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26/01/2024
The countries where most South Africans emigrate to
Luke Fraser
·25 Jan 2024
Many countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States of America, are emigration hotspots for South Africans, but the tide may be turning.
For this list, we have looked at the number of South African-born residents living in foreign countries as per the latest foreign-birth data from each country’s statistics body, such as a census,
Although several countries may have high South African populations, many statistics bureaus don’t provide the exact data on the number of South Africans living within their borders, such as the United Arab Emirates.
Using the available census data, the United Kingdom had the highest population of South African-born residents at 217,180.
This was a 13.69% increase from the amount of South Africans 191,023 living in the United Kingdom in 2011.
Australia is home to the second-largest number of South African emigrants, with 206,730.
This is a notable 23.23% increase from the 167,630 a decade prior.
The United States of America completes the podium at 139,332, while New Zealand (71,382) and Canada (51,590) make the top five.
The top eight countries for South African expats can be found below:
Rank Country No. of South Africans
1 United Kingdom 217 180 (2021)
2 Australia 206 730 (2022)
3 United States of America 139 332 (2022)
4 New Zealand 71 382 (2018)
5 Canada 51 590 (2021)
6 Netherlands 28 466 (2023)
7 Ireland 15 886 (2022)
8 Portugal 10 630 (2021)
Reverse emigration
Despite talks that South Africans have been increasingly emigrating overseas amid load shedding, a weak economy and crime, FNB’s Estate Agents Survey for Q4 2023 has shown that property sales linked to emigration have declined.
“Emigration-related sales were steady at 8%, significantly lower than the peak of 18% observed in 2019 but in line with the long-term average since Q4 2007,” FNB said.
Moreover, Rory O’Hagan, principal of the Chas Everitt Hyde Park and Sandton office, also recently noted a “reverse emigration” trend, where South African expats are returning coming back home, with many taking up new corporate jobs in Johannesburg.
“Most are highly skilled individuals with years of experience, which is a benefit to SA,” O’Hagan said.
Tax Consulting SA said that the return of South Africans is due to a multiplicity of factors, such as cost of living concerns and the cheaper costs of home ownership compared to popular emigration hotspots.
“As the desire to return gains momentum, our practice has seen an increasing number of expatriates inquiring about the practicalities of coming back to South Africa,” it said.
Some of the other reasons to return to South Africa include:
Being tired of unpleasant weather and worried about natural disasters,
Missing family and friends,
Fears about the fallout from the Ukraine and Middle East conflicts
The high and rising cost of living in Europe, the UK and the US,
There are large South African diasporas across the world – but many are said to be making their way back home.
26/12/2023
Emigration
What to do when emigrating from South Africa
Amidst the challenging domestic environment and the high global demand for skills, many South Africans are looking at emigrating.
However, emigrating needs a planned roadmap and exit strategy, Roxanna Naidoo from Tax Consulting SA said.
With more leaving the country, the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS) is increasingly looking at offshore assets and foreign income disclosures among, fueling anxiety for those looking to move.
“Beyond choosing the perfect destination and timing for relocation, comprehensive tax and financial planning are crucial elements in minimising uncertainty and anxiety,” Naidoo said.
“Crafting a clear roadmap and strategy empowers those potentially making the big move with a full and clear understanding of their options, along with the associated the risks and benefits.”
Strategic Planning for the Future
When to move
The decision of when to move can often prove as important as choosing where to go. As the tax year starts from 01 March to the end of February each year, the timing of the move will determine how the tax year is impacted.
Severing tax ties
The Income Tax Act states that a tax resident is someone who is “ordinarily resident” in South Africa.
If the person has already formalised their non-residency in this way, they could become a tax resident again in terms of the “physically present” test if they spend large amounts of time in South Africa.
“A clear roadmap aids in navigating the question of tax residency, cessation, and relevant exemptions. By preparing for potential obstacles and challenges, individuals gain insight into various options such as offshore investment, purchasing properties abroad, and setting up companies and offshore trusts,” Naidoo said.
Transition of wealth
There are often complication in terms of the transfer of wealth out of South African when one stops being a tax resident.
