After much anticipation, the Trusted Employer Scheme has reopened for corporate employers that wish to express their interest in being included in Phase II of the scheme.
What is the Trusted Employer Scheme?
The Trusted Employer Scheme is an initiative that President Cyril Ramaphosa first announced during the South Africa Investment Conference in April 2023. The government introduced the scheme as part of a broader overhaul of South Africa’s work visa system. The initiative aims to provide a more flexible and faster pathway for foreign nationals to obtain work visas in South Africa. It also seeks to attract the critical skills required to boost foreign investment.
The government launched the Trusted Employer Scheme as a pilot programme in October 2023. At that time, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) invited corporate employers to submit expressions of interest in joining the scheme. Approximately 108 companies applied. Following a rigorous evaluation process, the DHA’s inter-departmental committee approved 68 companies. The scheme officially came into effect on 1 March 2024.
The implementation of the Trusted Employer Scheme enabled South African corporate employers to attract skills and manage immigration more efficiently. In particular, employers could process applications more effectively for senior executives, technical and highly skilled personnel, corporate employees and investors.
Corporate employers that successfully obtained Trusted Employer Scheme membership benefited in several ways. Among other advantages, they received priority processing of visa applications and reduced documentary requirements. These requirements included no immediate need to submit South African Qualifications Authority certificates or proof of professional body registration.
The results of Phase I have been widely regarded as a success. Some participating corporate employers received approvals for visa applications for highly skilled foreign professionals within days of submission. Consequently, this represented a significant improvement over the experience of non-Trusted Employer Scheme employers. Their visa applications for skilled foreign talent often remained pending for extended periods.
Phase II of the Trusted Employer Scheme
The opening of Phase II follows the success of Phase I. The first phase delivered a more flexible visa application process and reduced requirements. As a result, corporate employers recruited foreign employees more seamlessly through the Trusted Employer Scheme.
The overarching objective of Phase II is to support the government’s efforts to position South Africa as Africa’s premier investment destination. Under the Trusted Employer Scheme programme, qualifying businesses, investors, and corporate employers will benefit from priority processing of visa applications. They will also benefit from reduced requirements and fewer supporting documents.
Authorities will accept a Trusted Employer Scheme membership for both local applications and applications submitted at South African High Commissions abroad. In addition, current corporate account clients are encouraged to apply for Trusted Employer Scheme membership.
How will Phase II of the Trusted Employer Scheme work?
Phase II expands the scheme to include infrastructure projects and corporate employers that maintain a global or regional head office in South Africa. To qualify for membership, a corporate employer, investor, or business must demonstrate its financial strength to employ foreign nationals. It must also operate training programmes for South African citizens and demonstrate that it is a good corporate citizen.
The DHA will use a points-based scorecard system to ensure that the Trusted Employer Scheme selection process remains fair, ethical, and transparent.
The following three pathways are available for the Trusted Employer Scheme membership:
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Pathway for South African-based operations
Corporate employers within this pathway will be assessed on pledges or proven investment (30 points), employment (25 points), economic sector (25 points), and skills development (20 points).
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Pathway for companies with existing or intended regional or head offices in South Africa:
These employers will be assessed on local presence (15 points), financial contribution (50 points), employment (20 points), and economic sector (15 points).
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Pathway for Synthetic Financial Centres in the South African financial sector
These employers will be assessed on South African Reserve Bank exchange control authorisation or the extended Domestic Treasury Management Company framework (40 points), recognised regulatory standing (20 points), Skills Transfer Commitment (SFC) market infrastructure commitment (20 points), SFC Visa Facilitation Office certification (15 points), and skills transfer commitment (5 points).
Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 80 out of a possible 100 points under any of the above pathways to register as a TES member.
Phase II application and selection process
Corporate employers that are registered and operational in South Africa and wish to be considered for registration under the Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II should submit an expression of interest using the link available on the DHA’s website at www.dha.gov.za.
Applications must include all information specified in the selection criteria. Applicants must also provide the supporting documents listed in the Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II application form. Furthermore, applicants should select only one of the available pathways to avoid disqualification.
An inter-departmental committee comprising technical officials from the DHA, the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and other relevant departments will review and validate expressions of interest.
The DHA will make the final selection and advise applicants of the outcome. Companies approved for admission to the Phase II must enter into a memorandum of agreement with the DHA. The decision of the scheme inter-departmental committee is final. In addition, the DHA reserves the right to grant or refuse the Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II membership to any corporate employer.
The closing date for expressions of interest is 4 September 2026. The DHA will issue outcomes within 30 working days after the closing date. Therefore, applicants can expect outcomes by 4 October 2026.
Interested parties are invited to visit the DHA’s website at www.dha.gov.za for more information about the application process, qualification criteria, and the determination and awarding of points.
In conclusion
The scheme membership is especially beneficial for corporate employers that regularly recruit foreign talent and scarce skills. It places registered corporate employers a step ahead in recruiting foreign talent.
Foreign nationals seeking employment with registered corporate employers can also leverage the scheme membership when applying for a general work visa or a critical skills work visa under the current points-based system.
An offer of employment from a Trusted Employer Scheme corporate employer provides applicants with 30 of the 100 points required to apply for either visa category. Therefore, corporate employers that meet the minimum requirements should strongly consider obtaining the scheme membership.
Considering the success of the scheme, corporate employers that want a seamless recruitment process for foreign employees should consider registering for it. If your organisation is considering applying for Phase II membership, our immigration team can guide you through the expression of interest process. We can also provide tailored advice to help you determine which pathway best suits your business.
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| Lee Masuku | Senior Associate | Immigration Law | mail me | | Taryn York | Senior Associate | Immigration Law | mail me | |
| | Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr | | |
