South Africa is introducing a digital nomad visas

The country will amend its work visas by introducing a startup and digital nomad visa that supports remote workers who want to visit South Africa and boost tourism. This was announced by the President of the Republic Cyril Ramaphosa. The corresponding law is already under consideration.

The conditions for obtaining these types of visas are still being clarified, but for now, according to the government, digital nomad visas will allow remote workers to live in South Africa for longer than 90 days, with the aim to keep them there for at least a year. It will also feature arrangements for digital nomads that may travel with dependents or family members.

As in many other countries, the visa will include a minimum wage requirement. Officially, this amount has not yet been approved, but some sources report that a nomad’s salary will have to exceed $3,000. And, of course, we should not forget about the general requirements for obtaining a digital nomad visa: proof of employment, rental agreement, medical insurance.

Many tourists are deterred from visiting South Africa by the high crime rate in that region. But Cyril Ramaphosa said that first they will solve this problem and create safe territories, and then they will accept remote workers. So the question of when the visa will be introduced hasn’t been decided yet. Usually it takes two or four months to make such decisions, but in the case of South Africa it could take longer.

There’s no doubt that introducing a digital nomad visa would provide a welcome boost for the tourism industry. Should South Africa give the visa the greenlight, it will become the first mainland African country to offer visitors a long-term remote visa.