“Central to this is the Approval International Transfer (AIT) Tax Compliance Status PIN generally required by SARS to obtain permission for foreign remittances. For these reasons, one’s roadmap should also incorporate strategic planning for remitting funds offshore and structuring them abroad optimally,” Naidoo said.
“Navigating fund remittances without proper guidance may result in obstacles and SARS rejections, impacting emigration planning adversely and, at times, indefinitely.”
A Clean Break for Closure
She added that the uncertainty of when and how to formalise the cessation of one’s residency status is often a common stumbling block, which leads to misguided decisions and naivete in getting the wrong advice.
“A comprehensive roadmap ensures individuals and their families have a clear plan of action to follow, alleviating uncertainty or anxiety associated with such a big move. This allows a focus on the positive aspects, making the transition as stress-free as possible for you and your loved ones.”
Written by Luke Fraser
Tax Consulting SA provides insights for those looking to move overseas.
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16/07/2022
BusinessTech
Spike in South Africans looking to emigrate – with load shedding the ‘final nail in the coffin’
Staff Writer16 July 2022
More South Africans are considering leaving the country because of load shedding and a dramatic increase in the cost of living, says Sarah Young, an investment migration manager at Sable International. “People are paying more for less and are fed up,” she said.
Young said that for many people who were still on the fence about emigrating, increased load shedding in recent weeks is the ‘final nail in the coffin’, making them seriously evaluate their options outside of the country.
As load shedding has increased in scale and duration over the past few weeks – including successive days of stage 6 – Young said that it is not the only thing pushing people towards the door.
Additional push factors include:
Concern over the future of the country;
More safety and stability;
Better education for their children; and
Better job opportunities.
Financial services firm FNB published its latest property barometer highlighting the key reasons why South Africans are selling their homes right now.
The group’s data shows that 8% of home sales across the country right now are emigration-related. However, this ratio increases to around 15% in the R2.6 million – R3.6 million price band and the over R3.6 million segments.
FNB’s data also shows that a growing number of families are selling their homes to relocate elsewhere in the country, with semigration-related sales jumping from 8% in Q1 2020 to 13% in Q2 2022. The bank said that this shift can be partly attributed to the growing work-from-home trend, as people move away from their offices to more desirable areas.
The bank’s internal data shows that the semigration trend is largely driven by the relocation path from Gauteng to the neighbouring North West province (Haarteebeersport) as well as coastal towns in the WC (Hermanus, Mosselbay, George, Cape Town) and KZN (mainly Ballito).
FNB’s data shows the average time properties spent on the market for sale lengthened to nine weeks and four days, from approximately eight weeks in the previous quarter.
This varied markedly across regions, with the Western Cape (eight weeks, one day) and Eastern Cape (nine weeks and four days) faring better, the bank said. Homes in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng recorded the longest time on market, at approximately ten weeks, up from seven weeks and nine weeks respectively.
By price segment, the R1.6 million -R2.6 million bracket recorded the shortest time of eight weeks and six days, albeit up from six weeks and four days.
Sable International also noted that it is highly skilled South Africans who are considering their options. According to Young, medical professionals, alongside people who can work remotely, are increasingly looking to base themselves outside the country.
Pessimism among this demographic has been on the increase, with professional financial services company PPS reporting a general decline in professionals’ confidence in the future of their profession, with a shift from 67% in 2019 to 60% at the end of 2021.
PPS’s latest Graduate Professional Index (GPI) showed that highly skilled professionals across healthcare, financial services industries, and legal and engineering fields all are also losing confidence in the future of their country.
Where they are going
Sable International pointed to the following two options for immigration that are in high demand. The immigration firm reported ‘a lot’ of enquiries about their new passive income visa service for Portugal which has recently reopened its golden visa programme to accept new applicants.
Through Portugal’s Golden Visa Residence Programme (GRPP), qualifying applicants can receive European Union residency rights if they make a significant investment into property in the country, said Business Tech.
“People are wanting to go to Portugal, but a lot of people we speak to are also evaluating their UK immigration and citizenship options in tandem,” said Young.
According to Business Tech, the UK is offering new routes to British citizenship for South Africans and other people alike who previously did not qualify.
