Well done for rollout of remote worker visa… Namibia

STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS

South Africa increasingly risks being left off digital nomads’ travel bucket lists as more and more competitor destinations enact remote worker visas.

This as our neighbouring country, Namibia, joins others across the world in rolling out the visa to international travellers. This makes it the fourth African country to do so behind Mauritius, Seychelles and Cape Verde. Around 40 countries globally have pushed out visa for digital nomads with Spain and Portugal being the latest in Europe to do so.

Namibia’s visa platform follows a similar format to the one I proposed to the National Government over a year ago in that it requires users to demonstrate proof of sustainable income for themselves and their dependants ($2 000/R36 400 – applicant) as well as US$62 upon arrival in the country as payment for the visa. The Namibian visa will be applicable for up to six months.

In my proposal, I showed that the South African National Government would simply need to make an amendment to Section 11 of the Immigration Act which relates to an extension of visas beyond 90 days for specific activities.

I suggested that the amended Act would also include the following requirements:

• An applicant must have evidence of employment abroad, as well as a sufficient income from such employment or own business registered abroad;
• Prohibit the applicant’s work activities in South Africa;
• Allow the applicant’s dependants to accompany them, on application.

It is unclear what progress has been made on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s February State of the Nation announcement that his Government would begin looking into the visa. The longer it stalls on this matter, the further South Africa will fall down the list of appealing destinations for these travellers who reportedly spend up to R50 000 per visit.

Here in Cape Town, we are pushing ahead to be as ready as possible to welcome long-term travellers with the City government’s official Destination Marketing Organisation, Cape Town Tourism, partnering with the homestay platform, Airbnb.

The partnership agreement will include a range of initiatives, such as a dedicated custom-built Airbnb hub for Cape Town that will showcase top local long-term listings and information relating to entry requirements and visa policies.

We are also working with other accommodation providers and organisations such as the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) on product pricing and readiness that aligns with the needs of remote workers.

Cape Town is already listed as one of the top destinations for digital nomads with users of Nestpick, another global housing rental platform, ranking it the 16th best city in the world. With a remote worker visa, South Africa will increase its appeal to international travellers who drive major revenue and jobs into local economies.