International Movers South Africa Guide: Your Comprehensive Relocation Resource

Nov 21, 2025 0

As one of the world's most picturesque countries, South Africa attracts professionals, young families, and retirees looking for an affordable and exotic new home abroad each year. If you're considering joining them, this guide provides essential information to make your international relocation as smooth and stress-free as possible.

South Africa is famous for its breathtaking natural landscapes, including wildlife reserves like Kruger National Park.

Why South Africa?

South Africa is famous for its breathtaking natural landscapes, from the iconic Table Mountain in Cape Town to the expansive wildlife reserves like Kruger National Park. If you're looking for a country to settle in that's sunny, eclectic, and vibrant, the Rainbow Nation might be the new home for you. Benefits of life in South Africa include access to mountains, parks, and beaches, a lower cost of living, and great weather year-round.

South Africa is a beautiful country that enjoys a blend of warm weather, sandy beaches, a big game safari, forests, mountains, and booming metropolitan cities. Diversity. If we have to describe South Africa with one word only, that would be “diversity”.

Key Considerations Before You Move

Before packing your bags, it's crucial to understand the practical aspects of relocating to South Africa.

Visas and Permits

You must have a valid visa to settle in South Africa. South Africa offers a variety of entry permits depending on your age, occupation, purpose and duration of your stay. Short-term visitors can be issued visas for up to 90 days unless they are travelling from an exempt country. Here's a breakdown of some common visa types:

Business Permit: For entrepreneurs ready to invest more than USD 23,000 and employ at least five citizens or permanent residents.
General Work Permit: If you have a confirmed job offer.
Critical Skills Work Permit: If you possess exceptional skills and qualifications in a field needed in South Africa.
Retired Person’s Visa: This visa doesn’t have an age limit, but you are required to have a minimum monthly income of about $2,000 from pensions, retirement annuities, or other assets.

Visa programs are also available for family members of South African residents/citizens, and for those who wish to start a business in South Africa. The Financially Independent Permit offers a fast track to permanent residency for high net worth individuals.

Job Opportunities

We advise securing a job before entering the country as the job market is competitive.

Healthcare

Run by South Africa's Department of Health, medical treatment is available via public and private options. The country can offer good healthcare services, trained personnel and fine facilities, standards are higher in the big metro areas. Depending on your income and the size of your family, public healthcare is subsidised by up to 40% for citizens. However, since there is no national health plan, it is strongly advisable to arrange a private insurance before your relocation to South Africa.

Education

Between the ages of seven and fifteen, schooling is compulsory. When comparing Cape Town and LA, you can expect to pay an average of 87.7% less for a private preschool or kindergarten, and 79.2% less for an international primary school.

Read also: Accra Airport Guide

Lifestyle

Living an active, healthy life is important to South Africans, as evidenced by many local gyms and an array of popular outdoor activities such as hiking, hand gliding and kitesurfing. As a people, they are friendly, open and sociable, and time spent with friends and family is considered culturally very important.

South Africans enjoy an active lifestyle, with many outdoor activities available.

The Moving Process: Step-by-Step

Moving to South Africa is a fairly involved process. Here’s a simplified checklist to guide you:

Apply for a visa: Research which visa you and your family will need depending on whether you're studying, working, retiring, settling, etc.
Find accommodation: Either sell or rent your current property. We recommend renting a home when you arrive at your destination. To find housing in South Africa, look to trusted search platforms like Property24 and Private Property.
Speak to a doctor: If you currently take any ongoing medicine, ask for a three-month supply.
Pet relocation: Are your little furry pals coming along? Make sure they are fully vaccinated and have an up-to-date health certificate from your vet.
Have a declutter: The more you ship, the more it costs! Go through your belongings to decide what you will keep and get rid of. The fewer items you need to ship, the less expensive your move will be. High street charity shops would be more than happy to take anything spare that's in good condition.
Notify your bank and credit card company. You’ll need to set up a local bank account once you arrive in South Africa.
Get multiple moving quotes. Get quotes from at least three international moving companies.
Book plane tickets. Buy plane tickets so you’ll arrive in South Africa around the same time as your stuff.

Shipping Your Belongings

The bulk of your expenses will likely come from shipping your belongings to South Africa. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can choose between sea freight and air freight.

Sea Freight

Shipping belongings via sea freight is the most cost-effective way to send your stuff overseas. When moving a full household, a sea container is often the best choice. Your belongings can be shipped in either a 20-foot or 40-foot container, depending on the total volume of your shipment. Our professional packing teams will typically pack and load your household items directly into the container at your residence and seal it on-site. The main downside of sea freight is the delivery timeline.

Air Freight

If you don’t have as many items to ship and want them to get to South Africa quickly, then air freight is right for you. Shipping via air freight means your belongings will arrive in days, rather than weeks. However, air freight is very expensive - several times more expensive than shipping via sea freight. Airplanes also have relatively limited space, meaning you won’t be able to ship your furniture like if you used a sea freight shipping container.

Shipping Method	Pros	Cons	Estimated Cost (20-foot container)
Sea Freight	Cost-effective, suitable for large volumes	Slower delivery timeline	$11,000
Air Freight	Fast delivery	Expensive, limited space	Over $3,000 (for 550-pound shipment)

Comparison of Shipping Methods

Packing Tips

When preparing for removals to South Africa, it's essential you pack your personal possessions securely. International moves involve long distances, multiple handoffs, and changes in climate, altitude, and humidity. Most transit issues trace back to rushed or inexperienced packing.

