Moving to South Africa from the UK: Complete guide

Dreaming of moving to a vibrant new country like South Africa? You’re not alone, since a large number of British nationals already live there. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to South Africa from the UK, including the cost of living, whether anything has changed for Brits after Brexit and much more.

We’ll also point out a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders – the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It’s an international alternative to a bank account that lets you manage your money in 40+ currencies including British pounds and South African rands.

You can send, receive and convert money at great mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*. Your money is always safeguarded and every transaction is secured.

Looking to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.

Learn more about the Wise account 💰

Table of contents

Can you move to South Africa from the UK? How to get a South African visa How to move to South Africa from the UK 1. Do job market research 2. Secure a job 3. Collect the necessary documents 4. Find accommodation 5. Look into health insurance and South African banks What’s the cheapest way to get to South Africa from the UK? Options for retiring in South Africa Living in South Africa - The key facts Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to South Africa Renting or buying property in South Africa Healthcare system Opening a South African bank account Finding a job in South Africa Working in South Africa Checklist for moving to South Africa from the UK Save on your relocation costs to South Africa with Wise Conclusion

Can you move to South Africa from the UK?

Yes, you can move to South Africa from the UK if you meet the criteria and submit the necessary documents. Let’s go through the actual steps and show you what your options are.

How to get a South African visa

UK passport holders don’t need an entry visa for South Africa. However, if you stay more than 90 days, you’ll need a residence permit.¹

You first need to determine which residence permit route you want to take. The application process can begin at the South African Embassy in the UK or at a visa application centre in South Africa. Although it might be easier to apply from the UK, applications submitted in South Africa are usually processed faster.²

Different permits are available for longer stays, depending on the purpose of your stay, such as the Relative’s Visa or the General Work visa. Some residence permit requirements include proof of financial stability and certain medical tests, so make sure you look for the newest information about the option you chose.¹

These are the visas available to those moving to South Africa from the UK:

• General Work Visa
• Relative’s Visa
• Critical Skills Work Visa
• Intra-company Transfer Visa
• Business Visa
• Retired Person’s Visa
• Study Visa²

It’s important to know that the study visa doesn’t lead to permanent residency.²

💡 Read more: Best private schools in South Africa and their cost

How to move to South Africa from the UK

The exact steps for moving to South Africa from the UK will depend on what you plan to do once you arrive. Let’s look at an example step-by-step process of moving to South Africa for work.

1. Do job market research

This step is crucial, since you can qualify for a General work visa if you prove your skills are needed in South Africa.¹ Your research should include looking into in-demand positions and salary averages, as well as checking any skill shortage lists. Feel free to start by exploring job-seeking websites such as Career Junction and Indeed, although LinkedIn is a good option as well.

2. Secure a job

Depending on which work visa you’re applying for, you might have to get a job before moving. However, if you get the Critical Skills Work Visa, you can look for a job once you arrive.¹

3. Collect the necessary documents

Take care of the necessary paperwork for your specific visa type. Since there are multiple work visas available, be sure to carefully review the requirements.

💡 Read more: Vaccinations for South Africa: Everything you need to know

4. Find accommodation

If your employer doesn’t help you with finding accommodation, you'll need to do this on your own. Talk to a real estate agent or look through websites such as Property24 or Private Property.

5. Look into health insurance and South African banks

Also take some time to research health insurance and banking options. These will be some of the most important aspects of your life in South Africa, so be sure to review them carefully. Some banks might even allow you to open a bank account online, so you could get started on that.

This is a quick overview of the steps you'll need to follow. Depending on your circumstances and the reason for your stay, there may be additional steps. For example, the process is different if you're moving to South Africa on a family or student visa.

💡 Read more: Best ways to spend money while travelling abroad

What’s the cheapest way to get to South Africa from the UK?

You’re likely also calculating how much it will cost to travel or how much to move to South Africa from the UK. The most affordable month for flying at the moment is November, when you can get a one-way ticket for £298.³

However, tickets usually cost more than this. For example, travelling in January will cost you between £350 and £500.⁴

Options for retiring in South Africa

Whether you're approaching retirement age or just planning ahead, you might be considering South Africa as a potential retirement destination. Fortunately, they offer a designated visa option called the Retired Person’s Visa.¹

This visa requires an annual income of 37,000 ZAR, or 66,000 ZAR if you’re under 50. With each dependent added to your visa, the financial requirements also grow. This is meant to prove that you can support yourself while living in South Africa, especially since you’re not allowed to work. Once you apply, the Department of Home Affairs will review your case and determine whether your application is valid.¹

If you manage to retire in South Africa, you can also claim your UK state pension there. It can be paid into a UK bank account or a South African one, in which case you’ll be paid in the local currency. You can choose how often you’ll get paid - anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks. Contact the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.⁵

Living in South Africa - The key facts

Here are some basic facts you should know about South Africa if you’re considering moving there:

💰 Currency:	South African rand (ZAR)
🗣️ Main language:	English, Afrikaans
👥 Population:	64,280,064⁶
🇬🇧 Number of British expats:	around 200,000¹

💡 Read more: Cash or card in South Africa: Which is the best way to pay?

