South Africa has immigration laws that aim to protect the health and security of South Africans as well as their rights to employment opportunities in the country. In protecting and creating jobs opportunities in South Africa, the country has a vast reserve of skilled, unskilled and the semi-skilled workers. The unskilled and the semi-skilled workers are not accepted as immigrant workers in South Africa.
Those welcomed include immigrants that are in the position to contribute to the broadening of South Africa’s economy. Since there is a shortage of skilled workers in South Africa, those that have skills should be encouraged to apply. This is particularly true for any industrialists or other entrepreneurs that wish to relocate their existing businesses or establish new ones in South Africa.
Commitment to the country is also supported in South Africa because of the need to create jobs. Other basic requirements for the permanent residence are considered individually on merit by an autonomous statutory body, the Immigrant Selects Board. For all those who want to immigrate to South Africa permanently, one should:
1. Be of good character;
2. Be a desirable inhabitant; and
3. Not be likely to rely on the welfare of the country.
4. Not have an occupation in which there are already sufficient people available to meet the country’s need.
For one to apply for immigration, in general, one should apply for immigration to South Africa whilst in one’s country of residence. However, one may apply for immigration whilst in South Africa at the nearest Home Affairs office. This is possible if one is married to, or the child of, a South African citizen or permanent resident as well as is in South Africa on a valid temporary residence permit.