The Department of Home Affairs has published South Africa’s new draft white paper on citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection for public comment, proposing a complete overhaul of the country’s migration system.

Among the many changes in the lineup, the whitepaper briefly makes mention of South Africa’s critical skills list and justifies amendments made to the list in 2022, which trimmed down the number of positions advertised as critical.

The critical skills list was updated for the first time since 2014 in February 2022, sparking controversy in the medical field as most of the jobs cut from the list came from that sector.

The list was updated again in August 2022, which added 39 more occupations to the list, largely from the medical field seemingly in response to this criticism, although key jobs were still omitted.

While nurses and various medical and pharmacy specialists  and vets in the latest update to the list in October 2023 have been added to the list, general practitioners and doctors remain off the list.

The department acknowledged that there has been “fierce criticism” of the new list  mainly emanating from the professions that were cut.

“Normally, the Critical Skills List ought to be updated every four years due to the ever-changing skills shortage in South Africa,” the department said.

This, it said, justified the removal of medical doctors from the list as, at the moment, there is no shortage of South African medical doctors “at the undergraduate level”.

It added that removing certain professions from the list was fine because those occupations could still apply for other types of visas.

“The exclusion of certain professions/qualifications will not impact negatively on the economy as there are other visas such as business visa, relatives visa, work visa, corporate visa and intra-company visas, which foreign nationals may apply for,” the department said.

Visa disaster

While the department justifies it position in blocking out certain professions from attaining critical skills visas, this position is juxtaposed with the ongoing chaos in processing visa applications in South Africa including critical skills visa.

Simply put, even if professionals make use of the various visa paths mentioned in the whitepaper, a massive backlog and operational delays within the department make this route problematic.

Business surveys have already shown that companies are desperate for skilled workers, and delays at Home Affairs are causing nightmare scenarios for businesses that want to expand or thrive in South Africa.

According to Business Leadership South Africa chief executive, Busi Mavuso, a lack of critical skills is holding back the South African economy, and the problem isn’t being resolved with the necessary speed.

“There is a backlog of 74,000 applications for all kinds of visas at the Department of Home Affairs according to an official quoted by Bloomberg last month many of those in the scarce skills category.

“The backlog is staggering, a number in line with the headcount of some of South Africa’s biggest companies. If those skills were to suddenly be working in our economy, the impact would be significant,” she said.

While the CEO noted “anecdotal reports” that processing of applications at Home Affairs were improving, she said the backlog was a massive problem that needed to be address. Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi indicated that the backlog should be cleared by June 2024.

“The fact that companies can’t fill the positions means they can’t invest and expand. Expansion would enable much further employment, more tax to be generated, and the overall business environment to be greatly improved,” Mavuso said.

The BLSA lead said that changing immigration policy is a long process, but the government could score some quick wins by making room for visa categories like remote work visas. To address the staggering backlog, however, administrative changes need to be made.

“Business could help. The private sector has extensive administrative capacity that could be drawn on to process the backlog. While the procedures to do so would need to be determined, and staff capacity will need to be built through some training, the backlog could be resolved in a matter of months,” she said.

Turkey has emerged as a prominent tourist destination in recent years due to its diverse range of landscapes, vistas, and activities that ensure a memorable stay. As a result, an increasing number of Canadians are considering trips to Turkey. The implementation of the e-Visa system in 2013 has significantly simplified the visa application process for visitors from Canada. The requirements for obtaining a Turkey e-Visa for Canadian citizens are straightforward. Canada is among the countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for a Turkish electronic visa, commonly referred to as an e-Visa. Canadian citizens who wish to travel to Turkey for leisure or business purposes can easily apply for an e-Visa, which is also valid for transit through Turkey. The Turkey e-Visa Online is a single or multiple entry visa that allows for stays of up to 30 or 90 days depending on the passport holder`s nationality and is valid for 180 days from the date of issue. Canadian nationals seeking to work or study in Turkey must obtain a separate form of visa, which can only be obtained from a Turkish embassy or consulate in their home country. If you want to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days for business or pleasure, you need to apply for a long-term permit instead of the e-Visa. Since the Turkey e-Visa is electronically linked to the applicant`s Canadian visa, once approved, the passport must be presented upon entry into Turkey. Applicants from Canada must meet certain requirements in order for their Turkey e-Visa to be approved. The online application form is quick and easy to fill out and can be completed from the comfort of your own home.

