South African employers and international companies planning to bring skilled foreign professionals into the country have a time-sensitive immigration opportunity.
The Department of Home Affairs opened Phase II of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) on 20 July 2026, with expressions of interest closing on 4 September 2026.
The expanded scheme is designed to give qualifying employers a more streamlined immigration route when they need to recruit senior executives, technical specialists, corporate employees, investors and other skilled foreign personnel.
But TES Phase II is not a work visa and it is not an application that an individual foreign worker submits for themselves.
It is an employer-accreditation programme.
A company must first qualify as a trusted employer under one of the official scorecards. Once admitted, the employer can benefit from priority processing and reduced documentary requirements when sponsoring qualifying visa applications.
The deadline for Phase II expressions of interest is 4 September 2026.
Home Affairs says applicants need a minimum score of 80 points out of 100 and must select only one of the three available pathways.
Submitting under more than one pathway can lead to disqualification.
Quick Answer
BUSINESS AND IMMIGRATION
South Africa Opens Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II for Companies
Aug 7, 2026
Aug 7, 2026
37 min read
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Updated:
South African employers and international companies planning to bring skilled foreign professionals into the country have a time-sensitive immigration opportunity.
The Department of Home Affairs opened Phase II of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) on 20 July 2026, with expressions of interest closing on 4 September 2026.
The expanded scheme is designed to give qualifying employers a more streamlined immigration route when they need to recruit senior executives, technical specialists, corporate employees, investors and other skilled foreign personnel.
But TES Phase II is not a work visa and it is not an application that an individual foreign worker submits for themselves.
It is an employer-accreditation programme.
A company must first qualify as a trusted employer under one of the official scorecards. Once admitted, the employer can benefit from priority processing and reduced documentary requirements when sponsoring qualifying visa applications.
The deadline for Phase II expressions of interest is 4 September 2026.
Home Affairs says applicants need a minimum score of 80 points out of 100 and must select only one of the three available pathways.
Submitting under more than one pathway can lead to disqualification.
Quick Answer
South Africa's Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II is open to qualifying corporate employers seeking faster and more predictable immigration processing for skilled foreign personnel.
Expressions of interest:
Opened: 20 July 2026
Close: 4 September 2026
Minimum qualifying score: 80/100
Application method: Online expression of interest through the Department of Home Affairs TES portal
Assessment: Interdepartmental review
Expected outcome: Within 30 working days after the closing date
Successful applicants: Must be willing to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Home Affairs
Phase II contains three official pathways:
South African-based corporate operations
Companies with an existing or planned regional/global head office in South Africa, including qualifying infrastructure operations
Synthetic Financial Centres in the South African financial sector
This scheme is intended for skilled immigration.
The gazette expressly says TES is not for the employment of unskilled and low-wage labour.
What Is the Trusted Employer Scheme?
The Trusted Employer Scheme allows Home Affairs to vet a company at institutional level before that employer submits repeated skilled-worker visa applications.
The basic idea is simple:
Instead of reassessing the employer from the beginning every time it recruits a foreign professional, Home Affairs can recognise qualifying companies as trusted employers and use a risk-based, streamlined process.
According to the Department, TES is intended to make it easier for South Africa to attract skills while maintaining immigration compliance.
Approved employers can receive:
Priority visa processing
Reduced supporting-document requirements
A more streamlined route for eligible foreign employees
Recognition of TES membership for qualifying local applications
Recognition at South African High Commissions abroad
Current Corporate Account Clients are also encouraged by Home Affairs to apply for TES Phase II.
Who Should Consider Applying?
TES Phase II is primarily relevant to corporate employers rather than individual migrants.
