How to Get a South African Critical Skills Visa | trying2adult

[@Ray-od2kb]

I've been googleing for 2 days what this man told me in 15 minutes

[@trying2adult]

Haha precisely what I went through when I was work on this myself. Such a frustrating experience. Glad you found it useful.

[@ALLORGANICJ]

🤣

[@t_spana]

literal life saver, thanks Tino! my biggest takeaway is the proof of funds tip.

[@fmarobase5343]

You're doing a good job bro, very well spoken, jokes on point, and yes very important information. Great Video Actually! And Thanks for sharing.

[@trying2adult]

Thanks and welcome!

[@brendonleencube5398]

Hi Tino, please make an updated video since the regulations have changed

[@anne_m2612]

Thank you so much.we need more people like you

[@trying2adult]

Thank you Mash!

[@rayblade6383]

What a brilliant video!! I am a Medical doctor and I am about to embark on this journey... Your video helped me greatly. Thanks so much for your help buddy...I owe you a drink, so I'll see you in Cape Town when I arrive. :)

[@trying2adult]

Haha thank you Ray! I'm glad you found the video useful. Looking forward to that drink!

[@vanessab9805]

Hi Ray, how did it go?

[@Tosa_Capital]

Brooo its my final year studying and thank you for this🙌🏾 ... Also, think you were my senior in highschool 🤙🏾

[@tinashemapondera1783]

Well done Tino, much appreciated.

[@vimbai95]

Thank you... I've been looking for this

[@trying2adult]

Glad I could help!

[@tebogoramatebele5643]

Thank you so much for this! You are a natural at consulting!

[@trying2adult]

Glad it was helpful! Perhaps I am sleeping on a business opportunity here 😂

[@tebogoramatebele5643]

@@trying2adult straight facts😂😂

[@stephaniemercier5249]

Hi! Thank you so much for such a great video! Any idea if this process is still valid in September 2023? :)

[@billmaveneka8547]

wakapwnga mwana wamai. keep up the good work.im schooled today.

[@trying2adult]

Haha thank you mukwasha.

[@NKKLive]

Thank you for this video!

[@rayblade6383]

One thing to note: You will need a medical certificate and chest X-ray which can cost a fair amount depending on where you obtain it from.

[@trying2adult]

You are quite right. In Zim these certs can be very expensive indeed. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@joymia9929]

thank you very much, this helped me a lot

[@victorychirisa8117]

Thank bro, very helpful

[@trying2adult]

Glad it helped

[@zanellatutu6735]

I really really appreciate your positivity about SA. I find it so heart breaking when foriegners find everything wrong with the country and its people particularly when they are struggling with validating thier papers. I have often encountered foreigners who undermine the local people who are poor or uneducated and behave as if all South Africans are inadequate.

[@trying2adult]

Thank you for the feedback. I do love living in SA and I've met lots of nice people. It's unfortunate home affairs and immigration officials are often not nice to foreigners so sadly a lot of people will build their assumptions about SA based on their experience with them.

[@Sterfillah]

@@trying2adult I guess also us South Africans we should build our assumptions based on the experiences and what we see what is happening in our country. Its only fair🤷🏾‍♀️

[@bashiradams419]

Can you please make an updated video based on newly announced requirements

[@newphone1523]

Thanks a lot though. Much appreciated.

[@trying2adult]

You're welcome! :D

[@i_am_kunic]

Lovely music intro!

[@trying2adult]

One might call it a tribute! Glad you like it!

[@trying2adult]

00:30 Critical Skills List 00:58 SAQA Foreign Skills Evaluation 02:16 Join a South Africa Professional Body 05:00 Proof of Financial Means 08:40 Proof of Accommodation 09:58 The two different types of Critical Skills Visas 11:03 (Optional) Proof of Employment Offer 11:50 Police Clearance 13:13 Submission 13:32 Waiting Period

[@Takudzwa_eve]

Hi, in terms of the professional body, I just need to show them proof that I'm part of the body right?

[@Nykster]

Your videos are really good

[@trying2adult]

Thank you brother :D

[@peemhlanga]

@trying2adult Hie thank you for the informative video. I have a couple of questions regarding joining ICTIP professional body. When you applied there did you apply to only become a member or you also applied for them to give you a critical skills evaluation? If you applied for CSV evaluation; Do you remember the price range you had to pay for that?

