The South African Department of Home Affairs that issues work permits, business permits, life partner and spousal permits, relatives permits and retired permits has just announced a new permit allocation.

This is designed to reflect the skills shortages that may be filled by immigrants wishing to move to South Africa.

Business permit allotment

South Africa has long realised the need to secure business and merchants have access to the correct skills in demand, even more so now with the giant expenditure taking place for the 2010 world cup.

South Africa's education system is first class and developed work force, it is recognised that in many avocations there is a qualification shortage. To assist the migration development in the business permit sector the Department of Home Affairs regularly reviews what skills are lacking and releases a quota work permit requirements document. This quota list allows immigrants to apply for a quota work permit which means the prospective immigrant can consider a work permit before getting an offer of employment, in essence simplifying the whole immigration application process.

What professional are in demand?

After much deliberation between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and feedback from the major South African companies, Home Affairs published the latest directory of rare occupations in May 2007. Potential immigrants seeking jobs in these areas can apply for permits enabling them to work and reside in South Africa.

Considering the reality of economic growth in South Africa the Department of Home Affairs concentrates on technical and engineering professions. In fact any Industrial engineer will qualify, but it is well worth a look at the skills in demand in detail.

Because private and public investments in nationwide projects immigrants with experience in the construction industry are most sought after. Among the quota jobs are CAD technicians, Draftsperson, Structural Engineers, Civil Engineers, Civil engineering technicians and technologists. Also in the manufacturing industries the Department of Home Affairs requires quotas for jobs such as Manufacturing Technicians, Mechanical Draughtsperson and Technicians, Hydraulics and Pneumatics Technicians, Mechanical Engineers, Quality Engineers and Inspectors, Pipeline Engineers and Refrigeration Engineers. In the aeronautic industry immigrants with qualifications such as Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Avionics Engineers and Aeronautical Engineers are invited to consider the quota work permit. In the electrical and electronics sector, South Africa is looking for employees that are experienced as Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Electromechanical Technicians, Electronics Technicians, Autotronics and Mechatronics Technicians, Electricians. Recently Home Affairs also included certain craftsman that can apply for immigration among them are precision metal workers, fitters and turners, toolmakers, boilermakers, coded welders and millwrights.

In other fields Home Affairs has observed the importance of BPO for job creation and has included Call Centre and Contact Centre Managers in the quota system. Among the information and organisation professionals especially jobs for risk assessors, actuaries, statisticians, and economists are accessible for quota professions.

The mining sector is of equal need for the South African economy. This is demonstrated by Home Affairs as it offers immigrants in the professions Geologists, Geophysicists, Mining Engineering and Earth Science Technicians the ability to have work and residence permits.

Other industrial skills covered are agriculture and forestry, biotechnology, pharmacology, astronomy, the chemical industry and food technology. South Africa seems to be suffering from a skills shortage among Science Teachers and Maths and Jewellery Makers.

It is important to note that Home Affairs will check if the proposed immigrant has the correct skills and five years of work experience before offering a quota work permit for South Africa.