South Africa · Africa
Moving to Cape Town
Cape Town quick facts
Cost of living in Cape Town
Getting set up in South Africa
Visas: remote work, critical skills & work permits
Most Western passport holders get a free 90-day visitor's visa stamped on arrival, but it does not allow any work, local or remote, and only stretches once. The headline route for the remote crowd is the Remote Work Visa, gazetted in 2024 and operational from 2025, which needs proof of foreign-sourced income of about ZAR 650,976 a year (roughly US$37,000); it runs up to three years and, for stays under 183 days, often skips SARS tax registration. Skilled professionals whose job sits on the Critical Skills List can get a visa valid up to five years that leads to permanent residence, while employer-sponsored General Work Visas now run on a 100-point system. Whatever the route, budget for the Department of Home Affairs and its VFS front desk being painfully slow, with multi-month waits and a standing backlog concession in place.
Read the full step-by-step guideDriving & getting around Cape Town
Cape Town is car-dependent: the Metrorail trains are unreliable and best avoided, minibus taxis are cheap but chaotic, so most newcomers rely on a car or — very commonly — Uber and Bolt, which are cheap and ubiquitous. The MyCiTi bus is genuinely good, but only on its routes; you tap a 'myconnect' card to ride. South Africa drives on the LEFT. You may drive on your valid foreign licence as long as it is in English and carries your photo and signature (otherwise you need an International Driving Permit), but once you take up residence you must convert it to a South African licence — you cannot renew a foreign licence from inside SA. Conversion runs through a licensing centre (DLTC), needs a traffic register number, and is bureaucratic.
Read the full step-by-step guideOpening a bank account & FICA
The gate to any South African account is FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act): you must prove identity (passport + valid visa/permit) AND, at most banks, a residential address — the classic newcomer trap, since you have no SA utility bill yet. The fix is a lease, a landlord/employer letter or a SAPS affidavit; notably Standard Bank currently asks for no proof-of-address document from foreign nationals, and TymeBank needs none either, making both fast first accounts. With a valid long-term permit you can open a normal resident account (FNB, Capitec, TymeBank, Discovery); on a visitor visa you typically only get a restricted non-resident account (e.g. FNB Non-Resident). Bring foreign currency in freely (it is fully repatriable for non-residents) and convert it via your bank; SARB exchange control mainly bites when sending money out, not in. National load-shedding has been suspended since 2025, but localized outages and offline card machines still happen — always keep some cash.
Read the full step-by-step guideHealthcare: medical aid, private & public
South Africa runs a stark two-tier system: a free-or-cheap public sector that is universal but overcrowded and under-resourced, and a world-class private sector that is fast and expensive. Almost every expat and professional uses private care, which means you need either a local 'medical aid' (a regulated medical scheme like Discovery, the biggest) or an international/expat health insurance plan. Private hospitals (Netcare, Mediclinic, Life) rival anything in Europe and make Cape Town a medical-tourism destination, while public tertiary hospitals like Groote Schuur are genuinely excellent for emergencies and complex specialist care despite the queues. Get cover sorted before you fall ill — medical-aid waiting periods mean cover isn't instant. Note the National Health Insurance (NHI) reform is legislated but tied up in the courts and not yet operational, so nothing about it changes your plan for now.
Read the full step-by-step guideGetting a SIM & mobile data
SIMs are dirt cheap in South Africa (R1-R5, often free at the MTN airport desk), but you cannot use one until it is RICA-registered to your identity AND a local address — passport plus proof of residence is the real gate, exactly like opening a bank account. Newcomers use prepaid (pay-as-you-go airtime + data bundles), never contracts, which need an SA ID and credit history. Vodacom and MTN have the best, widest coverage in Cape Town; Cell C and Telkom are cheaper but patchier; Rain is a no-contract data-only option for home use. Mobile data is relatively expensive here (the 'data must fall' campaign was about exactly this), so buy bundles rather than burning pricey out-of-bundle rates. Buy an eSIM (Airalo/Holafly) before you fly so you land connected, then sort a RICA'd physical SIM once you have an address.
Read the full step-by-step guideIncome tax, residency & the expat exemption
South Africa taxes tax RESIDENTS on their worldwide income and non-residents only on South African-source income. You become a resident either by being 'ordinarily resident' (SA is your real home) or by failing the physical-presence day-count test. Residents working abroad get the first R1.25 million (~US$68,000) of foreign EMPLOYMENT income exempt under s10(1)(o)(ii). A 2025 update means remote-work-visa holders present under 183 days in a 12-month period generally need not register with SARS or pay SA tax on foreign remote income. Note the SARS tax year runs 1 March to 28 February — not the calendar year — and rates are progressive from 18% to 45%.
