By Owen Magocha
16 October 2026 · 3 min read · South Africa
The points-based system is the biggest change to South African work visas in a decade, and also one of the most misreported. Here is exactly what the gazette says.
Where it comes from
The May 2024 amendments to the Immigration Regulations gave the Minister the power to introduce a points system, and listed age as a possible factor. No table was published then. The system took effect on 9 October 2024, when regulation 18(12) was amended to apply it to general work and critical skills visas only, and age was dropped.
The first points notice was withdrawn nine days later to correct a typing error. The operative table is Government Notice 5448, Government Gazette 51416, of 18 October 2024. It has not been amended since.
The points table
- Occupation on the Critical Skills List: 100 points.
- Qualifications: NQF level 9 or 10 (master’s or doctorate): 50. NQF level 7 or 8 (bachelor’s, honours or equivalent): 30.
- Offer of employment (mandatory): salary above R976,194 a year: 50. Salary between R650,976 and R976,194: 20.
- Work experience: 5 to 10 years: 20. More than 10 years: 30.
- Offer from a Trusted Employer: 30.
- Proficiency in an official language: 10.
The lower salary band begins at R650,976. Most commentary still prints R650,796, the figure in the withdrawn first notice. Use the gazetted figure.
Which visa you get
If you reach 100 points through a Critical Skills List occupation, the visa is a critical skills work visa. If you reach 100 through any other combination, it is a general work visa. Either way, you must still meet every other requirement, such as the police clearance and the job offer documents.
Worked examples
These use the gazetted table:
- Bachelor’s degree (30) + salary above R976,194 (50) + more than 10 years’ experience (30) = 110. Qualifies.
- Bachelor’s degree (30) + salary of R800,000 (20) + more than 10 years’ experience (30) + language (10) = 90. Does not qualify.
- The same applicant with an offer from a Trusted Employer (30) = 120. Qualifies.
- Master’s degree (50) + salary above R976,194 (50) = 100. Qualifies, even with less than five years’ experience.
The arithmetic shows the reality. Without a Critical Skills List occupation, the salary offer does most of the work. Without salary points or a Trusted Employer offer, the maximum is 90, so an offer below R650,976 cannot reach 100 unless the occupation is on the Critical Skills List or the employer is a Trusted Employer. The notice also marks the job offer as mandatory, and it is not settled whether a salary below the lowest band disqualifies an application outright.
The Trusted Employer Scheme
Employers accepted into the Trusted Employer Scheme give their candidates 30 points and a simpler process. Phase II was launched in July 2026 for further categories, including companies in strategic infrastructure projects and regional or global headquarters. Applications closed on 4 September 2026, with approvals targeted for October 2026. For employers recruiting regularly, it is worth asking whether you qualify.
What is changing around it
- The Critical Skills List in use is still the list of 3 October 2023. No new list has been published in 2026.
- Processing: Home Affairs’ current target is four weeks for general work and critical skills visas lodged in South Africa.
- Proposals, not law: the Revised White Paper approved by Cabinet in April 2026 would merge the two visas into a single skilled worker visa, and the Employment Services Amendment Bill would add duties for employers hiring foreign nationals. Neither is law yet.
Before you apply
- 1Count your points honestly against the gazetted table, not a website’s summary.
- 2Get your qualifications evaluated by SAQA, or at least apply. Proof of a SAQA application gets a 12-month visa, extended when the evaluation arrives.
- 3Make sure the salary in the contract matches the band you claim, in gross annual terms.
- 4Check whether your employer is a Trusted Employer.
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About the author
Owen Magocha
Corporate and Wealth Migration Strategist, Mimshac Group
Owen leads Mimshac Group’s immigration practice. He holds an LLB from Nelson Mandela University and completed the Legal Profession Admission Board conversion studies for overseas-qualified lawyers through the University of Sydney. He advises multinational employers, families and private clients on South African immigration.
This article is general information on the law and practice as at 16 October 2026. It is not legal advice for your situation, and immigration rules and Home Affairs practice change often. Speak to us before you act.
Sources and further reading
- Points-Based System, GN 5448, Government Gazette 51416 (18 October 2024)
- Third Amendment of the Immigration Regulations, GN 5398, Government Gazette 51366 (9 October 2024)
- Second Amendment of the Immigration Regulations, GN R.4847 (20 May 2024)
- Critical Skills List, GN R.3934, Government Gazette 49402 (3 October 2023)
- Home Affairs: Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II (21 July 2026)
- IBN: Immigration Circular 08 of 2026 processing times (15 July 2026)
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