On 2 February 2022, the Minister published a critical skills list (February 2022 List) that replaced the previous long-standing critical skills list that was published on 3 June 2014. The February 2022 List was replaced a few months later on 2 August 2022 with a list that included 31 additional skills that were identified as skills shortages in South Africa (August 2022 List). Most of the additions were in the medical industry. 

Just over a year later, another revised critical skills list was published by the Minister on 3 October 2023 (October 2023 List). In the October 2023 List, the Minister identified two additional skills shortages in South Africa: veterinarians and veterinary nurses.

Save for the abovementioned two additions, the October 2023 List is materially similar to the August 2022 List and includes the minimum National Qualifications Framework level that a foreign national must possess in order to qualify for a critical skills visa.

The October 2023 List has also clarified that:

• all applications for a critical skills visa must be accompanied by an offer of employment from employers who are not only verifiable, but who are also in good standing with the Department of Employment and Labour; and
• engineering applicants who are registered with a South African Qualifications Authority Professional Body as a “Candidate”, and others similarly graded in other occupations, will be considered for a critical skills visa if they meet all the requirements for the issuing of the visa and on condition that once they receive their visa they will be supervised by a qualified professional (where applicable).