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It's safe to say that South Africa has become one of the most appealing regions in the world for expats. The country is often listed as one of the most beautiful places in the world by leading international publications. Some of the main reasons are because it has breathtaking nature, moderate and sunny weather, and a pretty relaxed lifestyle. One can go for a hike early in the morning and relax on a beach in the afternoon, go on a safari in the wild one day and shop in a world-class shopping mall the next day.
Apart from a few shortcomings, it certainly is a great place to live. If you are thinking of moving here and are looking for some guidance, then you should check out our tips below because they will definitely come in handy during the moving process.
Obtaining a visa for this country can be a bit of a challenging process. For instance, the tourist visa for which a vast majority of nationals are obligated to apply upfront enables you to go to a South African port of entry where an immigration official will conclude whether you can enter this country and how long you’re allowed to stay in it.
Tourist visas are typically issued for ninety days. Now, if you want to work in South Africa, then you must apply for a General Work Visa. Namely, this permit lets you work out there for a certain period of time, plus you will receive a temporary residency visa.
But what does this whole process look like? In order to apply for it, you must already have an employment offer and more importantly, your employer must prove that you're the perfect candidate for a certain position and that there's no local candidate who's more qualified than you.
Furthermore, the visa application is normally done by your future employer and can take somewhere between one month to three months.
Relocating is certainly not the easiest step you'll be taking. You need to plan and organize everything properly because it is a very complex process. If you want your possessions to arrive in another country safely, then the team at Seven Seas suggests contacting international mover services who will offer you this type of assistance and ensure that all your moving needs are met.. What are the main advantages of this?
First and foremost, these experts will save you a bunch of time and energy, because moving overseas is very time-consuming and something that cannot easily be executed all by yourself because you will most likely deal with unforeseen obstacles.
Not to mention the fact that if you decide to pack all your belongings by yourself, you are going to incur the expense of purchasing packaging materials like bubble wrap, cartons, and boxes.
You will also have to rely on some transportation service to send all your belongings to the new destination. Bear in mind that in these types of situations, things can easily get out of hand, hence it’s essential to consider international moving services because they will conveniently take care of your move professionally at a relatively low price. You may need a dumpster for waste removal. You can calculate your dumpster size here.
We have some great news when it comes to this. Namely, in comparison to many other places internationally, South Africa is pretty inexpensive and on par with other more developed countries on this continent.
People with foreign-currency salaries are going to be in an amazing position, while, on the other hand, those who receive South African rands will probably conclude that local salaries are not as great as they used to be.
Accommodation in the best suburbs of major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town can be pretty pricey, however, it doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be able to find something that's relatively affordable and reasonable.
Compared to Europe, petrol is very cheap which is a great thing, especially if we take into consideration the fact that private cars are the main form of transportation in this country.
Local food is high-quality and not expensive either, however if you want to buy something that’s imported then you will have to set aside a substantial amount of money because these items can be pretty pricey.
If the answer is yes, then here's another thing you must thoroughly plan. If you're planning to move to this country, then you definitely cannot leave your furry buddies behind. It doesn't matter whether you own a dog, cat, or both, you must do everything that's in your power to bring your furry babies along.
But don’t worry. Moving them to South Africa is certainly possible. And at the end of the day, this place is perfect for pets because they will get the opportunity to explore every corner of it. Just keep in mind that you must be wary of the local fauna in some rural areas of this country.
You have probably figured out by now that all of this comes with some additional expenses and admin, like vaccinations, certain permits, and forms. If you're not too familiar with all these requirements, then you can always go to the South African Government's site where you will find some informative details.
If you decide to employ a relocation company, then feel free to talk to your agent so that you can gather all the necessary information concerning paperwork and logistics. Furthermore, make sure to talk to the airline as well (long ahead of time) so you can get an estimate of expenses when it comes to moving your pet.
South Africa has many factors in its favour but there are some negatives that you should be aware of too. The country has a high crime rate, however this is an unfortunate reality in many countries these days. Loadshedding is another problem with electricity being cut periodically for hours on end.
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As you can see, this entire process can be quite elaborate, and that's precisely why you should plan ahead to ensure that everything goes smoothly.
Do you have more tips for moving to South Africa ?
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
