In 2005 it became possible for foreign teachers to obtain a Work Visa to teach in South Africa. But in 2010 we were told that no further Work Visas would be issued because of high unemployment among South African teachers. Those teachers who already held the Visas have usually been able to renew them thus far. A few teachers of scarce subjects like Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry and Maths have been granted new Work Visas because their subjects are on the Critical Skills List, but this list changes every year and there is no guarantee what will remain on it! We understand that all Work Visas expire in December 2025, and there is no indication how Home Affairs will approach renewals as there is still high unemployment among South African teachers.

At Placements in Education, we believe that qualified teachers should be able to migrate within Africa and teach on contracts, as is commonly done in the Middle East and Asia. At the same time, we would argue that this should be a two-way street - South African teachers should be able to get Visas to teach in nations like Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nigeria - which at present is extremely difficult. The stalemate that exists will persist until someone applies some political will to the situation, and there is no sign of that happening at present.

Foreign teachers with South African Permanent Residence are free to teach in South Africa without a Work Visa once their qualifications have been ratified by SAQA and they have obtained SACE registration. For SACE, they will need Police Clearance.

South African State Schools are not permitted to employ foreign teachers, not even Permanent Residents. Independent Schools have been under immense pressure to give preference to South African teachers and very seldom offer a long-term contract to a teacher who has a Work Visa for South Africa.

As a result of all of this, Placements in Education will accept applications from:

We regret having to limit applications from Foreign Teachers, many of whom have made a significant positive impact on South African schools. But we have always believed that to take CVs from applicants if there is little or no chance that we can assist them is to give people false hope, which is unfair.