TURKEY VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR CANADIAN CITIZENS

• A Canadian passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the day Canadians arrive in Turkey.

• A current email address that is frequently used because you will receive all your information about the documentation process via email.

• You can use a debit or credit card to pay for the visa fee.

Turkey Visa Application Process

Turkey has opened its doors to international tourists, but those who are not from visa-exempt countries must obtain a visa in order to enter the country. Fortunately, eligible tourists can now conveniently apply for a Turkey e-Visa online, granting them the opportunity to stay in the Republic of Turkey for a maximum of three months. The Turkey e-Visa serves as a valid legal document that permits entry for individuals from specific countries. This e-Visa can be obtained by completing an online application form or at designated border crossings. It replaces the previously issued `sticker visa` and `stamp type` visas. Whether it be for travel, tourism, or business purposes, the e-Visa can be utilized accordingly. However, the duration of stay permitted with an e-Visa varies depending on the visitor`s nationality. A single or multiple entry visa is issued for 30 days, 60 days or 90 days, and all entries must take place within 180 days. All eligible travelers just need to have an internet connection to finish their Turkey e- Visa application. Types of Visas in Turkey: Tourist visa, Business visa, Student visa, Work visa. Determine the type of visa required for your trip. However, to apply for the Turkey e-Visa, the traveler can simply fill in the online form which takes only a few minutes. Please note that it may take 24 hours for the system to process your Turkish e-Visa applications.

Turkey Visa Application Process

• Check what type of Turkish visa you need to apply for.

• Find out when is the right time to apply.

• Check where to submit your Turkey visa application.

• Collect the required documents.

• Submit the application Wait for processing.

Requirements for Turkey Visa

• Have a passport valid for at least 60 days beyond the duration of the stay in Turkey.

• A valid email address to receive the approved Turkey eVisa in their Inbox.

• You can use a credit or debit card to pay for the Turkey e-Visa fees.

Turkey Visa for South African Citizens

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced the eVisa program in Turkey in 2013. As a result, the Turkish government now offers e-visas to citizens of more than 100 countries, including South Africa. Due to Turkey`s popularity among South Africans, individuals holding South African passports no longer need to visit the Turkish embassy to obtain a visa. Instead, they can conveniently apply for their visas online and receive them in a shorter period of time. Prior to their trip to Turkey, South African citizens can easily apply for an e-visa through the online platform. It is mandatory for South Africans to obtain a Turkish e-visa if they wish to visit Turkey for tourism, business, transit, or medical purposes. Turkey e-Visa is a multiple entry visa for South Africa that can be used to enter Turkey for 30 days. The Turkey e-Visa is valid for a total of 180 days from the date of issue. It allows South African visitors multiple entries into Türkiye, with each journey lasting up to 90 days. This Turkey e-Visa has been launched to allow visitors to easily obtain their visas online. The process is faster and more convenient than applying for a traditional visa. This can be done in minutes from your home or office without having to visit the local Turkish Embassy or Consulate.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR CITIZENS OF SOUTH AFRICA

• Passport getting a South African passport is quite easy these days, so you should be able to get one fast. Make sure that it is valid for at least 6 months from the date you plan to enter this country.

• Email address your Turkey e-Visa will be linked to your passport electronically, but you still need a copy to show at the immigration office in Turkey. Make sure that you provide a valid address.

• Means of payment  You can use a credit or a debit card to pay for the eVisa fees.

Turkey Visa Types

A Turkey Visa grants you permission to enter Turkey and stay for a specific duration. It allows you to participate in various activities and, depending on the type of visa, even study or work. Certain visas also provide the opportunity to apply for a Turkish residency permit and reside in Turkey for at least one year. In order to enter Turkey, eligible individuals must complete the Turkey online e-Visa application form. Presently, the Turkish government offers e-Visas to citizens from more than 100 countries. The Turkey online e-Visa, which was introduced in 2013, is a visa that can be used for single or multiple entries and permits stays of either 30 or 90 days, depending on the passport holder`s nationality. Typically, Turkey e-Visas remain valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. The Turkish e-Visa, which replaced the previous `sticker visa,` was designed to speed up the visa application procedure, allowing tourists to save time when applying for a visa and entering the country. Travelers wishing to visit Turkey for other reasons, such as work or study, should apply at a Turkish embassy or consulate. Applicants from Turkey e-Visa approved nations must fill out an online eVisa application form with personal information and passport information in order to visit the country for tourist, business, or transit purposes.

