MOVING TO
SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is an African country of 52 million people divided into the nine provinces of Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Natal, Mpumalanga and North West. South Africa is a multi-ethnic country, reflected in its motto “diverse people unite” and the famous term “rainbow nation” coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The ethnic composition of the country is as follows: 80.5% African, 8.8% mixed race, 8.3% White and 2.5% Indian or other Asian.

South Africa is an attractive destination for expats from all over the world for many reasons. It boasts some of the most impressive scenery in the world, with rugged mountains, pristine beaches and outstanding national parks. This allows you and your family to go on adventures and explore the different landscapes of the country.

More than the country’s natural beauty, the ability to achieve a high standard of living on a relatively low budget is a compelling factor for many expats. The cost of living in South Africa is well below that of western European countries and the weather is generally pleasant all year round. Many expats rave about the climate, cost of living, stunning scenery, world class wines and the improvement in their lifestyle since moving to South Africa. In addition, although there are eleven official languages, English is widely spoken throughout the country.

If you are thinking of moving to South Africa, give me a call and I will be happy to discuss the details of your move with you.

At the start of the process, an assigned member of staff will come to you to take stock of all your belongings. In Switzerland, you will be personally served by the moving professional. I will evaluate your move and provide you with an individual and non-binding cost estimate, that also takes your special requirements into account. If you wish, my experienced moving team will pack and load your items or I will provide you with packaging material that you can use yourself. The packaging material I supply ranges from simple cardboard boxes and bubble wrap to bespoke wooden crates for particularly delicate items. If necessary, my moving team can also dismantle furniture and reassemble it at the destination.

Your freight is then brought to the destination country by air freight or, if you are moving to South Africa, usually by sea freight. There, my agent will take care of customs clearance and help you fill out all the papers. Finally, your belongings will arrive at your new address in South Africa, where my team will help you unload, unpack and reassemble.

I have been careful with my moving company to only work with the most experienced and adaptable partners worldwide. I have personally selected all my partners during my many years of work in the moving business, always in leading positions. It is important to me that they have the skills and know-how to handle each move professionally and efficiently. We relieve you of the most stressful aspects of moving and allow you to focus on building your new life in a new country.

I offer, together with my network of partners, a wide range of services to meet all my clients’ relocation needs. With my moving service, I make sure that your belongings arrive punctually, undamaged and safely in your new home in South Africa.

Expats make their home all over South Africa, with certain cities and regions being more popular than others. People choose the place where they want to live based on their individual preferences and considering certain factors such as property prices, local services, culture and social activities. The most popular expat destinations include Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and the northern suburbs.

South Africa has a growing economy and there are job opportunities for expats in a range of sectors. There are many vacancies for expats in the fields of technology, communication, finance, engineering and teaching. The digital nomad scene has also grown in South Africa, and in recent years there has been a sharp increase in the number of tech-savvy younger expats moving to the country. It is also worth keeping in mind South Africa’s affirmative action policy, which gives preference to people of color, women and people with disabilities when applying for jobs. It is recommended that you seek employment before moving to the country unless you have enough savings to support yourself until you find employment.

South Africa is an extremely diverse country, and so is the diverse expat communities in the country. There are 11 official languages ​​in the country including English, Zulu, Afrikaans, Sotho and Swazi to name just a few examples and this reflects just how multi-ethnic South Africa really is. The expat community is also made up of people from many parts of the world: British, German, Italian and Portuguese live in large numbers in the country. Many of them can only recommend moving to South Africa and claim that their quality of life has improved significantly since moving to the country. This is backed up by a survey conducted by bank HSBC which revealed that 62% of expats saw an improvement in their quality of life after moving from their home country.

The reasons for moving to South Africa are varied, but some of the most common include the lower cost of living, climate, leisure activities, job responsibilities and retirement. The respective expat communities are known to be exceptionally friendly and welcoming to newcomers moving to the country and there are many expat clubs, societies and associations that you can join. Below are some examples:

• International Expat Forum
• Swiss Social and Sports Club
• Johannesburg International Women’s Club

If you are staying in South Africa for more than 90 days and want to live and work there, you will need a temporary residence permit. This allows you to stay in the country for between 3 months and a year before you need permanent residency. You can apply for a temporary residency permit at the nearest South African embassy in your country.

There are 12 types of temporary residency permits, but some are more relevant to potential expats than others. These include the General Work Permit, Business Permit, Essential Skills Visa, and Study Permit. If you have lived in South Africa for the required time, it is advisable to apply for a permanent residence permit. Depending on your situation, you can apply for a retirement permit, a spouse permit, a relative permit, or a five-year permanent work permit.

If you have lived in the country for a long time, you may consider acquiring South African citizenship. This is possible if you have permanent residency and have lived in the country for more than five years, two years if you are married to a South African citizen.