Read the full step-by-step guideEach guide has verified costs, timelines, required documents, and the non-obvious gotchas — sourced from official government pages.
Essential English phrases
What to know before you go
Install EskomSePush and keep a power backup
CriticalLoad-shedding (scheduled rolling power cuts) has eased a lot since its 2023 peak but can return. Download the EskomSePush app for your area's schedule, keep a power bank and a backup light, and favour homes with an inverter/solar/UPS. Outages also knock out card machines and traffic robots, so keep some cash and drive carefully when they're dark.
Be street-smart about safety
CriticalCape Town is stunning but has real crime, and it varies sharply by area and time. Don't flash phones/laptops, stay aware in the CBD and at quiet spots, use Uber/Bolt at night rather than walking, and don't leave valuables in cars. Ask locals which specific streets to avoid — situational awareness, not fear, is the rule.
You'll basically need a car (or Uber/Bolt)
ImportantPublic transport is limited: the MyCiti bus is decent on its routes, but the Metrorail trains are unreliable and best avoided. Most people drive (South Africa drives on the LEFT) or lean on Uber and Bolt, which are cheap and everywhere. Factor secure parking into any rental.
Tap water is safe — but stay water-wise
Good to knowCape Town's tap water is safe to drink. After the 2018 'Day Zero' drought, water-saving is a way of life — short showers, no hosing driveways — and restrictions can return in dry years. It's a good habit and sometimes a rule.
Tipping is expected — including car guards
Good to knowTip around 10-15% at restaurants, and a few rand to the 'car guards' (in reflective vests) who watch your parked car and petrol attendants who fill your tank. It's a normal part of the cash economy here.
Live outdoors — but respect the mountain
Good to knowThe lifestyle is the draw: Table Mountain hikes, beaches, the Winelands, sundowners. But the mountain's weather turns fast and trails see incidents — go in a group, tell someone your route, take water and a charged phone, and check conditions before heading up.
Top industries & employers
Technology & startups
Amazon (AWS), Takealot, Yoco, Luno
'Silicon Cape' — South Africa's tech and fintech hub; AWS has deep roots here and the startup scene is the country's strongest.
Business services & BPO
Call centres, offshore services
A booming global business-process-outsourcing destination — English-language contact centres serving the UK/US/Australia.
Finance & insurance
Old Mutual, Sanlam, Allan Gray, Coronation
A major financial-services and asset-management centre, several head-quartered in the city.
Film, media & advertising
Production houses, ad & photo shoots
A world-class film-production location — the light, scenery and favourable rand draw global commercials and features.
Tourism & hospitality
Hotels, restaurants, tour operators
One of the world's top destinations; tourism and hospitality are huge year-round employers.
Wine & agriculture
Cape Winelands estates, exports
The historic Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Constantia) anchor a major wine and agri-export industry.
Where to go in Cape Town
Table Mountain
Nature · City Bowl
The flat-topped icon over the city — ride the rotating cableway or hike up for jaw-dropping views.
Local tip: Book the cableway online and go early; for a hike, Platteklip Gorge is the direct route — never go alone, and check the weather first.
V&A Waterfront
Culture · Waterfront
A buzzing harbour of restaurants, shops, the Zeitz MOCAA art museum and the ferry to Robben Island.
Local tip: Book Robben Island tickets well ahead; the food market and the Time Out Market are great rainy-day options.
Cape Point & the Peninsula
Nature · Cape Peninsula
The dramatic drive to the Cape of Good Hope, past the Boulders penguins and the cliff-hugging Chapman's Peak.
Local tip: Make a full day of it — Boulders penguins, Chapman's Peak Drive (small toll), and lunch in Kalk Bay or Simon's Town.
Bo-Kaap
Culture · Bo-Kaap
The candy-coloured houses and cobbled streets of the historic Cape Malay quarter, full of heritage and cuisine.
Local tip: Be respectful — people live here. Do a Cape Malay cooking class or food tour rather than just photographing homes.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Nature · Southern Suburbs
A world-famous garden on Table Mountain's eastern slopes, with the 'Boomslang' tree-canopy walkway.
Local tip: In summer, the Sunday-evening open-air concerts on the lawns are a beloved local ritual — bring a picnic and wine.
The Cape Winelands
Food · Stellenbosch / Franschhoek (~1 hr)
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek — historic wine estates, world-class food, and the hop-on Franschhoek wine tram.
Local tip: Take the Franschhoek Wine Tram and don't drive after tasting; the rand makes superb wine astonishingly affordable.