Turkey Tourist Visa

The Turkish Tourist Visa enables individuals to visit Turkey for a specific duration of time for tourism-related activities such as exploring tourist attractions, spending holidays, or meeting friends and family members. However, it is important to note that the validity of tourist visas is limited to 90 days only.

Turkey Student Visa

If you plan to study in Turkey, you can obtain a Turkey Student Visa which will enable you to stay in the country for a specific period of time. This visa is applicable for those who wish to pursue an internship, take a course, or enroll in a school or university in Turkey. Once you have enrolled in a Turkish institution or school, you can apply for a Student Visa by submitting the letter of enrollment from your university or institution. To obtain a residency permit in Turkey, you must register with the Foreigner`s Branch of your local police department within 30 days of your arrival.

Turkey Work Visa

A Turkey Work Visa allows you to relocate to Turkey in order to work. Foreigners are not allowed to work in Turkey without a work visa and a work permit. Two months before your travel, you must apply for a Work Visa in Turkey. Send the document to Turkey`s Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), which will publish an updated list of these documents on its website in 90 days.

Turkey Transit Visa

A Turkey Transit Visa allows you to travel from one country to another via Turkey. If you intend to utilize Turkey as a transit country to your final destination and must pass through immigration or stay in Turkey overnight, you may need a visa.

Turkey Visa for Bahrain Citizens

Bahrainis can apply online for a Turkey e-Visa and travel to Turkey for holiday or business. Bahrain is among the countries that can issue a Turkish e-Visa. Bahraini nationals must obtain a visa to enter Turkey. Bahraini passport holders must apply for a Turkey e-Visa (Electronic Travel Authorization) regardless of the length of their trip, which can range from one day to 90 days. Citizens of over 100 countries can apply for an online Turkey visa, which is valid for 180 days after admission. The Turkish government offers different types of tourist visas depending on the purpose of the travel. The Turkish online visa, commonly known as the Turkish e-Visa, allows foreigners to enter the country. Additionally, transit visas are offered for quick stops in Turkey. For all other types of travel, such as studying or working in Turkey, it is necessary to obtain a traditional visa through an embassy or consulate. Travelers can apply online for a Turkey visa from Bahrain in minutes without having to contact an embassy or consulate.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY BAHRAIN CITIZENS

• A valid Bahrain passport valid for at least 90 days from the date of arrival.

• An email address to receive the approved Turkey visa in your Inbox.

• You can use a debit or credit card to pay for the Turkey eVisa fees from Bahrain

Business has a clear incentive to find a solution, writes BLSA CEO. 

A lack of critical skills is holding back the South African economy, and we are not solving the problem as fast as we should be. There is a backlog of 74 000 applications for all kinds of visas at the Department of Home Affairs according to an official quoted by Bloomberg last month, many of those in the scarce skills category.

This despite concerted efforts by government, led by the Operation Vulindlela programme, to drive implementation of policy that will substantially improve access to scarce skills visas.

The backlog is staggering, a number in line with the headcount of some of South Africa’s biggest companies. If those skills were to suddenly be working in our economy, the impact would be significant.

The fact that companies can’t fill the positions means they can’t invest and expand. Expansion would enable much further employment, more tax to be generated, and the overall business environment to be greatly improved. The presidency has estimated that one additional job is created for every skilled post that is filled.

I have been told anecdotally by companies that service has improved from the Home Affairs Department, but the backlog remains a problem to get on top of.

I have highlighted what poor visa policy does to business in the past and the good work that has been done under OV to overhaul the policy. The presidency has said access to visas is the second biggest constraint on the economy after loadshedding. The new policies include the introduction of a trusted employer scheme that will allow certain companies to fast-track applications. Home Affairs said in April that it would have the scheme in place in three months.

There has certainly been progress, with application forms published in October. However, to date no company is yet benefiting from the scheme and there does not appear to be a clear timeline for when they will. Home Affairs has also missed deadlines for other visa reforms including remote working visas to enable so-called “digital nomads” to work from South Africa and visas for founders of start-ups that choose to launch their companies in South Africa.

