Living in South Africa

Question

Accepted Answer

Getting help with living in South Africa听

Help from the South African government听

For any questions about moving to or living in South Africa, you may be able to get help from the:听听

The UK government and the British High Commission in Pretoria cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in South Africa.听听

Professional help in South Africa

You can also get help from professionals in South Africa, including:听听

lawyers听
notaries听听
translators听
funeral directors听听

Help from the UK government听听

Read the travel advice for South Africa to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit South Africa. This includes the latest information on:听听

visas and entry requirements听听
laws and cultural differences听
safety and security听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.听听

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.听听

Visas, residency and citizenship听

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for South Africa before you travel.听听

Visas听听

If you want to stay in South Africa for more than 90 days, you must apply for the appropriate visa.听

You can get a visa to:听听

work听听
study听
retire听
live with or visit family in South Africa听听
volunteer听听
do research听听
get medical treatment听听

If you want to extend your visa, contact VFS global, South Africa鈥檚 official visa partner, or the South African Department of Home Affairs.听

For more information, read guidance on:听听

Permanent residency听听

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in South Africa.听听

To find out if you鈥檙e eligible and how to apply, read the South African government鈥檚 guidance on applying for permanent residency.听听

Citizenship听听

South Africa recognises dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a South African citizen.听听

To find out if you鈥檙e eligible for South African citizenship:听听

read guidance on applying for South African citizenship听
contact the South African Department for Home Affairs听听
contact the South African High Commission in London听听听

Help with visa and residency applications听

The British High Commission in Pretoria cannot help with South African visa and residency applications.听听

For any questions or issues, contact:听听

the South African Department for Home Affairs听听
the South African High Commission in London听听听
a lawyer in South Africa听听

Passports听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

apply for a British passport from abroad听
travel urgently without your British passport听

Dual citizens travelling to the UK听

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry听a valid听British passport听or听certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on听dual citizenship.

Healthcare in South Africa 听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

plan your healthcare听
take medicine abroad听

South Africa does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.听 Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from private healthcare providers.听听

To find out how to get medical treatment:听听

contact your insurance provider听听
read guidance on health in South Africa听听
find medical facilities and doctors in South Africa听
contact the South African Department of Health听

Working in South Africa听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.听

To work in South Africa, you need a work visa. The South African Department of Home Affairs explains the different work visas available to you.听听

You can apply for a work visa through South Africa鈥檚 official visa partner, VFS global.听

Recognition of qualifications听

If you want to work in South Africa, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised.听听

Driving in South Africa听听

Read our guidance on moving, living and retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

drive abroad legally听
take your UK vehicle abroad听听
get driving licence letters听

For information on driving in South Africa, including driving licence rules, read about road travel in South Africa, in safety and security in the travel advice for South Africa.听听

The South African government provide information on driving in South Africa, including how to:听听

Disabled drivers听

You may be able to apply for a disabled parking card鈥痠n South Africa at your local municipal traffic department.听

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in South Africa, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.听听

Tax听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.听听听听

The UK has a double taxation agreement with South Africa鈥痵o that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.听

Contact the South African Revenue Service for any questions about double taxation relief.听

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in South Africa. To do this, find a lawyer in South Africa.听

Pensions听

Claiming your UK pension听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:听听

how to claim your UK State Pension听
where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension听

Claiming a South African pension听

Contact the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to find out whether you can claim a South African pension.听听

Benefits听听

Claiming UK benefits听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.听听听

Claiming South African benefits听听

Contact the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to find out whether you can claim benefits in South Africa.听听

Buying and renting property in South Africa听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.听听听

Contact a lawyer in South Africa if you鈥檙e considering buying property or land.听

Voting in South Africa听听

UK elections听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

vote in UK elections from abroad听
register as an overseas voter听听

South African elections听听

You cannot vote in South African elections unless you hold South African citizenship.听

Studying in South Africa 听

If you plan to study in South Africa, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.听听

For more information:听听

read guidance on travel grants for students studying abroad or on placements (England)听听
read guidance on tertiary (higher) education in South Africa听听
contact your higher education provider in South Africa or the UK听听
contact the South African Department of Higher Education and Training听听听

Children听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:听听

getting permission to take your child abroad听听
claiming UK Child Benefit abroad听
child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad听

Schools and education听

The South African Department of Basic Education provides information about the schooling system in South Africa.听听

All children aged 7 to 15 must attend school or home school in South Africa.听听

For more information, read the South African government鈥檚 guidance on:听听

Childcare听听

The South African Department for Basic Education is responsible for early childhood development (ECD) in South Africa.听听

The provincial education departments are responsible for overseeing childcare and ECD centres in the South African provinces.听听听

For more information, including ECD policies and laws, visit the ECD Information Hub.听

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships听

Births听听

If your child is born in South Africa, register the birth with the South African authorities.听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:听听

register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate听听
apply for your child鈥檚 first British passport听

Deaths听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:听听

what to do after someone dies abroad听
how to register the death with the UK authorities听

If someone dies in South Africa, read guidance on:听

Marriages and civil partnerships听听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.听听听

You can also read the South African government鈥檚 guidance on getting married in South Africa.听

Divorce and separation听

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.听听听

The South African government offers guidance on how to get a divorce in South Africa.听听

Consider taking legal advice from a lawyer in South Africa.听

Documents for British people in South Africa听

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers:听听听

legalising and certifying UK documents听听
marriage and civil partnership documents听
affirmations and affidavits听听
witnessing signatures听

Lawyers, translators and notaries听听

To find a lawyer, translator or notary in South Africa, read guidance on professional services if you鈥檙e abroad.听

Pets听

If you want to bring your pet with you to South Africa, read guidance on:听听

Returning to the UK听听

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.听

Disclaimer听听

We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the South African authorities.听听

Read our consular information disclaimer.

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