Here are some essential packing tips:

First, secure the bottom of your box by sealing it with three layers of overlapping parcel tape, then repeat the process when securing the top.
Next, cover all items in bubble wrap and use several layers for fragile goods such as crockery, picture frames and glass.
We use moisture-resistant wraps, double-walled cartons, corner protection, cushioning matched to the item’s weight, and techniques that limit vibration during ocean travel.
Paintings, framed photography, sculpture, ceramics, and antiques benefit from tailored crating and packing. We build custom supports, use barrier materials to mitigate humidity shifts, and stabilize frames and glass.

We highly recommend hiring a professional packing service to do it for you.

Customs and Regulations

Moving to South Africa from the USA involves navigating a range of laws and regulations, from visa requirements to customs policies and import restrictions. Understanding these rules is essential to avoid delays, unexpected fees, or complications when shipping household goods abroad. Our highly trained and experienced moving coordinators will guide you through each step of the customs process, supporting you in preparing all necessary documentation accurately and on time. Please ensure all forms are completed with the utmost accuracy, as South African customs officials will see them.

All new residents may import their household and personal effects duty free. Returning South Africans must have been out of the country for an unbroken period of at least 6 months to be eligible for duty free entry.

Like all countries, South Africa has a list of goods that cannot be imported.

First time residents may import motor vehicles duty free if the owner has personally used the vehicle for at least one year before the vehicle’s arrival, is importing the vehicle for their own use or will undertake in writing not sell or dispose of the vehicle within two years after importation. Temporary residents can import the vehicle by paying a cash bond, refundable upon re-export. All vehicles must have a “Letter of Authority” for import issued by the South African Bureau of Standards.

Insurance

It's understandable to worry about your household items as they travel internationally. For this reason, we've put together a range of comprehensive insurance policies that cover your goods in the rare case of damage or loss. International moves involve multiple stages: packing, loading, ocean or air transit, unloading, customs inspection, and final delivery. Even with expert packing, factors like weather, vibration, handling, and moisture can introduce risk.

Cost of Moving to South Africa

Moving to South Africa will cost $13,000 to $20,000, mainly depending on the size and distance of your move, as well as whether you use sea freight or air freight.

Here's a breakdown of potential costs:

Flight: One-way flights to South Africa typically range from about $600 to $850 per person.
Visa fees: Long-term visas cost around $130 per person.
Shipping your belongings: Expect to pay around $11,000 to send a 20-foot shipping container via sea freight, or over $3,000 for a 550-pound air freight shipment.

Cost of Living in South Africa

South Africa’s low cost of living is a major draw for many expats. This lower cost of living plays out across every type of expense, from food and transportation to utilities and clothing. To live comfortably in South Africa, a single person should plan on monthly costs of about $600, plus another $350 to $450 for rent.

Here's a comparison of costs in Cape Town versus Los Angeles:

Renters will pay 68% to 75% less on average. Buying is even more affordable, with costs being 76%-82% lower. Price per sq. ft.
Restaurant meals are 61.7% to 64.8% less expensive in Cape Town.
Basic services like electricity, water, and trash average 44.6% less in Cape Town than in Los Angeles.

Finding a Place to Live

To find housing in South Africa, look to trusted search platforms like Property24 and Private Property. Here are some popular cities to consider:

Cape Town: Cape Town is located on the southwestern tip of South Africa, off the South Atlantic Ocean. Cape Town is a breathtaking metro tucked between the blue ocean waters and imposing mountains in the backdrop.
Durban: Durban is located in the southeast section of the country in KwaZulu-Natal province. The city has a population of about 650,000 and is the third-largest in the country. Durban enjoys a warm climate, which is why its waters are a haven for dolphins.
Johannesburg: Johannesburg, also known simply as Jo’Burg, is the largest city in the country. It is located in Gauteng province in the northeastern part of the country and has a population of over 1 million. The larger metro area around the city houses over 10 million people.
Pretoria: Pretoria is located in the northeastern part of South Africa in Gauteng province, just 30 miles from Johannesburg. It is the administrative capital of the country and hosts most government headquarters, plus all foreign embassies. It has a population of about a million people.
Bloemfontein: Bloemfontein, located in Free State province, is centrally located in the country and has a population of about 650,000. It is the judicial seat of government in the country. The city is an urban sprawl with museums, universities, and parks.

Cape Town is a popular destination for expats.

Driving in South Africa

Generally, if you have your driver’s license in English, you may use it up to twelve months. Road network is fine in most areas, except in rural ones. Driving in South Africa can be challenging due to the poor lighting and the rude behavior of some locals. South Africa drives on the left side of the road, something you’ll need to adjust to. People in South Africa drive on the left side of the road, so you might not want to bring your car with you. Alternatively, you could use an international car shipping company to get your vehicle to South Africa.

Moving to South Africa: The Ultimate Guide from Britannia Movers

Finding the Right International Moving Company

Selecting the right international moving company is crucial for ensuring a smooth, cost-effective relocation. When evaluating your options, consider key factors such as industry reputation, service offerings, pricing transparency, and customer reviews. A mover with a proven track record, comprehensive relocation solutions, and clear, upfront costs will provide the reliability and peace of mind you need.

As an experienced overseas removals company, we know exactly how to support our customers. Atlas International Movers is here to ensure your relocation is safe and efficient.