Crit...

See how your organisation can adapt and thrive amid growing competition for critical talent. Download the 2025 Critical Skills Survey Report Summary here: https://www.xpatweb.com/2025-critical.. . South Africa’s 2025 Critical Skills Survey highlights the professions most in demand and the increasing urgency for skilled recruitment across key industries. In this video, Marisa Jacobs, Managing Direc...

At Xpatweb’s 5th Annual Global Mobility Conference, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen emphasised that the country must urgently address its electricity and logistics challenges to attract global investment and scarce skills.    He highlighted that structural reforms in energy, ports and transport infrastructure are critical to unlocking growth, lowering costs and creating jo...

The High Court has ordered the Department of Home Affairs to stop adding unofficial hurdles to visa applications, such as demanding long term lease agreements which have no basis in law.   In this interview on Moneyweb, Aadil Wadee, Senior Immigration Consultant discusses how the Court responded after a South African mission abroad refused to accept a Critical Skills Visa application.    Contact V...

South Africa has the talent, location, and potential to become a global investment hub, but can regulatory reform, global mobility, and a stable tax environment turn that potential into reality?    In this thought-provoking discussion, DM Ashor Sarupen (Deputy Minister of Finance), Prof Keith Engel (CEO, South African Institute of Taxation), and Jeremy Maggs (Renowned Media Personality and Master...

In this exclusive vodcast, Xpatweb hosts the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Higher Education and Training to unpack South Africa’s Critical Skills List. Hear directly from government leaders on aligning skills with workforce needs, public input, and the importance of employer participation.    Key highlights include:  00:00 Why the Critical Skills List Matters  01:29 Government C...

Have you, like thousands of others, had your visa application rejected by the Department of Home Affairs? You are not alone. South Africa’s visa backlog is leading to a surge in rejections even for well-prepared applications. But a rejection does not mean the end of the road. Our immigration team understands the urgency and complexity of appealing visa outcomes. From work and spousal visas to perm...

Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb, joined OFM’s “The Business Hour” to expand on key takeaways from the B20 Summit Launch in Cape Town and South Africa’s role in the G20 Presidency.    Key takeaways include:  The B20’s impact on global economic policy  The need for agile immigration frameworks to boost workforce mobility  How skills mobility can unlock economic opportunities for Africa ...

Tune in as Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb, and Phindiwe Mbhele, Director of Corporate Accounts at the Department of Home Affairs, discuss the status of the visa backlog which was at the top of the agenda in 2024. In this episode, they look at the challenges, ongoing improvements and what this means for current and future applicants. If you are waiting for a visa outcome or considering...

Tune in to our latest podcast discussing South Africa’s newly gazetted Points-Based System that was introduced in October of last year, with Marisa Jacobs (Managing Director of Xpatweb) and Phindiwe Mbhele ( Director of Corporate Accounts at the Department of Home Affairs). This framework awards points for applicants to be scored based on their occupation, qualifications and work experience in ord...

Tune into this engaging and insightful podcast with Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb and Phindiwe Mbhele, Director of Corporate Accounts at the Department of Home Affairs, as they discuss South Africa’s Remote Work Visa that came into effect last year.    The Remote Work Visa allows individuals to work for a foreign employer while residing in South Africa.    This visa caters to a diver...

Join Senior Immigration Consultants at Xpatweb, Aadil Wadee and Manfred Barnard, as they discuss:    1. The Newly Introduced Points-Based System 2. The Trusted Employer Scheme 3. Visa Renewals 4. The Backlog in Visa Processing 5. The Importance of Proactive Succession Planning and Compliance   Tune in to our Work Permit South Africa podcast on your preferred platform for more insights and updates...

Join Manfred Barnard (Senior Immigration Consultant) and Aadil Wadee (Senior Immigration Consultant) as they explain South Africa’s Points-Based System for General Work and Critical Skills Visas in the latest session of the Work Permit South Africa Podcast.   Learn how the new system impacts these visas, with practical scenarios to guide you through the requirements. Get the latest on how these ch...

What makes South Africa an emerging destination for remote professionals? Learn everything you need to know about South Africa’s Remote Work Visa in this insightful episode of the Work Permit South Africa Podcast, featuring Keri Culver (Senior Immigration Consultant at Xpatweb). She will discuss the amended Immigration Regulations introduced on 9 October 2024. Topics Covered:   ·        Remote Wor...

The Xpatweb 2023/2024 Critical Skills Survey Report provides essential insights into South Africa's most in-demand professions, capturing feedback from top employers to guide HR strategies and policy decisions.    Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb, takes us through this comprehensive survey, revealing the skills most needed in today’s competitive market, offering a vital resource fo...

South Africa has taken a bold step with the Third Amendment to the Immigration Regulations, gazetted on 18 October 2024, introducing a Remote Work Visa and a points-based system aimed at attracting top global talent. In this RSG Geldsake interview, Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb, shares how these updates will benefit South Africa’s economy and simplify the process for digital nomads a...

In this podcast episode, Aadil Wadee and Manfred Barnard, Senior Immigration Consultants at Xpatweb, guide you through the intricacies of the Remote Work Visa. They cover crucial requirements, such as the need for an annual income of 1 million ZAR, registration with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for visas valid over 6 months, and the applicant to work exclusively for a foreign employer....

In the latest episode of the Work Permit South Africa Podcast, Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb, breaks down South Africa’s newly introduced points-based system for work visas, effective from 9 October 2024.    Learn how the system evaluates applicants based on occupation, qualifications, work experience, and salary. Whether applying for a Critical Skills Visa or a General Work Visa, un...

In this insightful interview on Kaya 959’s KayaBiz with Refilwe Moloto, Keri Culver, Senior Immigration Consultant at Xpatweb, breaks down South Africa’s new Remote Work Visa for digital nomads.    This visa is a game-changer for digital nomads and global professionals, allowing remote workers from foreign companies to live in South Africa for up to six months without taking local jobs. With an in...

In this HOTFM interview with Jeremy Maggs, Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb, breaks down the new Points-Based Visa System and the simplified Remote Work Visa requirements in South Africa.    Learn how these updates will impact businesses, attract high-net-worth individuals, and streamline the hiring of foreign talent.    Visit our website for more information. https://bit.ly/4feSBaf    ...

In this episode of the 'Xpatweb Work Visas in South Africa Podcast,' Marisa Jacobs, the Managing Director of Xpatweb, engages in a dialogue with Phindiwe Mbhele, the Director of Corporate Accounts at the Department of Home Affairs, to discuss the intricacies of the Trusted Employer Scheme.   Out of 108 companies that applied to join the TES, 65 have been approved. Some applications are s...

Listen to our Senior Immigration Consultants, Aadil Wadee and Jaco Brits, as they unpack the Visitor’s Visa categories, covering everything from eligibility requirements to the application process, visa duration, and more. In this video, our experts cover: [ 00:34 – 01:05 ] Introduction [ 01:31 – 03:06 ] Visitor’s Visa in terms of Section 11(1) vs Visitor’s Visa in terms of Section 11(2) [ 03:06 –...