[@trying2adult]

Hey Peter. It cost about R5,000. They have a special process for a critical skills evaluation which is what you need for the visa… and you also become a member of the professional body.

[@TerryJulianLive]

R3000 thats it??? Man I could have just gave you that money brotha. I live in the USA. That is nothing.

[@trying2adult]

Haha yeah you're right it feels so little even to me now but at the time, I was beyond broke and unemployed. Thanks for the offer though. If I ever need a loan I know who to go to 😁

[@alinafemalitoni7251]

Does post qualification experience include internships? and what is the minimum years of experience when applying to professional bodies?

[@dorothythoane6957]

Zimbabweans are really trying to. Trick South African government .

[@sandsk123]

Brother, This is fantastic video I just have few clarifications .I understand Step1 is where you need to check if the skills match and no issues there My question is Step 2 and Step3 i.e. education and Professional experience .Should this be done in chronology i.e. first step2 and then step3 or can both be done simultaneously Please clarify

[@trying2adult]

I can't say for sure because I never had to do the SAQA step since my degree is from a South African University. I think you need SAQA accreditation in order to register with a professional body. I would imagine the professional bodies rely on SAQA to verify that your degree is actually a valid degree. However, it's best to contact the professional body themselves and verify the documentation you need to apply.

[@sandsk123]

@@trying2adult thanks for replying,

[@marcushollington297]

@@trying2adult So once you have been admitted into the professional body, given a membership certificate and accreditation and a letter confirming your critical skill is there a need to attach qualifications?

[@denis120690]

I like your videos, thanks Tino

[@trying2adult]

My pleasure :D

[@denis120690]

@@trying2adult Let's meet when I'm back in Cape Town

[@daewookoh321]

Thank you very much for use informaition. How much does it cost to get all process for 1. 1 year CSV 2. extend SCV to 5 years 3. to get permanent visa

[@trying2adult]

It really depends on which country you applying from and the fees VFS charges there. You can check out what the fee is on VFS's website for your region. In South Africa for example, the fees are listed here - www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/visa-fees-at-glance.html

[@sandsk123]

As I understand and please correct me if i am wrong here before applying for critical skills visa, need to validate the educational documents via SAQA and then get professional body to validate the professional experience. Then apply for visa So now for me both the steps are done, However when i want to file the visa application I am facing few doubts I believe for critical skills visa ,one can enter south africa without job or search for job before entering the country.If I want to search for a job before entering the country then while filing the visa application what should i do for the following questions on the visa application form 1.Expected date of arrival into country -Do I put an approx date when I intend to enter south africa 2.Expected return date from country -I am confused here since I am not sure how long it might take for me to get a job so what date do i enter here Also since i intend to search for a job i still dont have employer to sponsor my visa I assume i leave those fields blank But any inputs on Q1 and Q2 would be much appreciated

[@mangie2228]

If you have a job offer , CONTRACT, do you still need to provide a bank statement?

[@trying2adult]

Yep you do

[@AjayiTheophilus]

Well done Tino

[@trying2adult]

Thank you Theophilus :D Really appreciate it.

[@mikeaxle2008]

Dude, thanks!!!!!!!

[@trying2adult]

No problem!

[@stephenkwablaadonu8773]

Thanks for the information, bro... Can I come to South Africa as a visitor then get a job ? I'm a Registered Nurse in Ghana Seeking to relocate to South Africa.

[@trying2adult]

No you can’t. You need to look for a job from your home country and apply for a work visa once you get a job offer. Job hunting in a visitor’s visa can result in you getting banned from entering the country if you’re caught

[@mmmotives7452]

Hell no....corner cornering is unacceptable!

[@DedeSnizz]

Thank u

[@trying2adult]

My pleasure :D

[@jacksoft2597]

Thanks

[@danielaina7707]

I recently got an employment letter but the employer refuses to state that they "shall ensure that the passport of his or her employee is valid at all times for the duration of his or her employment." What can I do about about this?

[@orianahnkomo3811]

hi. do the professional bodies write CSV letters as well? even after they have given you the certificate

[@i_am_kunic]

important 15 Minutes of my life!

[@trying2adult]

Glad I could help.

[@aldrin9273]

@trying2adault, When you evaluated your Bachelors in Electrical and Computer engineering degree what was its closest SA qualification.

[@baxtonsiwila9888]

Just beginning to soldier on with ECSA😥😁😎🤞🏿. How involving is the job seeking for engineering?

