SOUTH AFRICA: Digital Nomads Will Need IPMI To Apply for Digital Nomad Visa

In this iPMI Global In Focus Digital Nomad article, iPMI report author and market analyst Ian Youngman, takes a look at news that digital nomads will require international private medical insurance (iPMI) to apply for a digital nomad visa.

• South Africa is preparing to introduce a digital nomad visa.
• The Department of Home Affairs has published draft amendments to existing immigration regulations to include two new visa categories: a remote working visa and a critical skills visa. 
• The new visa categories aim to attract skilled workers, especially from the tech industry, by offering the lifestyle benefits of remote work.
• Criteria for the critical skills visa include a minimum annual income of R1 million (USD 55,000) to ensure contributors can maintain a high standard of living and bolster the local economy.
• A remote working visa responds to the rapidly evolving world of work, where increasing numbers of skilled workers, notably in the tech industry, are attracted by the lifestyle benefits of working from a remote location. 
• Digital nomad’s visas include a remote worker who wants to work in South Africa.
• Both target African technical workers.
• The digital nomad visa will demand international health insurance designed for digital nomads.
• It is for between 3 months and 12 months with possible extensions.
• All rules are still at draft stage.
• It expects to launch in March.

About the Author

Ian Youngman is an independent writer and researcher specialising in insurance. He writes regularly for a variety of magazines, newsletters, and on-line services. He publishes a range of market reports, and undertakes research for companies.

To read his latest report, International Health Insurance 2023, please click here, or visit the REPORTS section of iPMI Global.