Zimbabwe Exemption Permit: Six months before expiry, Zimbabweans in SA have mixed feelings

News24 – 05 Jan 2023

• Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders are left with six months before the extension expiry.
• With a low uptake of other visa facilities, some Zimbabweans are looking for jobs abroad as caregivers and elementary school teachers.
• On average, more than 12 000 people are entering Zimbabwe through Beitbridge daily during the festive season.

With just six months before the time is up for those in South Africa living under the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP), there are mixed feelings among Zimbabweans, with some wishing for a further extension, while others contemplate going abroad.

The government announced that it would terminate the ZEP on 30 June 2023, a decision that will affect about 180 000 Zimbabweans residing in South Africa.

As early as October, the Zimbabwean government announced that it was prepared for its nationals who were coming home to start a new life and would assist them with transport and other logistics.

While there has been no sign of it backing its words with action, there has been an influx of travellers from South Africa into Zimbabwe.

Between 5-10 December, 62 770 people entered Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge border.

The head of immigration at the border, Cannie Magaya, said although they had no figures yet, on the days leading up to Christmas, there had been an increase in traffic.

She said it could stay like that until early January when people start returning to South Africa.

Brian Moyo, a Zimbabwean working as a teacher in SA, didn't apply for the special skills visa because he felt it was a waste of time.

While he is going back home in early January, he has set his sights on jobs in China.

He said:

I teach English and that's not a special skill. I stood a chance as a science or mathematics teacher, as such, applying for other visas was a waste of time for me.

Moyo, before migrating to South Africa, taught at some private schools back home.

He feels his experience there could help him in China.

"There is a demand for teachers in early education in China, and English language is one of the subjects with vacancies. So I am applying for those jobs, and one advantage I have is understanding children's psychomotor skills and capacity to learn," he said.

An online search by News24 discovered that salaries for teaching jobs in China range from R70 000 to R120 000, depending on the type of school and level of experience.

In comparison to teaching jobs in southern Africa, Chinese teaching jobs pay way better.

 

Another opportunity will come into effect in March when the United Kingdom opens up for teachers from South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

But Moyo said he had not considered that option yet, since it was yet to be offered.

Working in South Africa has also become very difficult for those spending their money in Zimbabwe because of the rand's volatility against the US dollar, the preferred currency of trade.

During the festive season, R100 is the equivalent of $5.80, but most shops or businesses only value it at $5.

"It's robbery," said Steven Tshuma, another Zimbabwean based in South Africa.

He added: "They don't respect this (rand) currency. One is better off coming from Europe or elsewhere."

'I hope my boss comes up with a plan'

With the impending ZEP expiry, he is setting his eyes on the UK, Canada or Australia.

"I am starting a nurse aid course with the Red Cross (in SA) early next year. When done, I will apply for jobs abroad. Many have done it. It works," he said.

Tshuma works at a restaurant and has come face to face with members of Operation Dudula – a vigilante group that intimidates migrants.

He is worried that, a few months before permits expire, xenophobic attacks could resurface, and that by then they would be extreme, because they would be targeting people who had been outlawed by the government but chose to stay on illegally.

He said:

What excuse would I have to be in SA? They could burn us alive, because first and foremost we would be illegal immigrants and going to report criminal conduct at a police station would be getting yourself arrested.

By the end of October, fewer than 10% of ZEP holders had applied for the available mainstream visas.

An estimated 180 000 ZEP holders will be affected by the 30 June 2023 deadline set by the government.

Shiela Ncube, a domestic worker in Johannesburg, has no plans of leaving the country.

She hopes her boss will find a way around the system to keep her in SA.

www,samigration.com

Canada Bans Nigerians, Other Foreigners From Buying Homes

Ladunliadi News | 05 January 2023

A ban on foreigners buying residential property in Canada took effect on Sunday, aiming to make more homes available to locals facing a housing crunch. Several exceptions in the act allow individuals such as refugees and permanent residents who are not citizens to buy homes.

In late December, Ottawa also clarified that the ban would apply only to city dwellings and not to recreational properties such as summer cottages.

The temporary two-year measure was proposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the 2021 election campaign when soaring prices put home ownership beyond the reach of many Canadians.

“The desirability of Canadian homes is attracting profiteers, wealthy corporations, and foreign investors,” his Liberal Party said in its election plank at the time.

“This is leading to a real problem of underused and vacant housing, rampant speculation, and skyrocketing prices. Homes are for people, not investors.”

Following their 2021 election victory, the Liberals quietly introduced the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act.

Major markets such as Vancouver and Toronto have also introduced taxes on non-residents and empty homes.

Despite a recent heyday, the country’s real estate market has cooled for sellers as mortgage rates followed the Bank of Canada’s aggressive monetary policy in a bid to rein in inflation.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, average home prices have fallen from a peak of more than Can$800,000 (US$590,000) at the start of 2022 to just over Can$630,000 (US$465,000) last month.

Many experts have also said the ban on foreign buyers — who accounted for less than five percent of home ownership in Canada, according to the national statistical agency — would not have the desired effect of making homes more affordable.