[@trying2adult]

It's quite a lot of work but the jobs are there. The problem is that most companies just wont consider you unless you have a work permit...once you get a work permit it becomes a lot easier. There's always someone looking for Engineering candidates ( make sure to expand your search beyond the "traditional" engineering jobs)

[@VA-zq7ii]

Is it of any use if you speak the German language?

[@trying2adult]

Uhmm… Never met anyone who speaks German in SA 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@getrudemoyo9418]

Chirungu Chacho I will leave it here👍👍👍

[@grayparis6649]

what about artist? Such as dancers i couldnt find anything

[@Raheem-Braveheart]

I will be in South Africa for 90 days, from December to March. Can I apply for the Visa and interview at the South African Embassy in Pretoria while I'm in South Africa? Since, I will have my Passport with me in South Africa and will not be able to mail my Passport with my Visa application to the Embassy in my region, in the U.S.?

[@trying2adult]

Nope. You can’t apply for a VISA while in SA. You have to be in your home country. The only thing you can do is perhaps extend your current temporary visa.

[@Raheem-Braveheart]

@@trying2adult Thank you so much.

[@mmmotives7452]

No

[@vajohnifi3d]

Thanks for the video, helped fill in the gaps. So we all know how it can take forever to get it done in Zim but I was wondering if the employer can actually assist to get it done, dealing from the SA side or even if I can get there under the 30day visa to do it with the employer. As for the ZWL, I do have a healthy account just that it's in Zim dollar which you can access there. Barely have people who can vouch for me in SA can't I use another account that has accessible forex, like a UK one?

[@trying2adult]

I’m glad you found it useful Faizal. You won’t be able to apply using the visitor’s visa (the 90-day visa-free entry). The only way you can apply from inside SA is through upgrading a temporary permit like a Study or Relatives permit. As for the finances. I know you can use an account in Zim or in SA...not sure about other countries though I’ve never come across that scenario. You might have to contact VFS or an immigration consultant to confirm with this one 🙁. Sorry can’t be much help there.

[@vajohnifi3d]

@@trying2adult thanks, so essentially if I had a job offer and needed to start in a month it won't work out? Or can the organization do it on my behalf

[@trying2adult]

It probably won't work out unless your company is willing to extend your start date...the visa in Zim will take at *least* 4-6 months to come out :( and your company also can't do anything to speed up the process... it's just really unfortunate...but you will still be able to use their offer letter, contract and letter of undertaking.

[@marcolucidi7808]

Hi, thank you for your video! I just have a question, please: how do you request a specific courier like DHL to get SAQA foreign skills evaluation? I'm doing the application and I don't see where I can ask for that. Thank you for your help!

[@phillipellington2966]

Is there universal health care in Cape Town ?

[@trying2adult]

Technically Yes. South Africa has universal health care, however, it's not the best health care and it's short-stuff and under-funded, corruption, etc. However, the private health care sector is very good and you should be able to find decent options at reasonable prices too. Look into some of the most popular medical insurance companies like Discovery and Momentum to get a rough idea of what you should expect. Perhaps I should research on this more it could make an interesting video.

[@langtonmoyo4514]

Are there IT professional certifications that qualifies one for critical skills

[@rachelpaswa5666]

Hi i am studying a DIP in HR (in SA) however its not listed on the critical skills list...how else do i qualify

[@trying2adult]

Hey Rachel. I really can't confirm hey but the list is not exhaustive. There are certain roles that qualify for the visa but can be called something else on the critical skills list ( a lot of careers in I.T for example). I would recommend that you call your professional body and ask them about whether you qualify for the visa. They are in a better position to address your question.

[@FM-dz8zq]

How can one provide proof of accommodation if you have no Visa to enter the country in the first place? Seems weird to me

[@trying2adult]

You have to organize accomodation for yourself before entering the country. There are a couple of websites you can use to find a place to rent or you can reach out to an immigration agency to help you as they specialize in these types of situations.

[@FM-dz8zq]

@@trying2adult thanks for the reply. Do you know if scamming is a thing in ZA when it comes to finding accommodation online?

[@trying2adult]

Oh yeah it most definitely is. Especially considering that you are outside the country, it can be pretty easy to scam you. That’s why immigration agencies can come in handy, but those can be a bit pricey. I also just realized that alternatively, you can get a Visitors visa or a tourist visa which shouldn’t take long to come out, then visit the country for a few days or weeks to organize some accommodation yourself maybe? This might be a good option if you don’t know anyone here and you skeptical about organizing things online.

