Africa & Indian Ocean · Southern Africa
South Africa
World-class private banking, legal and advisory infrastructure with genuine first-world lifestyle at a fraction of the cost — attached to a worldwide tax system, an exit charge on departure, and a Home Affairs department whose adjudication times are measured in years.
Tax position
- Income tax (top)
- 45% (on taxable income above roughly ZAR 1.82m)
- Capital gains
- 40% inclusion rate for individuals, giving a maximum effective rate of 18%
- Wealth tax
- none (repeatedly proposed, never enacted)
- Inheritance tax
- Estate duty at 20% on the first ZAR 30m of dutiable estate and 25% above, after a ZAR 3.5m abatement; donations tax mirrors it
- Special regime
- Section 10(1)(o)(ii) exemption for the first ZAR 1.25m of foreign employment income where 183 days (60 continuous) are worked abroad
- Territorial
- No — worldwide income taxed
- CFC rules
- Yes
- Exit tax
- Yes — leaving has a cost
- CRS
- Participating
6 routes into South Africa
Open
FIP
Passive income
Income requirement12–24 mo
Open
Retired Person Visa
Retirement
Pension requirement3–24 mo
Open
Business Visa
Business & founder
from 5M ZAR8–30 mo
Open
Digital Nomad Visa
Digital nomad
Income requirement2–8 mo
Reformed
Financial Emigration
Tax regime
Tax regime, not a visa3–12 mo
Reformed
Critical Skills Visa
Talent & extraordinary ability
By qualification4–18 mo
Is South Africa actually right for your family?
We will tell you if it is not. That is the whole service.