Foreign investors and individuals with scarce skills could soon have a new route to settling permanently in the country without necessarily becoming citizens.
This follows plans to introduce permanent residence and permanent residence-by-investment visas under the proposed Immigration Bill, which acting Minister of Home Affairs Pholile Shakantu said must be expedited.
Ministry of Home Affairs Principal Secretary Nhlanhla Nxumalo said the proposed changes could provide an alternative for some foreign nationals who currently apply for citizenship, but may be better suited to permanent residence because of their investment footprint, economic contribution or specialised skills.
He said the issue emerged during a meeting between Shakantu and the Citizenship Board at the ministry of home affairs headquarters in Mbabane yesterday.
Nxumalo said the meeting was convened to encourage the board to continue executing its mandate with integrity, diligence and commitment to the kingdom.
However, the proposed Immigration Bill featured prominently, with the minister highlighting the need to speed up its progress to introduce clearer pathways for foreign nationals seeking to remain in the country.
Under the proposed framework, applicants for permanent residence would, among other considerations, have to demonstrate that they had attained and surpassed a particular investment threshold in the country.
A separate permanent residence-by-investment route also known as an investor visa would cater for qualifying individuals seeking to establish permanent residence while investing in the country.
“The minister noted that several countries had adopted similar programmes as alternatives to citizenship, allowing investors to establish long-term residence and contribute to economic development without necessarily seeking citizenship.
“The proposal comes as the Citizenship Board has raised concerns about the types of applications it currently receives, noting that some applicants could potentially be accommodated under a dedicated permanent residence framework,” said Nxumalo.
During the meeting, the board highlighted investment footprint, meaningful economic contribution and professional presence as important considerations when assessing citizenship applications.
It also pointed to the need to recognise individuals with scarce and specialised skills required by the country.
The proposed changes could therefore draw a clearer distinction between those seeking permanent residence and those who qualify for citizenship, instead of treating the two as interchangeable routes to settling in Eswatini.
The Immigration Bill is expected to address gaps in the existing framework by setting out more structured pathways from temporary residence to permanent residence and, where applicable, citizenship.
“Shakantu assured the board that its concerns would be considered in the proposed legislation. She also urged members to continue assessing citizenship applications fairly and transparently, stressing the importance of integrity and consistency in decisions that affect the country’s interests,” added Nxumalo.
