Question NW2945 to the Minister of Home Affairs

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10 October 2022 - NW2945

Profile picture: Winkler, Ms HS

Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

With reference to his reply to question 209 on 24 February 2022, what criteria, apart from academic qualifications, are used to determine whether a person has critical skills?

Reply:

I have published on 2 August 2022 an updated critical skills list for South Africa, showing what skills are in short supply across the country. The new list has added 39 new skills, building on top of the previous publication in February of this year.

The critical skills list falls under the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002 which is administered by the Department of Home Affairs and sets out the qualifications and skills deemed to be critical for the country in relation to an application for a critical skills work visa or permanent residence permit. An application for critical skills work visa or permanent residence permit needs to be part of the 140 skills identified in the critical skills list. The complete list can be found in the government gazette no. 47182 dated 2 August 2022.

Furthermore, Regulation 18(5) of the Immigration Act, prescribes that the following criteria be applied when determining whether a person has critical skills:

a) a confirmation, in writing, from the professional body, council or board recognised by SAQA in terms of section 13(1)(i) of the National Qualifications Framework Act, or any relevant government Department confirming the skills or qualifications of the applicant and appropriate post qualification experience;

b) if required by law, proof of application for a certificate of registration with the professional body, council or board recognised by SAQA in terms of section 13(1)(i) of the National Qualifications Framework Act; and

c) proof of evaluation of the foreign qualification by SAQA and translated by a sworn translator into one of the official languages of the Republic.

END

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