Potential applicants include:
Large South African companies recruiting foreign specialists
Multinational companies operating in South Africa
Companies establishing regional headquarters in South Africa
Companies establishing global headquarters in South Africa
Businesses working on qualifying strategic infrastructure projects
Energy and renewable-energy companies
Companies in transport, water-management and digital-infrastructure projects
Certain regulated financial institutions establishing qualifying Synthetic Financial Centre operations
Employers that regularly recruit senior executives or highly specialised technical staff
The scheme is particularly useful where an employer expects to submit multiple skilled immigration applications rather than hiring only one foreign employee occasionally.
Can an Individual Foreign Worker Apply?
No.
A foreign worker cannot independently register themselves as a Trusted Employer.
TES membership belongs to the qualifying employer or institution.
A foreign professional may benefit after the employer has obtained TES status and then uses the trusted-employer route for the appropriate visa application.
The worker must still qualify for the relevant South African immigration permission.
TES status does not itself give an employee:
A General Work Visa
A Critical Skills Work Visa
An Intra-company Transfer Visa
Permanent residence
Permission to enter South Africa
Permission to start employment without the required immigration status
Think of TES as an employer-side immigration facilitation mechanism—not a substitute for a visa.
What Changed in Phase II?
Home Affairs says Phase II expands the programme beyond the first TES intake.
The July 2026 expansion specifically brings additional emphasis to:
Strategic infrastructure
Regional and global headquarters
Qualifying financial-sector entities
It also introduces a dedicated digital expression-of-interest process.
The Department says the system forms part of its wider digital-transformation programme and is intended ultimately to integrate with South Africa's broader digital immigration infrastructure.
The 4 September 2026 Deadline
The Government Gazette sets the application window clearly:
Opening date: 20 July 2026 Closing date: 4 September 2026
Companies should not wait until the final day.
The application requires documentary evidence supporting the score claimed under the chosen pathway.
Depending on the pathway, that can involve proof relating to:
Capital investment
Employee numbers
Citizenship or permanent-resident composition of the workforce
DTIC priority-sector status
Skills-transfer programmes
Corporate tax and PAYE contributions
South African corporate presence
Regional or global headquarters
Auditor reports
Financial-sector regulatory status
SARB authorisation
Market-infrastructure commitments
Missing or weak evidence can affect the score.
The Most Important Rule: Choose Only One Pathway
The gazette states that applicants must select only one of the three pathways.
It specifically warns employers to use one pathway to avoid disqualification.
A business should therefore identify the pathway that most accurately matches its legal structure, economic contribution and evidence before submitting.
Do not submit the same company simultaneously under multiple scorecards simply because it could arguably fit more than one.
Minimum Score: 80 Out of 100
Each TES Phase II pathway uses a points-based assessment.
The minimum qualifying score is:
80 points out of 100
Meeting 80 points does not automatically guarantee admission.
Home Affairs retains the final decision on whether to grant or refuse TES membership.
Applications are reviewed and validated by an interdepartmental committee that includes technical officials from:
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Department of Home Affairs
Department of Employment and Labour
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
Other relevant government departments where necessary
Successful applicants must also be prepared to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Home Affairs.
Pathway 1: South African-Based Corporate Operations
The first scorecard is intended for established South African-based corporate operations.
The official summary allocates:
Factor | Maximum Points |
Pledges / proven investment | 30 |
Employment | 25 |
Economic sector | 25 |
Skills development | 20 |
Total | 100 |
A minimum of 80 is required.
1. Investment — Up to 30 Points
The gazette considers South African Investment Conference pledges or proven investment since 2018.
The qualifying investment must be:
Within South Africa
Fixed-capital investment
Excluding operational expenditure
The gazette's points schedule states:
0 points: Historical investment or SAIC pledge below R100 million
20 points: Between R100 million and R200 million
30 points: Above R200 million
Employers claiming these points should prepare clear documentary evidence of the qualifying investment.
2. Employment — Up to 25 Points
The company must demonstrate a significant South African or permanent-resident workforce.
The gazette states:
0 points: Fewer than 100 employees
20 points: At least 100 employees, with at least 60% South African citizens or permanent residents
25 points: More than 150 employees, with at least 60% South African citizens or permanent residents
This criterion reinforces that TES is intended to complement, rather than replace, local employment.
