Best Countries to Immigrate to from South Africa

Overview of Emigrating from South Africa

Hundreds of thousands of South African nationals live overseas, with certain countries being particularly popular destinations for South Africans to settle in.

The reasons for emigrating can include wanting to move to somewhere with lower crime rates, greater political stability and new employment opportunities.

This can be particularly attractive for South Africans looking to start afresh in a new country with their family, knowing that they can also live somewhere with a pre-existing community of South Africans to help them adjust to the new country’s culture.

Below are some of our picks for the best countries to immigrate to from South Africa, including information for each about the cost of living, ease of immigration and other key factors.

United Kingdom

With the largest South African population outside of South Africa itself and close cultural and language ties, the UK is a popular and clear choice for South Africans looking to start a new life abroad.

Cost of Living

The UK is ranked 22nd highest in the world for cost of living compared to South Africa’s 78th position, according to Numbeo. Although this may seem like a large disparity, it is important to consider that the average wage in the UK is also significantly higher than South Africa’s, which may help to offset the difference.

Below are some key statistics for cost of living in the UK, also according to Numbeo:

Ease of Immigration Process

The UK can be fairly straightforward to immigrate to, as long as you are certain that you meet all of the requirements.

For general work, the Skilled Worker visa allows those working in a variety of different roles and professions to immigrate to the UK. You must already have a job offer from a UK employer to be eligible, and the job must be paid at least £38,700 per year, although there are some circumstances where you may be able to be paid less than this.

There are also a range of occupation-specific visas available, including the Health and Care Worker visa, the International Sportsperson visa or the Scale-Up visa.

South Africans can also take advantage of the Ancestry visa if they happen to have a grandparent who was born in the UK, or else apply for a Family visa if they already have family living in the UK.

UK visas typically take up to a few months or a year to process, with prices varying from 32,021.47 R and above.

Attitude to Immigrants

The UK is a highly multicultural society, with a huge number of different cultures and nationalities living in it. For this reason, the UK is generally seen as very warm and welcoming to foreigners, and South Africans shouldn’t find it too difficult to settle into UK society, particularly in larger cities where communities of foreign nationals are more common.

The UK also has the benefit of having around 235,000 South Africans already living there, which may help South African expats to feel even more welcome. 

South African food shops are also commonplace within larger UK cities.

Settlement and Citizenship

A number of UK visas allow you to apply for permanent settlement, such as the Skilled Worker visa or Ancestry visa.

To apply, you must have spent a qualifying amount of time in the UK with your visa (normally five years). You can then apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) if you fulfil the eligibility criteria.

Typically, after spending one year in the UK with ILR, you will be eligible to apply for UK citizenship. To be eligible, you must have passed the Life in the UK Test, prove your English language ability and show that you are of good character.

The UK allows its citizens to hold dual citizenship, which means you will not have to surrender your original citizenship of your home country to become a UK citizen. However, if you are 18 or over, you must apply to the South African High Commission for permission first before applying for any secondary foreign citizenships.

Job Opportunities

The UK has a varied job market, with roles across finance, business, technology, manufacturing, hospitality and public services.

The UK also has a large roster of shortage occupations, such as roles in healthcare, sciences, engineering, IT, HR and more. These roles can be found on the UK’s immigration salary list, and may enable you to immigrate to the UK via less stringent requirements.

Economy and Politics

The UK has the 6th largest economy in the world, and is generally regarded as a strong and stable place to work in and to do business. The unemployment rate in the UK is around 4% as of October 2024, representing a general decrease from the previous year.

Politically, the UK is currently governed by Prime Minister Kier Starmer of the Labour party, which has been described as centre-left of the political spectrum.

New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the most attractive countries in the world to move to, given its incredibly low crime rates, exceptional natural beauty and good public welfare and state benefits systems. New Zealand also has one of the five largest South African international communities in the world, making it potentially easy for South Africans to settle there quickly.

Cost of Living

New Zealand has one of the higher costs of living of the countries in this list (ranked 13th in the world according to Numbeo), although this is once again offset by the fact that the average salary is significantly higher than South Africa’s, with the average almost being on par with the UK’s. 

Below are some key statistics for cost of living in New Zealand, according to Numbeo:

Ease of Immigration Process

New Zealand immigration is similar to that of the UK’s in that it also mostly operates on a points-based system.

However, you must generally first lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in order to receive Invitation to Apply (ITA), rather than just being able to submit an application right from the off.

There are a variety of different work visas South Africans can apply for in New Zealand, including the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, Straight to Residence Visa and Work to Residence Visa. Your eligibility for these will be based on the type of job offer you have from a New Zealand employer. Some visas may not require a job offer.

