Critical Skills Visa

The CCMG will be able to assist you with written confirmation of your meeting the criteria of one or more skills listed on the currently gazetted critical skills list. Read the instructions below and then apply for your CCMG Membership online. The CCMG (Contact Centre Management Group) is the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) recognised professional body for the Contact Centre Industry. Professional Body I.D. No. 825.

How to aquire your Critical Skills Visa

In order to be able to assist you with written confirmation of your meeting the criteria of one or more skills listed on the currently gazetted critical skills list, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Apply for a Membership and a Designation with CCMG

Please make sure that you Apply for the correct Designation, the roles and careers associated with the careers are as follows:

Contact Centre Brand Ambassador:

• Junior and Senior Client Services Clerks/Agent/Representative/Consultants
• Junior and Senior Contact Centre/Call Centre Agent/Representative/Consultant
• Junior and Senior Customer Service Representatives/Consultant
• Junior and Senior Customer Care Agent/Representative/Consultant
• Junior and Senior Customer Care Ambassador
• Junior and Senior Direct Selling Agent
• Junior and Senior Sales Agents/Representative/Consultant
• Junior and Senior Tele Marketing Agents/Representatives/Consultant
• Junior and Senior Data Capturing Clerk/Agent/Representative
• Junior and Senior Administration Clerk
• Junior Quality Assessor

Contact Centre Support Professional:

• Contact Centre Team Manager
• Contact Centre Team Leader
• Contact Centre Junior Supervisor
• Contact Centre Quality Assessor/Auditor
• Contact Centre Quality Coach
• Contact Centre Trainer/Facilitator

Contact Centre Operational Professional:

• Call Centre Manager.
• Call Centre Supervisor.
• Junior Operations Manager

2. Submit the following documents to the CCMG

You will be able to upload the documents during your online application. If you experience any problems, you can send them via email to info@ccmg.org.za

  • RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) documents. RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) will be implemented on some of the designations.
  • Certified copies of: SAQA equivalency certificate for foreign degrees / diplomas. Minimum requirement is a matric equivalent. NQF Level 4. The SAQA verification is to establish your schooling and education in the language that you are applying for. The CCMG use this to verify that you can read, write and speak the language that you have applied for.
  • Copy of your Passport
  • Your recent, updated resume (curriculum vitae), clearly indicating the critical skill category (from the gazetted Critical Skills List) that you believe applies to you and that you will be employed for in South Africa.
  • A letter from your current employer and a letter from a past employer attesting to your particular skills and competencies (containing details of experience etc. relevant to the relevant critical skill category)
  • RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) documents. RPL will be implemented on some of the designations where the qualification doesn't meet the minimum requirements for the desigantion.

Once an assessment has been done on the above documentation an invoice will be sent to you via email upon approval. Once Proof of Payment is received a Board Exam will be allocated to your online profile. If you pass the Board Exam you will be informed to collect your letters and certificates to submit with regards to your Critical Skills Visa Application

3. Critical Skills Visa Application

You will then be able to take your documentation to the Department of Home Affairs and submit your application for the Critical Skills Visa.

Successful applicants for the Critical Skills Board Exam will receive 2 copies of the certificate from the CCMG with the SAQA Logo and also 2 originals of the letter of confirmation of the professional designation. This letter confirms that you are a member and that you have been assessed and have earned your professional designation.

You will also receive 2 copies of your welcome letter as a member of the Professional Body (CCMG) and the certificate of membership. A copy of the original documents as well as the Certificates will need to accompany your application to the relevant embassy / consulate / office of the Department of Home Affairs.

These written confirmations can either be collected in person or through a courier service. Should the applicant wish to make use of special postal services (e.g. courier), this will need to be arranged by the applicant, and any additional costs are for the applicant’s own account.

It is important to note that the provision of such a written confirmation of critical skills by the CCMG does not provide any guarantee whatsoever of a Critical Skills Work Visa being issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs, and the CCMG gives no such assurances.

How to maintain your Critical Skills Visa

1. Annual CCMG Membership

2.Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

To maintain your designation, you need to adhere to the CPD requirements over a 3-year period. Failing to achieve the required points will have your designation cancelled and Home Affairs will be notified. Download the CPD Plan for your Professional Designation from the Designation page. See the CPD page for information on how to earn CPD points.

3. Updated Profile

Login to the CCMG website to update your profile information regularly.

The South African Qualifications Authority and the Department of Home Affairs require that you maintain your profile with the most up to date information every 3 months. Once you have created your profile you will be sent your individual link to update and maintain. Please note that this information will be sent to SAQA and DHA will also have access to your profile.

4. Company registration and listing

The Department of Home Affairs also require that the company that you will working for is a registered contact centre and the CCMG need to have them listed and registered as a contact centre. To establish this the CCMG will ask the company to apply for a company membership which will then activate an assessment of the contact centre. We can only assist applicants where there is a legitimate contact centre that complies to the processes and disciplines of a contact centre.