3. Economic Sector — Up to 25 Points
The employer should obtain confirmation from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) that it operates in an identified priority sector.
The gazette lists:
Manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing
Services
Resource-based industries
Energy, including power generation and renewable energy
Strategic Integrated Projects in areas including energy, transport, water management and digital communications
The listed points are:
0 points: Outside the listed priority sectors
15 points: Sectors 1 to 4
25 points: Energy or qualifying Strategic Integrated Projects
4. Skills Development — 20 Points
The employer can receive 20 points by proving an active programme benefiting South African citizens or permanent residents, such as:
Skills-transfer programme
Bursary scheme
Graduate-development programme
No evidence of an active programme attracts zero points under this factor.
Pathway 2: Regional or Global Headquarters and Qualifying Infrastructure Operations
Pathway 2 is designed for companies with an existing or intended regional/global head office in South Africa and includes qualifying infrastructure operations.
The summary scorecard in the gazette lists:
Factor | Summary Scorecard |
Local presence | 15 |
Financial contribution | 50 |
Employment | 20 |
Economic sector | 15 |
Total shown in summary | 100 |
Important XTRAfrica Verification Warning
There is an apparent internal inconsistency in the official gazette.
The summary scorecard gives 15 points for the economic-sector factor, but Annexure B displays 10 points for that factor.
Applicants should not guess which figure will be applied in the live assessment.
Before relying on a calculated Pathway 2 score—especially if the difference between 10 and 15 points determines whether the company reaches the 80-point minimum—contact Home Affairs or confirm the scoring shown in the current online application form.
1. Local Presence
For a regional or global headquarters, the gazette provides points where a company:
Already operates a regional or global head office in South Africa as an external company or majority-owned subsidiary; or
Undertakes to establish such a regional/global head office within 12 months after obtaining TES status
The annexure also provides a local-presence route for qualifying infrastructure companies connected to Strategic Integrated Projects.
2. Financial Contribution
This is the largest component of Pathway 2.
For an existing regional or global head office, the gazette refers to more than R500 million cumulatively in Corporate Income Tax and PAYE contributions to SARS during the previous two tax years.
For purposes of this criterion, the notice states that the tax contribution excludes import duties and VAT.
For a regional office not yet established, the gazette provides for a factual-findings report confirming that more than R500 million in future Corporate Income Tax and PAYE is budgeted, supported by an independently registered auditor or appropriately accredited person.
Because this is a high-value, technical criterion, applicants should use professional tax and audit evidence that directly matches the wording of the gazette.
3. Employment
The annexure provides points where the employer:
Employs at least 60% South African citizens or permanent residents in permanent positions; or
Undertakes to reach at least 60% South African citizen/permanent-resident employment within 12 months of obtaining TES status
4. Economic Sector
Annexure B says the company should obtain a DTIC certificate confirming operation in a priority sector.
Because the gazette contains the 15-versus-10-point discrepancy described above, employers should confirm the current portal's scoring before submission.
Pathway 3: Synthetic Financial Centres
The third scorecard is a specialised financial-sector pathway.
It should not be described as a general fast-track option for every bank, insurer, fintech or financial-services company.
The gazette specifically identifies a pathway for Synthetic Financial Centres (SFCs) in the South African financial sector.
The scorecard is:
Factor | Maximum Points |
SARB exchange-control authorisation / extended DTMC framework | 40 |
Recognised regulatory standing | 20 |
SFC market-infrastructure commitment | 20 |
SFC Visa Facilitation Office certification | 15 |
Skills-transfer commitment | 5 |
Total | 100 |
Again, the qualifying threshold is 80.
SARB / DTMC Authorisation — 40 Points
The primary criterion concerns authorisation—or approval in principle—from the Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve Bank under the applicable Domestic Treasury Management Company (DTMC) framework.