Rather they point to a need for more housing construction to meet demand.

www.samigration.com

Proof of Permanent Residency (PR)

SA Migration | 05 Jan 2023

Why does one do this

Obtaining permanent residency is your ticket to securing a full-time residency in South Africa. This alleviates the headache of renewing your visa every few years while still enabling you to enjoy every moment of your stay in South Africa. This is why we call it “Permanent” residency. It is important to make sure that you look after your PR certificate.

While obtaining your permanent residency is a joyous occasion, it is important to be able to produce a proof of permanent residency (PR) upon request.

A PR certificate is issued upon successful application for your permanent residency. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will only issue you this certificate once, therefore obtaining a certified copy and looking after your original copy is very important. The only time you will need to take your PR Certificate out of its safe place will be upon exiting South Africa and entering a new country. Obtaining a proof of residency letter can confirm your status and the legitimacy thereof. This can also function as a back-up if you lose your original copy – saving you loads of stress if things don’t go your way.

If you happen to misplace your certificate, it is not the end of the world. Although you may only receive the certificate once, the application for “confirmation of status” – solidifies your status as a permanent resident. This letter comes in the form of a permanent residency letter, which can be applied for before or after misplacing your original proof of permanent residency. You know the saying, better safe than sorry, as this letter can take upwards of 6 months to be approved. Try and obtain your confirmation of status letter as soon as possible!

Once you have obtained permanent residency certificate for South Africa, you need to make sure that you comply with any conditions listed on the bottom of the A4 page. If you are unsure about how to comply with the conditions on your permanent residency certificate, make sure to obtain legal advise so you do not invalidate all of the hard work that you have done to obtain your certificate. You also need to apply for your South African identity book and convert your driver’s license to a South African version.

To apply for naturalization as a South African citizen: If you are a permanent resident of South Africa and you want to apply for naturalization as a South African citizen, you will need to provide proof of your permanent residency status as part of the application process.

If you leave South Africa and do not return after three or more years, your permanent residency is at risk of being revoked.  It is strongly suggested to seek professional legal advice. This is only if you are leaving the country for extended periods at a time.

www.samigration.com

Canada is banning foreigners from buying property – what it means for South Africans looking to work or study there

3 January 2023 – Businesstech

Canada has introduced a new law banning foreigners from buying residential property until 2025 – however, this will not apply to South Africans migrating to the North American nation.

The ban on foreigners buying residential property comes after a spike in Canadian home prices since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Canadian politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, blamed foreign investors for buying large amounts of properties as investments – damaging supply.

However, South Africans planning to immigrate to the nation will not be affected as the ban does not apply to foreign nationals in the country living as permeant residents.

According to the new laws, Canadian citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the ban, while other prospective buyers face various different rules.

International students and foreign workers are allowed to purchase one property, as long as they have lived in Canada for a certain number of years and have signalled their intention to become permanent residents.

For workers, they would have had to have worked in Canada for three out of the four years prior to buying a property. Students, meanwhile, have to be present in Canada for 244 days each year for five years prior to buying. International students cannot buy a property for more than $500,000.

South Africans who migrate to Canada via the popular Express Entry Program for skilled workers are considered permanent residents and thus eligible to purchase residential property.

South Africans who are not permanent residents of Canada are ineligible to buy property in the North American nation as an investment for the next two years. However, according to statista, the average house price in Canada is over R12.3 million (C$ 27,300), which means that many South Africans likely cannot afford to buy property in Canada.

Other exemptions are also found in the new law. Refugees are also eligible to buy property. Moreover, the ban will not apply to recreational properties such as summer cottages, instead focusing on city dwellings. In addition, residential properties with more than three units are still available to purchase.

Speaking on CTV News, Tom Storey from Royal LePage said that the ban would most likely help Canadians buying their first residential property from competing against foreigners who do not live in Canada.

A popular destination for South Africans

Although Canada’s attempts to limit foreign ownership of residential property may sound unwelcoming, the North American country is still an incredibly popular immigration destination for South Africa.

From 2015 to 2022 Q3, 2.4 million foreigners migrated to Canada – including 11,210 South Africans.

Last year, the Canadian government updated its Immigration Levels Plan for 2023-2025, hoping to add 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025.

South Africans have historically scored highly for the Express Entry immigration process due to strong language skills, the likelihood of obtaining skilled work, and the higher education they may have completed when they were younger.

Canada welcomes high levels of skilled worker immigration to keep its economy strong, as it has one of the world’s oldest populations and one of the world’s lowest birth rates.

Canada thus depends on immigration to grow its population and labour force

www.samigration.com

Nigerians explore Egypt, Morocco, others after Dubai visa ban

Daily Trust Saturday  | 04 January 2023  

Hundreds of Nigerians are now exploring other destinations after Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) slammed a total visa ban on them in October.…

Hundreds of Nigerians are now exploring other destinations after Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) slammed a total visa ban on them in October.  

Daily Trust Saturday reports that before the ban on Nigerian businessmen, Dubai had first tightened visa requirements for applicants from Nigeria.

