'Remote Work Visa' a win-win for South Africa - Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber
The Remote Work Visa is for people who are employed and paid in another country but want to stay for long periods in South Africa.
Picture: Pixabay
Africa Melane is joined by Stefanie De Saude, a renowned expert in South African immigration and
citizenship law.
Listen below.
ALSO READ: SA launches 'nomad visa' for remote workers earning no less than R1mill annually
With the introduction of the Remote Work Visa, South Africa is a step closer to realising its hope of becoming a global hub.
Speaking at Tuesday's RMB Morgan Stanley Investor Conference, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said, "the regulations for a new points-based work visa, as well as for the remote working visa, arrived on my desk this morning."
According to data from Nomad Hive, digital wanderers spend an average of R38 000 a month on accommodation, food, local transport, work-related expenses, and leisure activities.
The so-called nomad visa is available to high-earning visitors who want to spend extended periods living and working in South Africa.
De Saude says it's a very specific type of visa.
"It's a visitor visa with authorisation to allow you to work remotely... It's a visa type you can only renew once you have it in South Africa. So, you can't apply for permanent residence; you can't change to any other status in the country."
- Stefanie De Saude, Expert in South African immigration and citizenship law
De Saude says it will be interesting to see what the latest regulations require of future applicants.
"The current regulations don't provide much in terms of what is required, other than if it's issued for a certain period, then there's an undertaking that you have to provide that you will register for tax."
- Stefanie De Saude, Expert in South African immigration and citizenship law
Minister Schreiber called the visa 'one of the best deals I've ever seen', in light of the fact South Africa will reap all of the benefits and carry none of the cost.
He also confirmed that if a visa holder spends more than six months out of the year here, they must register with Sars.
Thus far, says De Saude, she has received just two applications for the remote working visa.
"They are still in process... Both of the applications were filed... the average process is about one to three months at a foreign mission and we're still within that period."
- Stefanie De Saude, Expert in South African immigration and citizenship law
The process is probably being delayed as they wait for the release of updated regulations, says De Saude.
"Which is a problem, because new rules don't apply retrospectivley."
- Stefanie De Saude, Expert in South African immigration and citizenship law
De Saude says she is 'optimistic' that the directives for the visa will be published before the end of the year.
ALSO READ: South Africa steps closer to introducing digital-nomad visas for wealthy foreigners
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.