Recently updates revealed that South Africa's proposed digital nomad visa, aimed at attracting remote workers to boost the economy, has been delayed due to unresolved tax issues.

When he assumed the role in July, Leon Schreiber, the recently appointed South Africa’s minister of home affairs, emphasized the possible economic benefits as well as the opportunity to showcase the country's unique culture and diverse landscapes to a broader audience. He said, "Remote working is not just a trend; it's a transformation in how we live and work,” adding that "We are opening doors to economic growth, tourism, and cultural exchange by facilitating easier access for remote workers."

However, while the visa would provide a legal framework for foreigners working remotely, complexities arise over whether these individuals should be subject to local employment protections and tax obligations. This has created challenges for the government in adjusting tax laws to accommodate this new visa category, leading to ongoing delays in its implementation, as announced this week. “There is just a tax-related matter that needs to be addressed in the regulations,” said Mr Schreiber in response to queries. “Once that is done, the department will commence with the roll-out.”

Originally announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022, this initiative is part of a broader effort to alleviate the country’s significant skills shortage and stimulate economic growth by drawing in foreign professionals. However, the rollout has been slowed by the need to amend tax regulations to clarify how remote workers would be taxed under South African law.

Benefits of the South Africa remote work visa

South Africa’s digital nomad visa, which was implemented on May 20, 2024, permits qualified foreign nationals to work remotely for a foreign business or as freelancers in South Africa. The visa in question has the potential to revolutionize the country's tech sector and entrepreneurial landscape by establishing the nation as a global hub for innovation, skills, and remote work. The visa aims to benefit the economy, tourism, and cross-cultural exchanges.

With South Africa slowly undertaking these changes, remote workers may anticipate a friendly atmosphere that caters to their personal and professional requirements. Experts in the field have praised the minister's effort, emphasizing how South Africa has the potential to emerge as a top location for digital nomads.

Obtaining the South Africa visa

The difficult process of obtaining a work visa in South Africa, which can take more than a year, has been identified as a barrier to the nation's economic development by both the president and the major business associations. However, once it is available, the visa is expected to offer a stay of up to three years for remote workers earning over R1 million annually, but further clarifications on tax treatment and employment laws are still needed.

Antonia Bothner, capital markets lead at Endeavor South Africa shared that “This is a huge opportunity for South Africa to benefit from a growing global trend that is delivering real benefits for the economies, tourism industries and entrepreneurial ecosystems for the countries which have adopted these types of visas”.

Bothner finds it reassuring that Leon Schreiber, has made work permits a top priority. She pledged to streamline the work visa application process, citing its importance to economic expansion. "That is the first opportunity to signal to the world that SA is actually serious about attracting what we need for our economy," she added, expressing delight about the recent progress towards a remote working visa, which would make a tremendous difference when implemented.

At first, the home affairs minister suggested exempting individuals who were paid by foreign corporations and worked there for up to six months of the year from paying taxes, as long as they could prove that they made at least R1 million ($56,490) a year.

Yet, since the formation of a coalition government on June 30, the backlog of more than 300,000 applications for various types of residency cards has been cut in half. These legal and administrative obstacles are a reflection of the larger difficulty in changing rules to accommodate the worldwide trend towards remote work.

Fostering the South Africa economy

The Harvard Business Review claims that digital nomads create connections with local knowledge workers and contribute financially to the local economy by spending time and money there without taking away jobs from locals.

As Bothner further emphasizes, “South Africa has good internet access, offers a very high quality of life and a relatively low cost of living. Simplifying and expediting the granting of these visas will facilitate movement and break down barriers and should open doors to an additional flow of both talent and capital, which often go hand in hand, into South Africa”.

Endeavor’s capital markets chief also anticipates that the new visa laws will bring new life, new insights, and most significantly, the message that South Africa is open for business. “We are moving to a more open-sourced way of thinking; this is vital for the country. Not only will this yield benefits to the economy overall, but with skills transfer being a big component, it is essentially an investment in our productive capacity now and for the future”.

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Sara J. Durães

Articles by Sara J. Durães

South Africa’s digital nomad visa delayed by tax issues