Under new laws, if you have a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent born in the UK or a former British territory, you could have a claim to British citizenship, Sable said.
“In the past, many have been denied nationality rights from their maternal line because there has been no change in the law. If you can prove that you, your parents or your grandparents would have received British citizenship under this new law, were it not for that gender discrimination, you can now receive your British citizenship,” it said
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Netherlands favoured by SÁ
https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/589112/this-european-country-is-now-a-top-destination-for-people-looking-at-options-outside-of-south-africa/?utm_source=newsletter
Data from Tax Consulting South Africa and Xpatweb shows the Netherlands has quietly become one of the top destinations for professionals looking to leave South Africa.
02/05/2022
South Africans planning a move to Portugal through a Golden Visa scheme will face increased pressure as the country has made it increasingly difficult to gain access.
23/04/2022
Government plans to change its data collection systems to get a better idea of how many skilled South Africans are leaving the country.
13/02/2022
The UK government has introduced a new tool to help foreign workers determine if they meet the conditions to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa according to the UK’s immigration points system.
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TAX residency :
Understand the new rules around
citizenship,
exchange control and
tax residency of
South Africans working , living or moving abroad
Read this interesting article from Allan Gray: https://www.allangray.co.za/latest-insights/personal-investing/understand-the-new-rules-around-citizenship-exchange-control-and-tax-residency/?utm_source=email
Phone +27 (0)836257813 for a plan in your situation
The concept of “emigration”, as recognised by the Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), has been phased out, with effect 1 March 2021. National Treasury has indicated that the reason for this regulatory change is “to encourage South Africans to keep their ...
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Many South Africans are still looking at obtaining a second passport to improve their work, study and travel options overseas. John Dunn, director of citizenship and immigration at Sable International, explains the important issues and processes involved.
18/04/2021
South Africans emigrating to greener pastures may be prevented from leaving the country – or worse – if their application for tax clearance is denied by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
28/02/2020
https://www.moneyweb.co.za/mymoney/moneyweb-tax/death-knell-for-financial-emigration/
Process change will clear up confusion – and tax emigration is still possible.
26/02/2020
How much it costs a South African family of 4 to move to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK
Given the bleak outlook for the local economy, unemployment, load shedding and crime, a lot of South African families and businesses are anxious to look for relocation opportunities abroad.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/wealth/376939/how-much-it-costs-a-south-african-family-of-4-to-move-to-australia-canada-new-zealand-or-the-uk/
Given the bleak outlook for the local economy, unemployment, load shedding and crime, a lot of South African families and businesses are anxious to look for relocation opportunities abroad.
20/02/2020
The UK government has published details on its new immigration system which will come into effect from 1 January 2021.
18/01/2020
Economists at Momentum Investments believe that growth in South Africa in 2020 will likely struggle to reach 1% on reform efforts they believe are too slow to suddenly reinvigorate current sentiment.
30/12/2019
An edited extract from Pieter du Toit’s book The Stellenbosch Mafia reveals why Johann Rupert has lost faith in SA
19/10/2019
https://www.businessinsider.co.za/south-africa-is-facing-a-growing-emigration-wave-2019-8
There is mounting evidence of a middle-class exodus.
12/10/2019
As South African companies struggle to find the right skills they need to grow and boost their businesses, more needs to be done to keep the talents already in the country, from leaving.
09/10/2019
Once the amendments to the Income Tax Act come into effect in March 2020, South African tax residents working abroad will only be exempt from paying tax on the first R1 million they earn abroad.
31/08/2019
Financial Emigration
http://www.financialemigration.co.za/expat-tax-2020-all-your-burning-questions-answered-by-our-experts/
As March 2020 approaches, when SA ‘Expat Tax’ is due to be implemented, we’ve been inundated with questions from South Africans working abroad. Here are some of the latest questions from SAPeople followers around the world, with answers kindly provided by the expert tax team at Financial Emigr...
31/08/2019
Emigration Facts in South Africa
https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/337531/4-scary-facts-about-emigration-in-south-africa/
An increasing number of skilled South Africans are looking to emigrate according to recruiting firm, the Induku Consulting Group, which says that contrary to popular belief more black professionals are looking to make the move.
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