The Critical Skills List for South Africa

The Critical Skills List in South Africa is an official document published by the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labour, identifying occupations experiencing significant shortages in the local labour market.

The list is updated periodically to reflect economic priorities and national skills demands. It includes professions from sectors such as ICT, engineering, healthcare, finance, education, and agriculture.

Examples include software developers, data scientists, civil engineers, university lecturers, and registered nurses.

Being on this list means foreign nationals with these skills can apply for a Critical Skills Visa.

The list aims to attract international talent to fill gaps that hinder economic growth and development.