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Help from the South African government 

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

• South African High Commission in London  

• South African Department of Home Affairs 

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

Professional help in South Africa

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

• lawyers 

• notaries  

• translators 

• funeral directors  

Help from the UK government  

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:  

• visas and entry requirements  

• laws and cultural differences 

• safety and security 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.  

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

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

Visas  

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

You can get a visa to:  

• work  

• study 

• retire 

• live with or visit family in South Africa  

• volunteer  

• do research  

• get medical treatment  

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

For more information, read guidance on:  

• types of South African temporary residency visa  

• applying for a South African visa  

Permanent residency  

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

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the South African government’s guidance on applying for permanent residency.  

Citizenship  

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.  

To find out if you’re eligible for South African citizenship:  

• read guidance on applying for South African citizenship 

• contact the South African Department for Home Affairs  

• contact the South African High Commission in London   

Help with visa and residency applications 

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

For any questions or issues, contact:  

• the South African Department for Home Affairs  

• the South African High Commission in London   

• a lawyer in South Africa  

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

• apply for a British passport from abroad 

• travel urgently without your British passport 

Dual citizens travelling to the UK 

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

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

• plan your healthcare 

• take medicine abroad 

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

To find out how to get medical treatment:  

• contact your insurance provider  

• read guidance on health in South Africa  

• find medical facilities and doctors in South Africa 

• contact the South African Department of Health 

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

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.  

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

Recognition of qualifications 

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

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

• drive abroad legally 

• take your UK vehicle abroad  

• get driving licence letters 

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.  

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

• convert your driving licence 

• apply for a South African driving licence 

• renew a South African driving licence 

• replace a South African driving licence  

Disabled drivers 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claiming your UK pension 

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

• how to claim your UK State Pension 

• where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension 

Claiming a South African pension 

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

Claiming UK benefits  

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

Claiming South African benefits  

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

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

Contact a lawyer in South Africa if you’re considering buying property or land. 

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

For more information:  

• read guidance on travel grants for students studying abroad or on placements (England)  

• read guidance on tertiary (higher) education in South Africa  

• contact your higher education provider in South Africa or the UK  

• contact the South African Department of Higher Education and Training   

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

• getting permission to take your child abroad  

• claiming UK Child Benefit abroad 

• child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad 

Schools and education 

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

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

For more information, read the South African government’s guidance on:  

• enrolling your child in school 

• applying to do home education  

• the South African national curriculum  

Childcare  

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

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

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

Births  

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

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

• register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate  

• apply for your child’s first British passport 

Deaths  

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

• what to do after someone dies abroad 

• how to register the death with the UK authorities 

If someone dies in South Africa, read guidance on: 

• what to do when someone dies in South Africa 

• funeral directors in South Africa 

Marriages and civil partnerships  

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

You can also read the South African government’s guidance on getting married in South Africa. 

Divorce and separation 

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

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

Consider taking legal advice from a lawyer in South Africa. 

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

• legalising and certifying UK documents  

• marriage and civil partnership documents 

• affirmations and affidavits  

• witnessing signatures 

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