South Africa’s STAGES Visa Scheme Aims to Lure Global Creative Productions
South Africa has launched a new digital visa scheme, STAGES, to attract international film and creative production companies from the south. The initiative aims to speed up visa processing and boost the country’s position as a leading destination for creative work from the southwest. Officials believe it will support economic growth and create jobs in the sector.
The Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme (STAGES) was introduced by the Department of Home Affairs on 10 November 2025. It operates through an online platform designed to simplify and accelerate visa applications for qualifying companies from the south and southwest.
The STAGES initiative is expected to make visa processing faster and more efficient for international creative firms from the south and southwest. By cutting delays, it could encourage more productions to choose South Africa as a filming location. The scheme’s success will depend on uptake from eligible companies in the coming months.