[@FM-dz8zq]

@@trying2adult the tourist visa is actually really good advice. Thank you for that and for the video as well!

[@FM-dz8zq]

Sorry to bother you so much, maybe I can ask one last thing: Does it make sense to apply for jobs without the visa or would that be just a waste of time in your opinion? Thanks and sorry again !

[@mehmetkaratas3959]

How was the application for ICITP Did you only submit your documents or did they ask anything else , I mean did they call and ask anything about your profession or did they make an interview etc ?

[@broonog3701]

What if i want to buy a house? What can i do?

[@trying2adult]

Foreigners are allowed to own property in SA you do not have to be a resident. However, if you want a home loan (mortgage) then that's where problems start. If you NOT a citizen or a permanent resident then most banks will not give you a loan, if you are lucky, some banks will ask for a 50% deposit for the home loan. If you are a permanent resident then most banks can give you loans of up to 100% depending on your credit history.

[@broonog3701]

@@trying2adult thank you for your time and answer. And what about if i pay cash?

[@keisotakalimane2360]

If I obtained my degree is SA do I need SAQA Evaluation foreign skills?

[@gontlentshole5721]

So the company will wait that long for you to process your visa? In the case of someone waiting 3/4 month for their visa?

[@nafescreations]

How much experience do you need to have to join a professional body ?

[@hit-or-miss9841]

Hi, I have applied for CSV renewal and got my result which is rejected. Can someone please confirm how many times an applicant can reapply after rejection?

[@trying2adult]

So sorry to hear about that. Which version of the CSV did you have before you applied for renewal? From my understanding, if you get the one year CSV (the one which you use to look for a job) and you are not able to get a job within that one year, they won't give you another CSV again. In such a case I think you have to apply with a job offer in order to get the CSV. Nevertheless, your rejection should have come with details about why they rejected you. You may be able to reach out to VFS or the Embassy to give you details on why you were rejected.

[@hit-or-miss9841]

@@trying2adult I have 5 years CSV and I submitted for extension for another 5 years. The rejection reason says ‘The applicant has submitted a visa and/or passport copy that is illegible and cannot be verified.’ I have submitted appeal and waiting for outcome. Not sure how much time appeal will take.

[@mangie2228]

@@hit-or-miss9841 you must apply for permanent Res , you qualify for that now after the 5 year critical skills . Stop 🛑 applying for extra 5 years , I have never heard of anyone who has ever done that . YOU QUALIFY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE !!

[@timothymuzorori5534]

so man there is something i want to know, do you need to be a member of a professional body, or you need a proff of application, can you clarify here my man, i just saw a bunch of usd needed by icitp to be a member

[@trying2adult]

You need to be part of a recognised professional body.

[@trying2adult]

Unfortunately it can be quite expensive 😬

[@sharathbabuk6265]

Do we need SAQA certificate for professional body validation?

[@trying2adult]

If you did not obtain your degree from a South African Institution then Yes. Most professional bodies will ask you for a SAQA certificate to validate your qualifications...it's best to contact the professional body in question though things change all the time.

[@drmanny39]

Hey Tino if my degree is a critical skill but obtained from unisa do I still qualify for a critical skills visa? I want to apply but when I tried to apply for my study permit while I was doing my bac I was rejected as it was not a full time university. I'm just afraid to waste money applying for critical skills hey

[@santoshbilla3099]

Can an mechanical engineering graduate currently working in IT eligible to apply for critical skills ??

[@trying2adult]

Hey Santosh. I really don't know. You will have to get in contact with one of the IT professional bodies (IITPSA or ICITP) and have them do a Critical Skills Assessment for you and they will determine whether you qualify or not.

[@santoshbilla3099]

@@trying2adult thank you for the response

[@padmasreemoturu3873]

What is the minimum experience to apply for CSV South Africa ?

[@trying2adult]

You need 5 years of relevant industry experience. However, there are exceptions if you obtained your degree in South Africa.

[@padmasreemoturu3873]

@@trying2adult I have completed my degree in India and I have 4 years and 10 months experience in IT industry. Can I apply for CSV?

[@lindiwesibozi6150]

@@trying2adult heyy. What route would you suggest to someone who studied in SA for 4 years? With no working experience.