The gazette allows approval in principle to support qualification during a defined period, subject to the regulatory conditions in Annexure C.
It also sets a 24-month period for obtaining full authorisation after TES status is granted, subject to the limited exception described in the notice where regulatory processing remains active.
Recognised Regulatory Standing — 20 Points
The financial institution must demonstrate recognised regulatory standing.
The gazette recognises relevant South African regulators and certain recognised international financial regulators.
Supporting evidence can include current registration or good-standing documentation from the relevant authority.
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Market-Infrastructure Commitment — 20 Points
The applicant needs a qualifying letter or commitment involving South African financial-market infrastructure.
The gazette lists examples involving:
STRATE
Johannesburg Stock Exchange
A registered South African clearing house
A South African authorised dealer bank
At least one qualifying commitment is required under the criterion.
SFC Visa Facilitation Office Certification — 15 Points
The SFC Visa Facilitation Office is expected to pre-screen and package qualifying immigration applications and certify compliance for relevant roles.
This route is specialised and should be treated as a financial-regulatory pathway rather than ordinary employer accreditation.
Skills Transfer — 5 Points
The applicant must provide a workforce and skills-transfer plan.
The gazette refers to a commitment to employ a minimum of five South African citizens or permanent residents within 24 months of commencing SFC operations, together with an approved skills-transfer plan.
What Documents Should Employers Prepare?
The exact evidence depends on the chosen pathway and the live TES Phase II application form.
A strong preparation file may include relevant documents such as:
South African company-registration evidence
Corporate structure
Proof of South African operations
Investment records
South African Investment Conference pledge evidence where relevant
Fixed-capital investment evidence
Current employee headcount
Citizenship/permanent-residence workforce breakdown
Payroll or HR records
DTIC priority-sector certificate
Skills-transfer programme documents
Bursary or graduate-programme evidence
SARS Corporate Income Tax evidence
PAYE contribution evidence
Independent auditor factual-findings report where applicable
Regional/global head-office documentation
Infrastructure-project documentation
SARB/FinSurv approval where applicable
FSCA or other regulatory documentation
Financial-market infrastructure letters where applicable
SFC workforce and skills-transfer plan
Do not submit unsupported point claims.
The gazette requires the information in the selection criteria to be supported by the documents specified in the TES Phase II application process.
How to Apply
Step 1: Decide Whether TES Is Appropriate
TES is aimed at corporate employers that need skilled foreign talent.
It is not an individual job-seeker programme.
Step 2: Select One Pathway
Choose:
Pathway 1: South African-based corporate
Pathway 2: Regional/global headquarters or qualifying infrastructure route
Pathway 3: Synthetic Financial Centre
Do not use multiple pathways for one expression of interest.
Step 3: Calculate the Score Conservatively
Review every factor against the gazette.
Only claim points you can prove.
If applying under Pathway 2, obtain clarification on the economic-sector scoring discrepancy before relying on those points to reach 80.
Step 4: Assemble Supporting Documents
Prepare the evidence required for every point claimed.
Where the criterion calls for official confirmation—such as a DTIC certificate or financial-regulatory approval—do not replace it with a generic company letter unless Home Affairs expressly permits that.
Step 5: Use the Official Home Affairs TES Portal
The Department's official Expression of Interest Schemes portal includes the Trusted Employer Scheme expression-of-interest form.
Use the Home Affairs application channel rather than a private immigration-agent link.
Step 6: Submit Before 4 September 2026
Do not leave document uploads and validation until the final hours.
Step 7: Keep Submission Evidence
Save:
Submission confirmation
Application/reference number
Copies of uploaded documents
Emails from Home Affairs
The score calculation used internally by the company
What Happens After the Deadline?
The gazette says outcomes regarding expressions of interest will be issued within 30 working days after the closing date.
Applications are reviewed and validated through an interdepartmental committee.
Home Affairs makes the final selection.
A company that is approved must be willing to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department.