New Zealand also offers a range of family visas to join a spouse, partner or other family member, as well as several visas for entrepreneurs or business owners.

New Zealand visas typically take up to a few months or a year to process, and generally cost around 68,673.33 R.

Attitude to Immigrants

New Zealand is largely known as a friendly, relaxed and easy-going nation, similar to its neighbour Australia.

Approximately 27.4% of New Zealand’s population were born overseas, which includes around 95,577 South Africans. As a result, you can generally expect New Zealand to be tolerant of immigrants and differing cultures, particularly around the larger cities like Wellington and Auckland, which will have higher concentrations of foreign-born nationals.

Settlement and Citizenship

South Africans can apply for a Permanent Resident visa once they have spent 2 years with another type of resident visa in New Zealand. This will allow them to stay indefinitely in the country.

To be eligible, you must have fulfilled one of the five criteria to show your commitment to living in New Zealand. These include having spent at least 184 days in New Zealand in each of the 2 years immediately before you apply, having New Zealand tax residence status, or investing at least NZ$1,000,000 in New Zealand.

To apply for New Zealand citizenship, you must have spent a certain amount of qualifying time in New Zealand, speak basic English and be of good character. 

New Zealand allows its citizens to hold dual citizenship, which means you will not have to surrender your original citizenship of your home country to become a New Zealand citizen. However, if you are 18 or over, you must apply to the South African High Commission for permission first before applying for any secondary foreign citizenships.

Job Opportunities

New Zealand is a much smaller country in terms of population than South Africa, but it still has a range of job opportunities across a wide range of professions that South Africans could take advantage of, particularly as the small population may mean significant employment gaps in certain industries.

Some of the most common roles in New Zealand include office managers, sales assistants, business managers, teachers and labourers.

Some of the most in-demand jobs in New Zealand include nurses, GPs, IT workers, electricians, civil engineers and midwives. 

Economy and Politics

New Zealand is ranked as the 46th largest GDP in the world, which is unsurprising given its relatively small size. However, it benefits from a strong economy and upwards trending economic growth, with the GDP estimated to rise by around 2.5 between 2023 and 2028.

For this reason, the New Zealand government estimates that it will require around 40,000 new workers a year from 2023.

New Zealand is currently led by the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of the National Party, which is described as being centre-left of the political spectrum. 

United Arab Emirates

The UAE is a unique destination with benefits that can seldom be found elsewhere in the world, such as excellent opportunities for career advancement, high salaries, a high standard of living and low tax breaks. Over 100,000 South Africans are already living in the UAE, which has one of the highest immigrant populations of any country in the world, with around 89% of its population being from overseas.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in the UAE can be high in some respects, particularly for accommodation and imported or Western goods. However, it is possible to live with a reasonably normal cost of living there, and salaries tend to be higher than most other countries on average. 

Below are some key statistics for cost of living in the UAE, according to Numbeo:

Ease of Immigration Process

To immigrate to the UAE, you must first generally obtain an entry visa or residence visa. Normally, you can only obtain one if you have a job offer from a UAE-based business, own property or if you’re planning to establish a company.

The main types of visa are the Standard Work visa, Green visa and Golden visa. These all differ in what they allow you to do and what type of work you’ll be looking to do while in the UAE.

You will have to take a medical test before immigrating to the UAE. The UAE will not allow you to immigrate if you have a communicable disease such as HIV or tuberculosis. In addition, female domestic workers must not be pregnant.

The application process for a visa can be relatively straightforward, particularly as some visas are applied for on your behalf by your employer. In other cases, you will have to apply through your local embassy.

UAE visas generally cost around 983.63 R and take a few days to a few weeks to process.

Attitude to Immigrants

The UAE has a significant immigrant population from a variety of different countries all over the world. It is not uncommon to see foreigners around the UAE, particularly in Dubai, which is the country’s tourist hotspot.

However, it is essential that you respect the local customs and societal rules when living in the UAE, as they will be stricter than in South Africa.

For instance, sex outside of marriage, drinking on the street or possessing food with poppy seeds can lead to imprisonment, fines or even deportation. 

Women should also be aware of additional rules and restrictions placed on them in terms of how to act and behave while in public.

Finally, same-sex relationships are illegal in the UAE, so the country may not be a good fit for LGBTQ+ individuals and families. 

Settlement and Citizenship

Both the Golden visa and Green visa allow for permanent residency-style permissions in the UAE, with 5- or 10-year validity periods that can be extended.

Obtaining UAE citizenship is not a simple process, as you must normally be a foreigner of exceptional talent working in a few specific professions, such as medicine, science or the creative industries. In addition, investors or people who are fluent in Arabic and have been continuously resident in the UAE for at least 30 years are also eligible.

