Companies have until 4 September 2026 to apply under three assessment pathways offering priority visa processing and reduced documentary requirements.
By Migration Expert Umer Rasib (Guest Post) Edited by Team Visa Guru
South Africa has launched the second phase of its Trusted Employer Scheme, widening access to a faster and more predictable immigration process for companies recruiting highly skilled foreign workers.
The scheme, which opened on 20 July 2026, allows approved employers to receive priority processing and submit fewer supporting documents when applying for visas for qualifying foreign personnel. Its principal focus is on senior executives, technical specialists, corporate employees and investors.
The Department of Home Affairs has made clear that the scheme is not intended to facilitate the recruitment of unskilled or low-wage foreign labour.
Why the Trusted Employer Scheme was introduced
The policy originated from the Operation Vulindlela Work Visa Review conducted in 2022. Although the review found that South Africa’s work visa policies provided a reasonable foundation for attracting international skills, it concluded that unpredictable visa decisions limited their effectiveness.
The review recommended a system under which employers could be examined and approved before submitting individual visa applications. This would allow Home Affairs to assess an organisation’s tax compliance, employment practices, financial position and adherence to labour regulations in advance.
Once accredited, a trusted employer would no longer need to repeat the same extensive corporate checks for every foreign employee. The individual worker would still need the appropriate South African visa, but the employer would benefit from a simplified administrative route.
Who can benefit from Phase II?
Phase II retains a pathway for established South African operations while extending the scheme to companies involved in strategic infrastructure projects, regional or global headquarters and certain financial-sector operations.
According to Government Gazette No. 55036, every applicant must select one of three pathways and obtain at least 80 points out of 100.
| Assessment pathway | Points available | Principal qualifying criteria |
| South African-based operations | 100 | Investment or investment pledges: 30; employment: 25; economic sector: 25; skills development: 20 |
| Regional or global headquarters | 100 | Local presence: 15; financial contribution: 50; employment: 20; economic sector: 15 |
| Synthetic Financial Centres | 100 | SARB exchange-control authorisation: 40; regulatory standing: 20; market-infrastructure commitment: 20; visa-facilitation certification: 15; skills transfer: 5 |
Pathway One: Companies already operating in South Africa
Established South African operations are assessed principally on investment, local employment, their economic sector and skills development.
Only fixed-capital investment made in South Africa since 2018 is counted. Operational expenditure is excluded.
Companies receive no investment points where the relevant investment or South African Investment Conference pledge is below R100 million. An amount between R100 million and R200 million attracts 20 points, while investment above R200 million attracts the full 30 points.
Employment is worth up to 25 points, but at least 60% of the company’s workforce must consist of South African citizens or permanent residents. A company with fewer than 100 employees receives no employment points. An organisation with at least 100 employees, of whom 60% are citizens or permanent residents, receives 20 points. More than 150 employees meeting the same local-employment ratio attract 25 points.
Applicants must also obtain confirmation from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition that they operate in a designated priority sector. Manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, services and resource-based industries attract 15 points. Energy projects and Strategic Integrated Projects in transport, water management, energy or digital communications attract 25 points.
The remaining 20 points require evidence of an active skills-transfer programme, bursary scheme or graduate-development programme for South African citizens or permanent residents.
Pathway Two: Headquarters and infrastructure operations
The second pathway is directed at companies that already maintain, or undertake to establish, a regional or global headquarters in South Africa. The headquarters must operate as an external company branch or a majority-owned subsidiary.
A business that has not yet established its South African headquarters must undertake to do so within 12 months of receiving Trusted Employer status. The pathway also accommodates companies involved in the construction or maintenance of designated strategic infrastructure.
Financial contribution carries 50 of the available points. An existing regional or global headquarters must show that it paid more than R500 million in combined corporate income tax and Pay-As-You-Earn contributions to the South African Revenue Service during the previous two tax years. VAT and import duties are not included.
A proposed headquarters may instead submit an independently prepared factual-findings report confirming that more than R500 million in corporate income tax and PAYE is budgeted to be paid in future.
Applicants must employ at least 60% South African citizens or permanent residents. A new operation may provide a binding undertaking to meet this threshold within 12 months of receiving TES status.
There is, however, an apparent discrepancy in the gazette. The main scorecard awards 15 points for the economic-sector criterion, while Annexure B refers to 10 points. As the headline scorecard reaches 100 only when 15 points are used, employers should obtain clarification from Home Affairs before relying on their own calculation.
Pathway Three: Synthetic Financial Centres
A new specialist pathway has been created for qualifying Synthetic Financial Centre entities operating in South Africa’s financial sector.
The largest component is worth 40 points and relates to authorisation, or approval in principle, from the Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve Bank under the extended Domestic Treasury Management Company framework.
An applicant granted conditional TES membership must secure full authorisation within 24 months. Its Trusted Employer status may lapse automatically if it fails to do so, unless the regulator confirms that the application remains under active review and that the delay was not caused by the applicant.
A further 20 points are available for recognised regulatory standing in South Africa or another accepted jurisdiction. Supporting evidence must include a current registration certificate or a letter of good standing issued within the preceding 12 months.
Market-infrastructure commitments are also worth 20 points. Evidence may include a qualifying letter from STRATE, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, a registered South African clearing house or an authorised dealer bank.
Visa applications for qualifying financial-sector positions must be processed through the Synthetic Financial Centre Visa Facilitation Office. The relevant positions must be linked to qualifying occupation codes on South Africa’s Critical Skills List.
The final five points require a workforce and skills-transfer plan committing the organisation to employ at least five South African citizens or permanent residents within 24 months of commencing operations.
Application deadline and assessment process
Expressions of interest must be submitted through the Department of Home Affairs’ online Trusted Employer Scheme channel by 4 September 2026. An applicant may use only one assessment pathway; selecting more than one could result in disqualification.
Applications must contain all information and supporting evidence listed in the relevant selection criteria and Phase II application form. Submissions reaching the 80-point threshold will be reviewed by an interdepartmental committee involving Home Affairs, the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and other relevant authorities.
Home Affairs expects to issue outcomes within 30 working days after the closing date. Successful employers must be willing to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the department. The committee’s decision is final, and Home Affairs retains discretion to approve or refuse membership.
What approval means for foreign workers
Trusted Employer status is granted to the company; it is not a visa and does not give foreign workers an automatic right to enter or work in South Africa.
It allows the accredited employer to submit qualifying visa applications through a priority channel with reduced corporate documentation. The benefit will apply to applications lodged inside South Africa and through South African High Commissions abroad.
Phase II also introduces a dedicated online process. Home Affairs plans eventually to integrate TES into South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation platform as part of its wider immigration digitisation programme. The government’s official announcement confirms that the system is intended to accelerate access to critical international skills while retaining immigration controls and protecting local employment.