At a glance

• On 20 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) invited corporate employers to submit an expression of interest in Phase II of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES). The closing date for expressions of interest is 4 September 2026.
• Phase II of the TES expands the scheme to include infrastructure projects and corporate employers that maintain a global or regional head office in South Africa.
• A minimum score of 80 (out of 100) points is required for registration with the TES.
• TES applications will be assessed and validated by an inter-departmental committee, and the DHA will make the final selection. Outcomes regarding expressions of interest will be issued within 30 working days after the closing date.

What is the TES?

The TES is an initiative that was first announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the South Africa Investment Conference in April 2023. The scheme was introduced as part of a broader overhaul of South Africa’s work visa system, aimed at providing a more flexible and expeditious pathway for foreign nationals to obtain work visas in South Africa and attracting the critical skills required to boost foreign investment.

The TES was launched as a pilot programme in October 2023, when the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) invited corporate employers to submit expressions of interest in joining the scheme. Of the approximately 108 companies that applied, 68 were approved by the DHA’s inter-departmental committee following a rigorous evaluation...

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