BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
EZULWINI – Eswatini is moving towards a new era in its immigration regime, with government proposing three new visa categories aimed at attracting major investors, retaining high-value businesspeople and positioning the country as an attractive retirement destination.
The proposed changes are contained in the Immigration Bill currently under discussion and were outlined by Chief Immigration Officer (CIO) Mthokozisi Dlamini during a stakeholder consultative workshop involving the Ministry of Home Affairs, the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee and other stakeholders.
Dlamini said the proposed regime would introduce a permanent residence visa/permit, an investor’s visa and a permanent residence category targeting retirees, with the overarching objective of increasing economic activity and bringing more foreign income into the country.
He explained that although the Bill uses the term visa for the permanent residence category, this is largely because it is the prevailing terminology internationally.
“Otherwise, what we would today refer to as a permit is what we are calling a visa,” Dlamini said.
Under the proposed permanent residence arrangement, certain businesspeople with a significant investment footprint in Eswatini could qualify for permanent residence.
Dlamini said applications would be considered on the basis of the contribution made by the investor to the economy.
Factors to be considered would include the amount invested in the country, the number of jobs created and other aspects demonstrating the investor’s economic contribution.
The proposed arrangement would also provide greater certainty for qualifying investors, as they would no longer be required to repeatedly renew their residence permits to remain in Eswatini.
Dlamini stressed that permanent residence would not automatically mean surrendering one’s original citizenship.
“The person will continue to maintain his original citizenship. The only difference is that he will be staying in the country permanently,” he explained.
The proposed investor’s visa would provide another avenue for attracting individuals capable of making substantial financial investments into the country.
Dlamini said the investor’s visa would be similar to the residence visa but would specifically target people who invest large amounts of money in Eswatini.
He said the proposed framework could allow such investors to access benefits through local financial institutions while maintaining citizenship of their countries of origin.
Importantly, Dlamini said the investor’s visa could also strengthen the prospects of investors eventually being considered for Eswatini citizenship, subject to the country’s applicable citizenship laws.
The third proposed category is aimed at a different but potentially equally important group, retirees with substantial and reliable incomes who choose Eswatini as their retirement destination.
Dlamini said the category would target foreigners, particularly from developed countries, who receive substantial monthly or annual retirement incomes and would prefer to spend their retirement years in Eswatini.
“These are people who will decide that the income they are getting in their retirement they will spend it in Eswatini,” he said.
The CIO said the proposed retirement visa was informed by developments elsewhere in the world, where countries have created immigration pathways specifically designed to attract financially secure retirees.
For Eswatini, he said, the benefit would extend beyond simply allowing foreigners to reside in the country.
Retirees who bring their regular income into Eswatini could contribute to local economic activity through accommodation, food, transport, healthcare, leisure, banking and other services.
Dlamini said the proposed measures were ultimately designed to strengthen the economy by attracting foreign income and increasing economic activity.
He said the country also stood to benefit from the circulation of foreign currency and increased spending by people who choose to invest, work, establish businesses or retire in Eswatini.
The proposals come as the country seeks to position itself as a more competitive investment destination while ensuring that immigration policy supports economic development.
The stakeholder workshop provided an opportunity for parliamentarians and other stakeholders to scrutinise the proposed provisions, make contributions and raise issues that could help improve the Bill before it progresses further.
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