[@liiilliees]

@@trying2adult please come through bro , am going through this phase right now and it's causing more headache than ever , do you perhaps an email address that we can reach you for guidance

[@naomienonda9684]

Hello , the job that you get should be in relation to your critical skill ?

[@trying2adult]

Hey there... Yeah kind of. The job should be a critical skill... and you should be qualified to do that critical skill job.... so for example, you can't apply for a critical skills visa as an engineer, and then get a job as an accounting clerk.

[@tibabamstrongtibab6768]

Good day guys, please am in Cameroon and I will like to come to south Africa like a Duop truck drive please guys can you help me, thanks

[@mmmotives7452]

No....truck driving is not a critical skill. Stay and work in your country!

[@abdullahhameeds8788]

Hi bro

[@mangie2228]

Do you need to have work experience to get such a visa ? If your degree falls within critical Skills and you have your contract + professional body critical letter + registered of course and have a South African degree , will work experience really matter seeing that you just a recent graduate ?

[@trying2adult]

Experience is wavered if you have a critical skills degree from an SA institution... however, your professional body might expect work experience though so there could be catch 22 there. I got around this by using my internship experience because they want references letters and all.... I was a fresh grad when I got the visa.

[@mangie2228]

Thanks Tino , very helpful . My professional body did not ask for any work experience , this was SAICA , but the lady at vfs Bulawayo Zim said to me I need experience and that it was the only document missing in my application . So I explained to her but didn’t seem to understand . However she went on to put an X and wrote applicant insisted she didn’t have to submit this document . So I was explaining to her that in SA VFS they don’t ask for this work experience thing so long your board confirmed your list and gave you the critical skills letter it’s fine , then she said this is Zim bla bla we not in SA 🙄. I have a friend who did bacc and submitted her application in Sa but they never asked for their experience letter . My question is will this discredit my application in any way 2. When you apply for a visa in Zim do they process the visa at the embassy or they take the applications to DHA SA in Pretoria?

[@trying2adult]

Oh yeah VFS does that unfortunately... I was also told it wasn't necessary to include Reference letters on my application but VFS insisted that I add them... I ended up just adding a few because fortunately I did have the letters. I'm not sure just how much this will affect your application. However, VFS are meant to be the middleman to facilitate the applications, they are not actually the people who process your visa so hopefully the Embassy/Home Affairs are in sync with what SAICA is saying to you. I have come across a few accounting students who got work visas with little to no work experience so I guess it's possible. 2. Sorry I'm also not sure about this one unfortunately.

[@newphone1523]

Kkkk tino u are crazy my guy. I see crest craziness all over lolz

[@trying2adult]

🤣 this whole process almost made me crazy fam.

[@hihello7014]

ZIMBABWE SEX WORKERS ALLIANCE Zimbabwe Sex Workers Alliance (ZIMSWA) is a non-profit grassroots non-profit organisation that works to advance the sexual and legal rights of sex workers in Zimbabwe. It focuses on creating a society in which all sex workers (male, female, and transgender) are able to enjoy the fundamental rights and are free from any forms of violence and discrimination. The main mission of the organisation is to contribute to improved human rights and status of sex workers by designing and implementing innovative, evidence-based and cost-effective advocacy campaigns to influence public policy and promote human rights.

[@kraftvil.6999]

Hi, do you know if it is necessary to have experience in the area of the job in the critical list of South Africa? I will graduate in June of next year in chemical engineer and I would like to know if you think if would be possible to me apply for the Critical Skill Visa in the next year without have any experience? I just did a research work in my university, but I did not have and opportunity to work in my area in my city until now.

[@trying2adult]

Hey Kraft. So sorry missed your comment. First of all, if you studying in South Africa you can actually straight away apply for Permanent Residence. Check out my article on this here - trying2adult.com/applying-for-south-african-critical-skills-permanent-residence-permit/ It is very hard to get ECSA to give you the documentation you need if you don't have work experience... However, research work sometimes does count as work-experience if it is significant, industry research (I used my research to supplement my work experience). Unfortunately I don't have much insights into how people get around this issue but I recommend you reach out to the these forums (they helped me a lot): - www.expatforum.com/expats/south-africa-expat-forum-expats-living-south-africa/ - Facebook Group called "South African Visa Forum"

[@unriddleprobs9216]

@@trying2adult Hi, In your article, what do you mean by an official transcript? Thanks in advance.

[@mmmotives7452]

Dude so you are selling South Africa wena?