I appreciate that some policy reforms can be challenging, requiring legislative amendments and changes to regulations in multiple domains. But not all are so difficult �` remote workers, for example, can be changed simply by revising the immigration regulations, a relatively straightforward process.

But even when improved policy outcomes are delivered, the backlog will still be a problem. It appears to be fundamentally administrative in that Home Affairs simply does not have the capacity to process the applications. That needs a long-term fix that must be made by the department, with appropriate resourcing to manage the load. But there is clearly a need for a short-term stopgap to get on top of long-outstanding applications.

Business could help. The private sector has extensive administrative capacity that could be drawn on to process the backlog. While the procedures to do so would need to be determined, and staff capacity will need to be built through some training, the backlog could be resolved in a matter of months.

The right technology could also be brought in to improve processing, given that Home Affair’s computers work at roughly one-sixtieth the speed of those in most banks.

In much the way that business has assisted government with technical skills to resolve infrastructure breakdowns ranging from sewerage treatment plants through to electricity stations, the visas backlog could be tackled through a partnership between business and government. It is certainly a possibility worth exploring.

Business has a clear incentive to find a solution. The inability to bring in foreign skills risks pushing many companies out of South Africa entirely. We have long marketed ourselves as a “gateway to Africa”, attracting companies to set up their regional headquarters here.

Yet many companies who have done so now encounter extreme frustration in bringing in the skills they need to operate. They would have no such problem had they opted instead to set up in Dubai or Mauritius. OV says that applications for similar visas in Kenya take three months, while in Nigeria it is two.

Analysis by OV suggests that about 900 000 South Africans emigrated in 2020. Many of those were skilled, so freeing up the ability to attract foreign skills is very important to support the economy. The backlog represents applications made through an arduous process that includes police clearance certificates from every country that applicants have previously worked in.

About half of the applications that Home Affairs does process are rejected. Countless more are never made in the first place because potential applicants are discouraged by the bureaucracy. Unsurprisingly, given the delays and difficulty in making an application, the numbers have been declining, with about 3,000 scarce skills applications in 2021 compared to 7 000 in 2017. The policy overhaul proposed by OV urgently needs to be delivered.

The visa chaos is a clear example of good policy thinking failing to be implemented. Business is willing to work with government to get to the outcomes that would leave everyone better off.

The function of business in economics is to contribute production of goods and services to society and the employment of labour for which it is reasonably taxed by the state.

The function of the state is to use those funds and the funds from personal taxes and other taxes like VAT etc to the benefit of the citizens in the form of infrastructure, security, health and education. 

The function of the ANC seems to be to deploy their inept members in state departments to steal whatever they can. 

When business has to be deflected from its main function to support the function of the state, the economy slides into being unable to compete globally and the economy fails.

Says his department is a scapegoat. 

South Africa’s minister of Home Affairs dismissed criticism that his department is causing a skills crisis in the country by failing to process work-permit applications and said it’s becoming a “scapegoat” for the failures of business. 

Aaron Motsoaledi said there’s no backlog of critical-skills applications and said his department is working expeditiously to process requests in the pipeline. 

A report published earlier this year, commissioned by the South African presidency, said the lengthy delays in processing work visas are hampering growth and deterring investment. It said a lack of skills is the second-biggest threat to the economy after an energy crisis that sees the imposition of power cuts on an almost daily basis. 

“I am starting to believe that when businessmen are failing to step up to the pedal and improve the economy, the scapegoat is Home Affairs,” Motsoaledi said in an interview on eNCA television Monday. “We do everything in our power” to help businesses, he said. 

While South Africa takes 48 weeks or more to process an application Kenya takes 12 and Nigeria eight, the presidency said in the report. 

“A lack of critical skills is holding back the South African economy,” Business Leadership South Africa Chief Executive Officer Busi Mavuso said in a column published by Moneyweb on Monday. “The fact that companies can’t fill the positions means they can’t invest and expand.” BLSA represents the biggest companies operating in the country. 

AECI, an explosives and chemical maker, earlier this month said that Holger Riemensperger, a German national announced as group chief executive in February effective from May 1, has yet to get all the paperwork from various South African authorities to allow him to apply for a work visa. Riemensperger is running the Johannesburg-based company, which gets more than half of its revenue from its South African base, from Germany.

Direct investment liabilities in the country’s balance of payments have been slowing in the last two years. 