For now, only Nigerians with diplomatic passports and few others have easy access to Dubai.

Dubai was hitherto the destination of choice for many Nigerians for many purposes, including business, education, leisure and medical tourism.

But following the ban, many Nigerians are now travelling to Egypt, Morocco and other countries.

While there is no official statement from the UAE on the reason for the ban, some people are suggesting the untoward attitudes of some Nigerians.

Before the ban, there were many reports about Nigerians being arrested in the UAE for alleged theft and cybercrime. Some were tried and incarcerated while others were repatriated back home.

The near official statement on the ban was from a Destination Management Company (DMC), licensed to issue electronic visas in the UAE, which announced in a statement that Dubai immigration had stopped approving visas for Nigerians.

In a statement, the DMC said: “All previously submitted applications are currently on hold. Kindly note this is beyond our control. We will update once visas start getting approved.”  

Declining business fortunes

Following the declining load factors, most airlines, including Emirates and Air Peace, suspended flights to Dubai.

Many travel agents said they had lost business due to the development, even as findings by one of our correspondents revealed that the travel agents are now advertising Egypt, Morocco, and Seychelles, among others, to holidaymakers, businessmen and women and the sick.

President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mrs Susan Akporiaye, said many Nigerians were now exploring other destinations for tourism.

She said, “Nigerians are already changing plans to go to Egypt and Morocco, but then these two countries require visa processes, but Egypt has made it a bit easier now.

“If you have a valid US or UK visa, you can also get your visa on arrival in Egypt.”

She noted that Dubai would be losing huge revenue generated from Nigerians, especially during the yuletide.

But the Director of Corporate Travels, Zenith Travel, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, said Dubai was not losing anything for not admitting Nigerians.

He said, “The UAE has nothing to lose. They have massive investments and massive structures in tourism and travel. It is not a problem if they are not admitting Nigerians.

“The UAE has developed its tourism beyond looking at only one route; beyond Nigeria, that is what they have done to their aviation and tourism.”

A Nigerian businesswoman, Mrs Khadijat, said she had not been able to travel to Dubai since the visa ban, noting that her suppliers usually sent her goods through another country which cost more money to clear.

She said, “This is the only option we have now, but it is really not easy when you look at it. Most of these abayas (flowing gowns for women) we buy from Dubai, we don’t really get enough profit from them. And sending our items through another country has added to the cost of logistics.”

Official trade balance

According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) in 2020, Nigeria exported goods worth N134bn ($321m) to the UAE.

OEC said the main products that Nigeria exported were gold ($217m), crude petroleum ($53.5m) and oily seeds ($16m).

On the other hand, the UAE exported goods worth N489bn ($1.14bn) to Nigeria. These included broadcasting equipment ($152m), refined petroleum ($119m) and cars ($118m).

This shows that the trade balance favours the UAE as more of its goods entered the Nigerian economy.  

An importer of clothes and a variety of other things in Kano, Abdullahi Ibrahim, told Daily Trust Saturday that the hardship in getting a visa to Dubai had forced most importers in Kano to visit Turkey to get their goods.

Ibrahim explained that this was coupled with the increase in taxes by authorities in Dubai thereby making the import of goods more costly.

On what he thinks led to the ban on Nigerians, he said, “Nigerians are doing drugs and other social vices there. That was why they came up with the law to restrict Nigerians because they felt Nigerians will bring bad things into the country.”

He, however, noted that Dubai was also losing a lot because it used to generate a lot of revenue from Nigerians.

He said, “The effect now is that there is low patronage of goods from Dubai because most Nigerian importers go to Turkey or Qatar.

“Also, shop owners in Dubai are mostly from India, Bangladesh and others, but due to heavy taxation, we have mostly opted for Turkey because sales there will make us get more profit.”

Sarki Arabii Muhammad, who owns babies’ clothes shops across the country, often travelled to Dubai for business before the ban.

He explained that Dubai had many advantages for business people over other countries as one could buy different types of goods during a single trip.

He said, “I was purchasing the majority of my goods from Dubai because of the many advantages, including the fact that your goods will arrive within two days, unlike other places where your goods can spend over two weeks.

“One of the alternatives we have now is to buy online, but that is not as effective as being there physically. The other alternative is to try other countries, but the goods are not available as they are in Dubai.”

He further said, “I came back from Indonesia a few days ago, but I doubt if I will gain anything. Also, I didn’t get as many goods as I wanted.”

He, therefore, called on Nigerian authorities to intervene and ensure that the issue was resolved.

A businesswoman, Aisha Jajere, said the ban on Nigerian visitors by the Dubai authorities had affected many businesses in the Arab country.

She said, “It is negatively impacting the businesses of hoteliers and tourism destinations in Dubai.”

A travel agent in Kano, Dr Jamilu Umar, said China had replaced Dubai for Nigerian businessmen and women, noting that the ban had really affected their fortunes and praying that the stalemate would be resolved soon.

He added that: “One of our alternatives now is travelling to Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj and using the opportunity to buy goods.”

www.samigration.com