The gazette also states that the decision of the TES Inter-Departmental Committee is final and that Home Affairs reserves the right to grant or refuse TES Phase II membership.
What Does TES Membership Do for Visa Applications?
The main immigration benefit is institutional trust.
Approved businesses can qualify for priority processing because Home Affairs has already assessed the employer and accepts reduced requirements and supporting documents under the scheme.
The gazette says TES membership can be used for qualifying:
Local applications; and
Applications at South African High Commissions abroad
This can reduce repeated employer-side administrative work.
But the foreign employee still has to submit the appropriate visa application and meet the applicable immigration requirements.
Does TES Guarantee a Work Visa?
No.
TES accreditation and visa adjudication are related but separate.
Being recruited by a trusted employer does not automatically mean:
A foreign applicant qualifies for the visa category
A visa will be approved
An immigration prohibition is ignored
Passport requirements disappear
Security or background checks are eliminated
The employee can begin work before receiving legal authorisation
Employers should plan recruitment timelines around lawful visa approval, not simply around TES membership.
Does TES Allow Companies to Recruit Unskilled Workers?
The gazette specifically states:
TES is not for the employment of unskilled and low-wage labour.
The programme is designed around attracting skilled personnel, including executives, technical professionals, corporate employees and investors.
Employers should not market TES as a general route for bringing large numbers of low-wage foreign workers into South Africa.
Does a Company Need to Employ South Africans?
Local employment is central to the assessment.
For example:
Pathway 1 awards employment points based on workforce size and at least 60% South African citizen or permanent-resident representation.
Pathway 2 includes a 60% South African/permanent-resident employment or future employment commitment.
Pathway 3 includes a smaller but specialised local employment and skills-transfer commitment.
TES is therefore designed to combine access to foreign skills with South African employment and skills development.
What Is the Role of Skills Transfer?
Skills transfer is an explicit scoring factor.
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For South African-based corporates, proof of an active:
Skills-transfer programme
Bursary programme
Graduate-development programme
can provide 20 points.
This means employers should treat training evidence as a core application component, not a public-relations statement.
The evidence should show that the programme is active and benefits South African citizens or permanent residents.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: An Individual Employee Tries to Apply
TES Phase II is an employer/institutional accreditation process.
Mistake 2: Selecting More Than One Pathway
The gazette warns applicants to select only one pathway to avoid disqualification.
Mistake 3: Assuming 80 Points Guarantees Approval
Eighty is the minimum qualifying score, but Home Affairs retains the final decision.
Mistake 4: Claiming Investment Without Matching the Gazette
Pathway 1 focuses on fixed-capital investment and excludes operational expenditure from the stated investment measure.
Mistake 5: Ignoring the 60% Local Workforce Rules
Employment of South African citizens and permanent residents is central to several scorecards.
Mistake 6: Treating All Financial Companies as Pathway 3 Candidates
Pathway 3 concerns the specialised Synthetic Financial Centre framework and regulatory criteria.
Mistake 7: Using the Wrong Pathway Because It Produces a Better Score
The selected pathway should match the employer's actual structure and evidence.
Mistake 8: Relying on the Pathway 2 Summary Without Checking Annexure B
The gazette contains an apparent scoring inconsistency between the summary scorecard and Annexure B. Obtain official clarification where those points affect qualification.
Mistake 9: Confusing TES Membership With a Visa
Workers still need the correct immigration permission.
Mistake 10: Missing the Deadline
Expressions of interest close on 4 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is South Africa's Trusted Employer Scheme?
It is an accreditation system under which Home Affairs vets qualifying employers so that eligible skilled-worker visa applications can use a more streamlined, risk-based process.
When does TES Phase II close?
The deadline is 4 September 2026.
When did applications open?
Expressions of interest opened on 20 July 2026.
What score is required?
The gazette sets a minimum qualifying score of 80 out of 100.
Can I apply as a foreign worker?
No. The company or qualifying institution applies for TES membership.
