The Trusted Employer Scheme Phase 2, introduced by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), significantly expands access to the programme and introduces a fully digital application process, says immigration consulting firm IBN Immigration Solutions Africa and Europe senior director Andreas Krensel.

An important change is that Phase 2 no longer follows a single assessment model. Instead, qualifying businesses can now apply under one of three dedicated scorecard pathways, which recognise that different types of organisations contribute to South Africa’s economy in different ways.

The expansion of the Trusted Employer Scheme demonstrates a clear shift towards a more risk-based approach to corporate immigration, he says.

Rather than applying identical procedures to every employer, the DHA is recognising organisations that have already demonstrated strong compliance, meaningful investment and a commitment to developing South African skills.

This allows immigration officials to focus greater attention on higher-risk applications while providing a more efficient service to trusted businesses, says Krensel.

The introduction of additional pathways also reflects South Africa’s broader economic priorities. By expanding eligibility to include regional headquarters, strategic infrastructure projects and qualifying financial-sector entities, the programme is positioned to support foreign investment, job creation and economic growth across multiple industries.

The Trusted Employer Scheme remains one of the most significant corporate immigration facilitation programmes currently available in South Africa.

For general work visas, trusted employers are no longer required to obtain a recommendation from the Department of Employment and Labour, thereby removing one of the most time-consuming stages of the application process, Krensel notes.

Additionally, for critical skills work visas, the Trusted Employer status removes the requirement to obtain a South African Qualifications Authority qualification evaluation and professional body registration during the visa application process.

Similarly, trusted employers are no longer required to submit a Transfer of Skills Plan for intra-company transfer visas, which further simplifies the application process.

Collectively, these concessions reduce administrative burdens, shorten preparation times, and provide greater certainty for employers recruiting international talent, Krensel says.

THE THREE PATHWAYS

The first South African-Based Operations pathway is intended for companies with established South African operations and assesses factors such as qualifying investment, employment, participation in priority economic sectors and skills development.

The second Regional and Global Head Offices pathway has been created for businesses that already operate, or intend to establish, regional or global head offices in South Africa. It also accommodates certain companies involved in Strategic Integrated Projects, reflecting government’s objective of attracting regional investment and supporting major infrastructure development.

The third Synthetic Financial Centres pathway is a specialist route for qualifying Synthetic Financial Centres operating within South Africa’s financial sector. This new scorecard has been designed to attract highly specialised financial institutions that would not necessarily qualify under the traditional corporate assessment model, he says.

Further, Trusted Employer Scheme applications are now lodged through a dedicated online portal developed by the DHA.

Expressions of interest for the current intake opened on July 20 and will close on September 4, with the department indicating that outcomes will be issued within about 30 working days after the closing date, he states.

Applications are also assessed by an interdepartmental committee and companies must select the single scorecard pathway that best reflects their business.

The department has also confirmed that decisions are final, with no formal appeal process available.

The Trusted Employer Scheme Phase 2 represents a significant evolution of South Africa’s corporate immigration framework. The introduction of a digital application platform, expanded eligibility pathways and a more flexible assessment model demonstrate the DHA’s continued commitment to modernising immigration processes for qualifying businesses, Krensel says.

For employers that regularly recruit foreign executives, technical specialists or other highly skilled professionals, Trusted Employer status can provide meaningful operational advantages while reducing administrative complexity.

As the programme continues to evolve, it is expected to become an increasingly important component of South Africa’s broader investment and economic development strategy.

South Africa needs to attract highly skilled foreign professionals to support investment and economic growth while government must ensure that immigration controls remain effective and that employers comply with South African labour and immigration legislation, he notes.

The Trusted Employer Scheme programme recognises organisations that have demonstrated a meaningful contribution to South Africa’s economy, employ substantial local workforces, invest in skills development, and maintain strong compliance standards.

The Trusted Employer Scheme Phase 1 was introduced in 2023 and was available to a limited number of qualifying employers. It focused primarily on established South African businesses with significant investment and employment footprints, allowing successful applicants to benefit from several immigration concessions when sponsoring foreign employees.

Phase 2 builds on the success of the initial programme, says Krensel.