It is possible to become a citizen of the UAE and not have to surrender your original citizenship of your home country. However, if you are 18 or over, you must apply to the South African High Commission for permission first before applying for any secondary foreign citizenships.

Job Opportunities

The UAE has a high demand for skilled foreign workers, which can make it easier for those with the right skills to find work there than some other countries.

The vast majority of jobs available are white-collar jobs working in industries such as finance, business, science, marketing and IT.

There are also a large number of vacancies available in sectors such as teaching, hospitality, HR and healthcare. 

Economy and Politics

The UAE is ranked as the 29th highest GDP in the world, with expectations for it to continue growing throughout the 2020s. There is a consistently high demand for foreign skilled workers, and new businesses are often being set up or expanded into the country.

The country is also one of the most active in terms of construction projects, with a reported $350 billion USD value of current construction projects currently in place.

Politically, the UAE is a federation of seven constituent monarchies. The president of the UAE is Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while the prime minister is Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE has been described as both an authoritarian state and “tribal autocracy”.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands has the second-largest South African community in Europe after the UK, with around 41,000 South African nationals living there. The Netherlands presents an attractive destination for foreign nationals with high standards of living, progressive social policies and close proximity to other European countries. 

South Africans may also benefit from the Dutch language being highly mutually intelligible to Afrikaans, which may make it easier for South Africans to learn the native language.

Cost of Living

The Netherlands is ranked 18th in Numbeo’s overall ranking of cost of living for countries, which is relatively high but still lower than other European countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Ireland and France.

Below are some key statistics for cost of living in the Netherlands, according to Numbeo:

Ease of Immigration Process

To immigrate to the Netherlands as a highly skilled migrant, you will generally first need to secure a job offer from an IND-approved sponsor in the Netherlands. The job must also meet minimum salary requirements.

Your employer will then apply for your residence permit on your behalf. The residence permit will allow you to live and work in the Netherlands.

You must also apply for a valid provisional residence permit (MVV) before travelling to the Netherlands. Your employer will typically apply for this and the regular residence permit at the same time.

You may also be able to obtain a residence permit if you wish to start an innovative business in the Netherlands, or as a self-employed individual. However, not all of these may allow you to stay in the Netherlands long term.

Residence permits in the Netherlands typically cost around 7,265.98 R and take up to 90 days to process.

Attitude to Immigrants

The Dutch are generally described as being friendly and welcoming to foreigners, although some foreigners have described the Dutch way of communicating as being very direct.

Given that the Netherlands is in the EU, it is common to see both foreign residents and tourists in the country. However, foreigners may find it difficult to fully assimilate into Dutch culture without first learning the language, although the majority of Dutch people will also likely be fluent in English.

However, South Africans may find it easier to assimilate within larger cities such as Amsterdam, the Hague or Rotterdam given the larger foreign-born population of these locations.

Settlement and Citizenship

To apply for a permanent residence permit, you must have been resident in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit for at least 5 years. You must also continue to meet the income requirements for your permit and pass the Dutch civic integration exam at level A2 or higher.

You may also be able to apply for Dutch citizenship. You must have also been living in the Netherlands for at least 5 years with a valid residence permit, as well as having permanent resident status. 

To become a naturalised citizen of the Netherlands, you must first renounce your South African nationality, as the Netherlands does not ordinarily allow naturalised foreign citizens to have dual nationality.

Job Opportunities

Some of the most common professions in the Netherlands are in health and social work, retail and wholesale, business, manufacturing and education. These are relatively similar to other comparable countries in the EU.

In-demand jobs include those in software development, IT, data analytics, financial analytics, electricians, plumbers and project managers.

Economy and Politics

The Netherlands has the 18th highest GDP in the world, and the sixth largest overall in Europe. Its economy is mostly focused on its core sectors such as trade, logistics, manufacturing, innovation and renewable energy. A sizable number of international corporations and companies are headquartered in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is currently led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who is an independent politician not affiliated with any political party. 

How Can IAS Help?

Moving to another country abroad as a South African can be a difficult and stressful experience, given that you will be uprooting yourself and your family to start afresh somewhere else.

That’s why it’s recommended to seek the help of a qualified immigration professional before doing so. This is especially the case if the country you’re moving to has strict or difficult immigration rules, which will place additional emphasis on getting your application right first time round.

IAS’ international immigration lawyers can help you with this issue and ensure that your chosen immigration route to your country can be completed to the highest standard, minimising any risk of refusals and getting your new journey off to the best start.

Call us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or use our online contact form to find out more about our services and what we can do for you.