South Africa (ZA)

Confirm your visa, entry stamp and work conditions

Before doing anything else, confirm the exact expiry date and conditions on your visa, entry stamp, eVisa or permit. Visitor status does not normally allow local employment.

Know the CCMA dismissal deadline

If dismissed, you usually have 30 days to refer an unfair dismissal dispute to the CCMA or bargaining council. Missing this window requires a condonation application.

Register or verify your SARS tax number

Employees and freelancers need a SARS tax profile. Employers withhold PAYE, but you are still responsible for correct tax residency, foreign income and filing.

Confirm student visa, medical cover and accommodation

International students need valid study status, medical cover, accommodation and university registration before course start.

Check PAYE, UIF and payslip deductions

Formal employees should see PAYE and UIF on payslips. UIF is 1% employee plus 1% employer up to the ceiling; retirement and medical aid depend contract.

Register domestic worker or nanny properly

If you employ a domestic worker regularly, labour law, minimum wage, leave, contract and UIF rules apply. From 1 March 2026 the minimum wage is R30.23/hour.

Confirm professional registration before practising

Healthcare, law, engineering, teaching, finance, real estate and architecture may require local registration before you can use the title or sign off work.

Confirm child study visa and school document rules

Foreign children may need study visas and school-specific medical-aid, custody and guardianship documents.

Apply for pet import permit and housing approval

Pets need import paperwork and written landlord/body-corporate permission. Veterinary and airline rules must align.

Prepare for annual SARS filing season

Auto-assessment is not the same as correctness. Foreign income, medical credits, retirement contributions and travel allowances need review.

Do a photographed incoming rental inspection

Deposit disputes are common. Document every defect, meter reading, remote, appliance, damp mark, lock, alarm and garden/pool condition on move-in.

Get a South African SIM and register it under RICA

A local number is needed for banking OTPs, deliveries, WhatsApp groups, ride-hailing, security companies and schools. SIM registration requires identity and address documents.

Save emergency, medical-aid and security numbers

Emergency response is fragmented. Save 112, 10111, your medical-aid emergency line, nearest private hospital, armed response and trusted neighbours.

Arrange medical aid or international health insurance

Private healthcare is the practical default for most expats. Public care exists, but waiting times and facility quality vary widely.

Open a South African bank account

You need a local account for salary, rent, debit orders, cards and credit history. Banks apply strict FICA checks to foreign nationals.

Create a reusable proof-of-address pack

Banks, mobile providers, insurers, schools and brokers repeatedly ask for proof of address. Build a folder with lease, utility bill, landlord letter and certified passport copies.

Keep passport validity ahead of visa and travel needs

Visa renewals, bank compliance, school files and travel can fail if passport validity is too short or pages run out.

Join neighbourhood and school WhatsApp groups

Local groups are how residents learn about outages, security incidents, road closures, water issues, lift clubs and community events.

Plan backup power and surge protection

Even with improved electricity supply, outages and surges happen. Protect routers, laptops, fridges, gates and alarm systems.

Prepare for water restrictions or municipal outages

Some municipalities face outages, pressure drops or restrictions. Homes may need stored water, borehole/JOJO tank arrangements or delivery contacts.

Add 2026 public holidays and school terms to your calendar

Public holidays, school terms and December shutdown affect travel, childcare, government offices and service providers.

Join a club, parkrun or volunteer project

Community integration is easiest through recurring activities: running, cycling, hiking, schools, churches, conservation, animal welfare or food relief.

Harden bank, SIM and device security

SIM swap, remote-access and OTP scams are common. Set low limits, app notifications and fraud hotline contacts.

Apply for school places early

Good public, private and international schools fill quickly. Catchment, documents, language, visa/study status and deposits matter.

Calculate full school cost before accepting a place

Private and international schools add registration fees, levies, uniforms, devices, sports, transport, lunches and aftercare.

Check wage against the 2026 national minimum wage

From 1 March 2026 the national minimum wage is R30.23 per ordinary hour, with sectoral rules sometimes setting higher minimums.

Save family safety and GBV support routes

Families should know emergency, domestic violence, child protection and school safeguarding contacts before a crisis.

Check your South African credit report

A thin or incorrect credit file can affect rentals, phones, car finance, insurance and loans.

Do a January/March annual threshold review

South African tax, school fees, medical aid, insurance, rent escalation, minimum wage and municipal tariffs change on different calendars.

Map therapy, EAP and crisis support

Relocation stress, safety anxiety and family adjustment are common. Know your EAP, medical-aid mental-health benefits and crisis lines before you need them.

Choose housing after checking safety, commute and backup utilities

Neighbourhood choice affects safety, school access, commute, outages, water pressure, insurance and quality of life. Do not choose on rent alone.

Set up electricity, fibre and outage alerts

Homes may use prepaid electricity, municipal billing or body-corporate billing. Fibre installation and load-shedding/outage planning should happen early.

Set up practical home security routines

Security is part of ordinary household setup: alarms, armed response, gate habits, lighting, WhatsApp groups and insurance warranties.

Verify rental agent, owner and payment details

Rental scams target new arrivals with fake listings and urgent deposits. Verify agent identity, ownership/mandate and bank details before any payment.

Arrange car, contents and liability insurance

Medical aid alone is not enough. Car theft/accident, household theft, power surge and liability risks need separate cover.

Confirm car insurance tracker and security requirements

Insurers may require a tracking device, secure parking, driver restrictions or alarm activation. Claims can fail if warranties are breached.

Learn basic phrases in at least one of South Africa's 11 official languages

South Africa has 11 official languages — isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, Sepedi, Xitsonga, siSwati, Tshivenda, isiNdebele, and English. Learning even 20 phrases in Zulu (most widely spoken nationally) or Afrikaans (common in Western Cape) builds genuine rapport with locals, improves daily interactions and signals respect for local culture. English is widely understood in cities but is not universally the first language of your colleagues, neighbours, or service providers.

Set clear boundaries and records for household staff

Domestic employment is common but must be handled ethically and legally: wages, leave, duties, transport, keys, confidentiality and termination process.

Register with your embassy or consulate

Embassy registration helps with crisis alerts, lost passports, voting information and emergency assistance.

Decide your daily transport plan

Most cities require a car or ride-hailing budget unless you live on a reliable transit corridor. Gautrain and MyCiTi are useful but not universal.

Prepare foreign driving licence, IDP and validity letter

Visitors can usually drive on a valid foreign licence in English or with translation/IDP. Conversion for permanent residents requires evidence and timing.

Learn defensive driving and hijacking-avoidance basics

Local driving risk includes potholes, minibus taxis, pedestrians, animals, smash-and-grabs and hijacking hotspots. Understanding the local road culture reduces risk significantly.

Check realistic social grant eligibility

SASSA grants are mainly for citizens, permanent residents and refugees meeting means tests. Temporary expats usually do not qualify.