China is struggling in its attempt to lure foreigners back as data shows more direct investment flowing out of the country than coming in, suggesting companies may be diversifying their supply chains to reduce risks.

Direct investment liabilities in the country’s balance of payments have been slowing in the last two years. After hitting a near-peak value of more than $101 billion in the first quarter of 2022, the gauge has weakened nearly every quarter since. It fell $11.8 billion in the July-to-September period, marking the first contraction since records started in 1998.

“It’s concerning to see net outflows where China’s doing its best at the moment to try and open certainly the manufacturing sector to new inflows,” said Robert Carnell, regional head of research for Asia-Pacific at ING Groep NV. “Maybe this is the beginning of a sign that people are just increasingly looking at alternatives to China for investment.”

The Chinese government has embarked on a big push in recent months to lure foreign investment back to the country. The Internet regulator met with executives from dozens of international firms in August to ease concerns about new data rules, while the government has also pledged to offer overseas companies better tax treatment and make it easier for them to obtain visas.

But Beijing’s pledges have rung hollow for some firms, with foreign business groups decrying “promise fatigue” amid skepticism about whether meaningful policy support is forthcoming. They also have incentive to repatriate earnings overseas because of the wide gap in interest rates between China and the US, which may be pushing them to seek higher returns elsewhere.

The FDI outflows are adding pressure on the onshore yuan, which has hit the weakest level since 2007 earlier this year. China’s benchmark 10-year government bond yield is trading at 191 basis points below that of comparable US Treasuries, versus an average premium of about 100 basis points over the past decade.

“Decoupling” or “derisking” from China is an important reason for the declining FDI data reported by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, according to Louis Kuijs, chief economist for Asia Pacific at S&P Global Ratings. Concerns about geopolitics and US-China relations were cited as major reasons for foreign corporate pessimism in a survey published in September by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Companies have cited various countries in the region as destinations for their supply chain shifts. Japan, India and Vietnam were floated as “top destinations gaining more attraction” in a spring survey of companies by UBS Group AG. A March AmCham report pointed to developing Asia and the US as places where members were considering moving capacity to from China.

Widespread Consequences

The lack of investment among global firms in China may have far-reaching effects on the world’s second-largest economy, especially as it tries counter US curbs on access to advanced technology.

Aside from geopolitical risks, companies had also been pulling back on investment in China last year as the country rolled out pandemic restrictions. While those curbs have been removed, firms are still contending with other challenges from rising manufacturing costs in China and regulatory hurdles as Beijing scrutinises activity at foreign corporations due to national security concerns.

“Some of the most damaging things have been the abrupt regulatory changes that have taken place,” said Carnell, pointing to this year’s anti-espionage campaign, which resulted in some firms having their offices raided by local authorities. “Once you damage the sort of perception of the business environment, it’s quite difficult to restore trust. I think it will take some time.”

Foreign companies make up less than 3% of the total number of corporations in China, but contribute to 40% of its trade, more than 16% of tax revenue and almost 10% of urban employment, state media has reported. They’ve also been key to China’s technological development, with foreign investment in the country’s high-tech industry growing at double-digit rates on average since 2012, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

“A decline in trade and investment links with advanced economies will be a particularly significant headwind for a catching up economy such as China, weighing on productivity growth and technological progress,” Kuijs said.

Limited optimism

There are some reasons for optimism in the coming weeks and months. President Joe Biden is set to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco later this month, which may help stabilize strained bilateral ties.

It would be helpful if increased communication yielded some “more stability and clarity on the geopolitical front,” Kuijs said, though he added it is unlikely the US will meaningfully change its policy stance.

Some economists also argue that FDI will stabilize once the China-US yield differential narrows. They also point to data on actually utilized FDI published by the Ministry of Commerce, which holds up better the SAFE data: Those figures show FDI fell 8.4% in the first nine months of this year from the same time period in 2022, to 920 billion yuan.

“I think things are not as bad as they seem from the SAFE data, otherwise policy tightening for China’s capital account management would be witnessed,” said Bruce Pang, chief economist for Greater China at Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.

In any case, China still needs to convince investors that they are welcome in the country.

“The more that it can offer a stable, conducive policy environment, the better it would be for FDI,” Kuijs said. “That includes minimizing the impact of national security-related measures on the economy and sentiment.”