Can a small business apply?
Eligibility depends on the pathway and the ability to satisfy the scoring criteria. Pathway 1, for example, awards employment points based on workforce thresholds beginning at 100 employees and substantial investment criteria, so many small businesses may not be competitive under that route.
Can an infrastructure company apply?
Phase II expressly expands TES to qualifying infrastructure activity, including Strategic Integrated Projects referenced in the gazette.
Can a multinational establishing an African regional headquarters apply?
The second pathway specifically addresses companies with an existing or intended regional/global head office in South Africa, subject to the detailed scoring requirements.
Is there a financial-services pathway?
Yes, but the third pathway is specifically framed around qualifying Synthetic Financial Centres and detailed SARB, regulatory and market-infrastructure criteria. It should not be treated as a generic pathway for every financial-services employer.
What happens if I choose two pathways?
The gazette says only one pathway should be selected and warns that using more than one can lead to disqualification.
How long will Home Affairs take to announce results?
The notice says outcomes will be issued within 30 working days after the closing date.
Who reviews the applications?
An interdepartmental committee involving Home Affairs, Employment and Labour, Trade, Industry and Competition and other relevant departments validates the results.
Does TES status guarantee visas for foreign employees?
No. It facilitates processing but does not replace the employee's visa application or immigration eligibility requirements.
Can TES be used for applications outside South Africa?
The gazette states that TES membership will be acceptable for local applications and at South African High Commissions abroad.
What is the Pathway 2 scoring issue?
The gazette's summary table lists the economic-sector component as 15 points, but Annexure B shows 10 points. Applicants whose 80-point qualification depends on those points should seek confirmation from Home Affairs or follow the score displayed in the current official application system.
Will successful companies sign an agreement?
Yes. Approved companies should be willing to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Home Affairs.
Official Application and Sources
South African Government announcement — TES Phase II: https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/home-affairs-launches-digitalised-trusted-employer-scheme-phase-ii-20-jul
Government Gazette No. 55036 / Notice 7715 — full Phase II criteria: https://www.dha.gov.za/images/gazettes/2026/55036-20-7-26.pdf
Gov.za copy of Gazette Notice 7715: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202607/55036gon7715.pdf
Department of Home Affairs Gazette notice page: https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/notices/2066-gazette-no-55036
Official Home Affairs Expression of Interest Schemes portal: https://touroperator.dha.gov.za/
TES enquiries: trustedemployerscheme@dha.gov.za
XTRAfrica Verification Note
This guide was verified on 7 August 2026 using the Department of Home Affairs announcement, Government Gazette No. 55036 and the official Home Affairs Expression of Interest Schemes portal.
The official notice confirms:
TES Phase II opened on 20 July 2026.
Expressions of interest close on 4 September 2026.
The scheme is intended to facilitate skilled immigration for qualifying employers.
TES is not intended for unskilled and low-wage labour.
Companies must select one of three pathways.
The minimum qualifying score is 80 points.
Applications are reviewed and validated by an interdepartmental committee.
Home Affairs makes the final selection.
Successful applicants should be willing to sign a Memorandum of Agreement.
Outcomes are expected within 30 working days after the closing date.
TES membership facilitates priority visa processing but does not itself grant a work visa to an employee.
Verification Caution: Pathway 2
XTRAfrica identified an apparent internal discrepancy in Government Gazette No. 55036:
The Pathway 2 summary scorecard allocates 15 points to the economic-sector factor.
Annexure B displays 10 points for the economic-sector factor.
Because the same gazette sets an 80-point minimum, this discrepancy could materially affect an applicant's calculated score.
Companies should seek clarification from Home Affairs or verify the score used by the live online TES Phase II application form before relying on those points.
This article should be reviewed immediately if:
Home Affairs corrects or republishes the scorecards
The 4 September deadline is extended
The online application route changes
Home Affairs publishes the list of successful Phase II employers
A new TES directive or implementation guide is issued
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