Moving Away From South Africa

Why people leave

South African outward migration is a genuinely well-documented trend, both as domestic 'semigration' between provinces and as formal international emigration. Statistics South Africa's mid-2025 population estimates put white South African emigration at roughly 94,898 people over the 2021-2026 period, up from about 84,308 the year before, and separately cite UN Migrant Stock data showing more than 1 million South Africans living abroad in total. Commonly cited drivers include crime and safety concerns, currency and economic stability worries, and family members already settled in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada drawing further relocation.

Departure checklist

1. Formally declare cessation of SARS tax residency via the RAV01 form on eFiling — this is not automatic and must be actively filed with supporting evidence under the 'ordinarily resident' or 330-day physical-presence tests
2. Understand the exit tax: ceasing tax residency triggers a deemed disposal for Capital Gains Tax on your worldwide assets (excluding South African immovable property), valued at market value the day before residency ends
3. Apply for SARS's Approval for International Transfer (AIT) PIN, required to move retirement and investment funds out through South Africa's exchange-control system
4. Note that retirement annuities are generally locked for three years after formal emigration before they can be withdrawn
5. Obtain a Veterinary Health Certificate from a state veterinarian to export a dog or cat, using the destination country's specific template via DALRRD or your provincial veterinary office
6. Cancel or transfer firearm licences, TV licence, and municipal accounts before departure
7. Notify your medical aid scheme and arrange international health cover
8. Deregister or arrange export/customs documentation for any vehicle you're shipping rather than selling
9. Set up mail redirection through the South African Post Office or a trusted local contact

Container shipping corridors from here

Country-to-country container guides from South Africa will appear here as they are published. Destination country guides and the quote form are available now.

Exit tax and customs

South Africa runs one of the more specific, well-documented tax-residency exit processes among common departure markets. Ceasing SARS tax residency isn't automatic — it requires an active declaration (via the RAV01 form) supported by evidence under the 'ordinarily resident' test or the 330-continuous-day physical-presence test. Doing so triggers a deemed disposal for Capital Gains Tax, commonly called an 'exit tax': your worldwide assets, excluding South African immovable property, are treated as sold at market value the day before residency ends, with any gain potentially taxable. This is general orientation only, not tax advice — confirm your position with SARS or a registered tax practitioner.

This is general orientation, not tax, legal, or immigration advice.