With less than a month to go until Brexit, South Africans could find it easier to obtain British visas, come 29 March.

United Kingdom (UK) immigration expert Ryan Rennison, of Move Up UK Visa Solutions, predicts skilled South Africans will find it easier to obtain work permits, and possibly settlement rights, after Brexit.

“In spite of SA’s visa-free status being revoked in 2009, deal or no deal, Brexit preparations have already significantly altered the work permit landscape in the UK, with signs that even more positive changes are on the way” Rennison said.

Official figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal the number of non-EU nationals working in the UK has already increased by more than 100,000 to a new record high.

Professor of economics at King’s College London, Jonathan Portes, said the statistics confirm there has been a “significant ‘Brexit effect’ on migration from the EU”.

He said that Brexit-related uncertainty has made the UK a “less attractive place for EU citizens to live and work”, adding: “At the same time, there is some evidence that this reduction in labour supply from the EU has resulted in higher levels of non-EU migration.”

ONS statistics confirm that South Africans are some of the most sought-after employees in the UK’s foreign workforce.  Figures for specific nationalities show the non-EU workforce included 194,000 Indians, 107,000 Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, 96,000 Americans, 71,000 Australians and New Zealanders, and 64,000 South Africans.

“In the UK, South Africans are known for being hardworking employees who generally get along with their colleagues and fit in well with British culture,” says Rennison.

He added, “With the drop in EU migrants to the UK, I would also expect to see an even greater increase in South Africans on track towards settlement rights over the next year and beyond.”

In December, ministers presented plans for the biggest shake-up of the UK immigration system in the last 40 years.

The proposed “skills-based” system will create a new temporary work route, remove the annual cap on skilled work visas and will no longer require employers wanting to sponsor overseas employees to carry out a “resident labour market test”.

While Brexit signals increased opportunities for skilled South African workers, the UK’s Migration Advisory Committee recently announced the Seasonal Agricultural scheme that comes into operation in the British Spring of 2019.  Open for all applicants, this scheme will provide a new visa route to the UK for South Africans.

Move Up has recently made a free online visa assessment available to South Africans exploring moving to the UK.  Visit www.moveup.co.za or email info@moveup.co.za for more information.

ENDS

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