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to South Africa

Before you move all the way to South Africa, it’s good to get an idea of how far your money will go. You’ll notice right away that the cost of living in South Africa is much lower than in the UK. For instance, rent prices are almost 170% higher in the UK, while groceries cost twice as much compared to South Africa.⁷

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in South Africa, compared with the UK:

• A three-course meal for two costs around £30 in South Africa, while it’s £63 in the UK
• A loaf of bread is around £0.76, compared to £1.23 in the UK
• A draught beer is around £1.73, compared to £4.70 back in the UK
• A monthly public transport pass costs around £35, compared to £70 in the UK
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around £348, compared to £1,054 in the UK
• Utilities for a typical apartment are around £80 a month, compared to £246 in the UK⁷

Renting or buying property in South Africa

Whether you plan to rent or buy property in South Africa, finding the perfect home will most likely require effort and patience. A real estate agent could help guide you through the process, or you could search South African property websites on your own.

Here are some popular property websites in South Africa:

• Property24
• Private Property
• SA Home Traders
• Pam Golding Properties

You can even buy a house in South Africa without restrictions, provided you have the right visa and you don’t have a criminal record. ⁸

💡 Read more: The best UK banks for sending money abroad

Healthcare system

South Africa has one of the best healthcare systems in this part of the continent. According to its constitution, everyone has access to healthcare services.⁹

The South African healthcare system consists of a public sector managed by the Department of Health and a private sector run by private providers. Around 80% of the population relies on the public healthcare system.⁹

Opening a South African bank account

You can open a bank account in South Africa even as a non-resident. You’ll only need to provide your passport, proof of address, proof of income and three months’ worth of statements from your offshore bank account. Once you move there and become a resident, you can start exploring other account options. For example, some of the biggest banks in South Africa include Absa, FirstRand, Nedbank, and Standard Bank.¹⁰

Whether you’ll be able to keep your UK bank account after moving depends on your bank. For example, Barclays closes your account once you move abroad.¹¹

And, as an alternative to bank accounts, check out the Wise account. It enables you to send, receive, and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and South African rands.

Finding a job in South Africa

When applying for a General Work Visa, you need to prove that your skills are needed in South Africa. Keep this in mind when preparing your CV. You might want to speak with some recruitment agents or look through job-seeking websites.

Here are some of the popular job-seeking websites in South Africa:

• Career Junction
• Indeed
• Job Mail
• CareerJet

Working in South Africa

If you qualify for the Critical Skills Work Visa, you won’t have to look for a job before moving to South Africa from the UK. You can instead have more freedom and spend some time thinking about how you want to use your skills. This visa is valid for five years.¹

Checklist for moving to South Africa from the UK

Here’s a quick checklist what you need to have in order before moving to South Africa:

• Research the visa options, gather your documents and apply
• Find a place to live, either online or by travelling to South Africa to view properties
• Get an estimate for shipping your belongings to South Africa
• Look into South African banks, find some that suit you and try to open an account before arriving
• Look into taking out a private health insurance policy
• Tell HMRC that you’re leaving the UK
• Book your flight to South Africa

Save on your relocation costs to South Africa with Wise

Before moving to South Africa, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and South Africa for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. You can also get the Wise card to spend in ZAR from the moment you step off the plane. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee.

Here’s an overview of the main benefits for using Wise:
Fast and easy setup with no physical paperwork Dedicated support for large transfers Sophisticated security and anti-fraud measures Low, upfront, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rates Fully trackable transfers Fast transfer times Two-factor authentication and real-time notifications

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Conclusion

Moving to South Africa from the UK wasn’t affected by Brexit and there are still various routes available. This includes multiple types of work visas, as well as a retirement visa. When it comes to prices, South Africa is significantly cheaper than the UK across all categories, including rent, groceries and other everyday expenses.

Life in South Africa offers a mix of vibrant culture and natural beauty, making it an exciting destination for hundreds of thousands of UK expats. Whether you choose to live in a big city or the picturesque wilderness, there are plenty of opportunities to help you enjoy at least a couple years of your life here.

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Sources used:

1. Immigration Advice Service - moving to South Africa
2. Moneycorp - moving to South Africa
3. Skyscanner - cheapest time to fly to South Africa
4. Skyscanner - London-Cape Town flights in January 2025
5. Gov.uk - State Pension if you retire abroad
6. Worldometers - South Africa population
7. Numbeo - cost of living in the UK compared to South Africa
8. Expatica - buying a house in South Africa
9. International Insurance - healthcare in South Africa
10. Standard Bank - non-resident bank account
11. Barclays - living outside the UK

Sources last checked on date: 12-Nov-2024