Moving abroad from South Africa
Country-by-country guides to visas, registering your qualifications, and finding the South African community when you land.
🇬🇧Moving to United KingdomThe UK has one of the largest South African communities in the world, especially in London and the South East. English, a familiar legal and school system, and direct flights home make it a natural first move for many South Africans.🇦🇺Moving to AustraliaAustralia is home to one of the biggest South African communities abroad, with Perth often called a 'second Cape Town'. The climate, outdoor lifestyle, rugby and cricket all feel familiar, and many skilled South Africans qualify for permanent residency.🇳🇿Moving to New ZealandNew Zealand has a large, close-knit South African community and a reputation for a safe, outdoor, family-friendly lifestyle. Many South Africans move on work visas and then get residence.🇺🇸Moving to United StatesThe United States offers high salaries and huge career opportunities, especially in tech, finance, medicine and engineering, but the immigration system is complex and often lottery-based. Most South Africans arrive with an employer's sponsorship or an intra-company transfer.🇨🇦Moving to CanadaCanada's points-based system gives skilled South Africans a clear path to permanent residence without needing a job offer first. Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver have growing Saffa communities.🇦🇪Moving to United Arab EmiratesThe UAE (mostly Dubai and Abu Dhabi) attracts South Africans with tax-free salaries, housing allowances and a short flight home. Teachers, healthcare workers, engineers, finance professionals and hospitality staff are especially in demand.🇮🇪Moving to IrelandIreland is English-speaking, in the EU, and short of skilled workers in healthcare, tech and engineering. Its employment permits give a clear route to long-term residence.🇳🇱Moving to NetherlandsAfrikaans speakers have a head start in the Netherlands: Dutch is surprisingly easy to read and pick up. English is widely used at work, and the country actively recruits international talent.🇩🇪Moving to GermanyGermany is short of skilled workers and has opened new routes for non-EU professionals, especially in engineering, IT, healthcare and the trades. German makes life far easier, but many tech roles are English-speaking.🇵🇹Moving to PortugalPortugal has become popular with South Africans for its climate, lower cost of living, relaxed pace and long-standing Portuguese-South African family ties, especially among retirees, remote workers and families.