The short answer
Here is how to apply for a critical skills visa.
The whole question
I have been an asylum seeker for 13 years.
I saw an article on GroundUp that asylum seekers can apply for permanent residence or other forms of permits. I have a certificate in telecommunications.
How do I go about this?
The long answer
The Constitutional Court ruled in 2018 that any foreigner, including refugees and asylum seekers, could apply for temporary or permanent residence, and that this could be granted if the person fulfilled the requirements of the Immigration Act.
A person applying for permanent residence can apply from inside the country; a person applying for temporary residence has to apply from outside of the country, but you can get an exemption from this by applying to Home Affairs. (This is called a Waiver of Regulation 9(5)). VSF Global, the company that processes applications for Home Affairs, says that it will immediately accept submissions at all their offices for exemptions from having to apply for temporary residence from outside the country. A temporary residence visa includes a study visa, a business visa, a critical skills visa and a spousal visa. All of these will have different qualifications.
To apply for Temporary or Permanent Residency, you need to have the following documents ready:
• Proof of residence or spousal citizenship in South Africa
• Government issued Marriage Certificate (if you are married)
• A letter of support from the partner that holds citizenship/permanent residency
• Proof of current mental records and well-being
• A completed temporary or permanent residency application form
To apply for a critical skills visa, you need to apply online through VFS Global.
You will need to prove that you qualify for the critical skills visa by showing that your occupation is on the critical skills list.
You will need to submit a birth certificate, a medical certificate
Your passport must be valid for 30 days after your current permit expires.
VSF will submit your application to Home Affairs and they will process it, which is supposed to take about eight to ten weeks, though it could well take longer. You will be notified by VSF to collect the outcome.
If you succeed, the critical skills visa will be valid for up to five years, though you will have to find employment within the first twelve months and notify Home Affairs of this. Once you have completed five years of employment, you can apply for a permanent resident visa.
🚗 Call to Action:
Contact SA Migration today to schedule a free consultation. With 25 years of experience and full compliance with the Department of Home Affairs, Labour, SAPS, and Courts, we’re here to ensure your success.
📞 WhatsApp: +27 82 373 8415
📧 Email: info@samigration.com
🌐 Website: www.samigration.com
Your compliance is our priority—let’s build your future together
