New Critical Skills Visa List of Shortage Occupations for South Africa

Here is a list of skills shortage occupations which fall under new critical visa category following changes to South Africa’s immigration laws.

Who qualifies?

The newly published “Skills or qualifications determined to be critical for the Republic of South Africa in relation to an application for a Critical Skills Visa or Permanent Residence Permit” – Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002) – Section 19(4), to be read with Regulations 19(5), lists the following as being considered some of the critical skills.

The Critical Skills List – Published 3rd June 2014

Business, Economics and Management Studies

Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural Scientist
Forestry Technician
Sheep Shearer
Architect
Construction Project Manager
Land Surveyor
Quantity Surveyor
Urban and Regional Planner
Actuaries and Risk Assessors
Corporate General Manager
External Auditor
Financial Investment Advisor

Information Communication & Technology

CISCO Solution Specialist
CISCO Engineers
Solutions Architects in Telecommunications and ICT
Integrated Developers (PHP, PERL, JAVA)
Network Analyst
IT Security Specialist
System Integration Specialist
Enterprise Architects
Data Centre Operations
Network Specialist (Security)
Database Specialist
Microsoft System Engineers
Network Controllers
AV Specialist (Anti-virus)
Desktop Support Engineer

Engineering

Energy Engineer
Metallurgical Engineer
Chemical Engineer
Civil Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Electrical Installation Inspector
Electronics Engineer
Geologist
Industrial and Production Engineers
Industrial Designer
Manufacturing Managers
Materials Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Mining Engineer
Production/Operations Manager
Quality System Manager
Research and Development Manager
Ship’s Engineer
Telecommunications Engineers
Electrical Engineering Technologist
Energy Engineering Technologist
Mechanical Engineering Technologist
Metallurgical Engineering Technologist
Mining Engineering Technologist
Air Conditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber
Automotive Electrician
Automotive Motor Mechanic
Boiler Maker
Chemical Engineering Technologist
Civil Engineering Technologist
Diesel Mechanic
Electronics Engineering Technologist
Fitter and Turner
Materials Engineering Technologist
Mechatronics Technician
Metal Fabricator
Physical and Engineering Science Technicians
Pressure Welder
Structural Plaster
Toolmaker

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences

Medical Superintendant/Public Health Manager
Public Health Physician
General and Specialist Medical Practitioner
Hospital Pharmacist
Nursing Professionals
Veterinarian
Registered Nurse (child and family health)
Retail Pharmacist

Life and Earth Sciences

Environmental Engineers
Environmental Manager
Industrial Pharmacist
Aquatic Scientist
Animal Scientist
Advanced Composites Engineering
Archaeological/Paleontological Specialist
Bioeconomist
Biochemists
Bioinformatician
Bioinformaticist
Biological Scientist
Botanical Scientist
Chemical Scientist
Computational Biologist
Environmental Scientist
Ecological Scientist
Food Scientist
Engineering Geologist
Geochemist
Geohazards Specialist
Geologist
Geophycist
Laboratory Technologist and Technician
Marine Bioscientist
Materials Scientist
Metallurgical Scientist
Metrology
Microbiological Scientist
Polymer Scientist
Protein Scientist
Seismologist
Soil Scientist
Toxicology Scientist
Water Resource Scientist

Professionals and Associate Professional

Land and Engineering Surveyors
Electronic Engineering Technician
Materials Engineering Technologist
Electrical Engineering Technician
Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Practitioner
Draughtsperson
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Chemical Engineering Technician
Organisation and Methods Analyst (Incl. scheduler, estimator)
Surveying Technician
Geomatics Technician
Quantity Surveying Technician
Civil Engineering Technician
Materials Engineer Non-destructive Testing (NDT)
Materials Engineering Technician – Road materials
Materials Tester
Construction Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Agent/Manager/Officer
Aeronautical Engineering
Architectural Senior Technologist
Architectural Draughtsperson
Astronomer
Physicist (SKA)
Geomagnetic Physicist
Solar Physicist
Space Physicist
Plasma Physicist
Space Technologist
Space Weather Specialist
Magnetic Technology Specialist
Radar Engineering
Radio Frequency Engineering
Environmental Technologist
Industrial Engineer
Industrial Engineering Technologist
Industrial Engineering Technician
Landscape Architect
Landscape Contract Manager
Landscape Horticulturalist
Mining Technician

Trades

Millwright
Boilermaker (For Strategic Infrastructure Projects)
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
Pipe Fitter
Double Coded Welder
Rigger
Moulder
Raise-bore Operators
Raise-bore Foreman

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

Software Development Engineers and Managers
Systems Architects, Engineers and Managers
Foreign Language speakers for specialist language support and technical or sales support (German, Swiss German, Flemish, Greek, Swedish, Danish, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and French)
Business Analyst
Quality Analyst
Quality Assurance Specialist/Auditor
Customer Service Manager/Team Lead

Academics and Researchers