Moving to South Africa

Moving to South Africa

If you are planning on moving to South Africa, whether to Cape Town, Pretoria or Johannesburg, Britannia Movers International has the expertise and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your individual needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to South Africa Shipments of household goods and personal effects are allowed duty free entry, provided that they have been owned and used for at least 12 months prior to importation. To move your items to South Africa, you will need a customs clearance form and a packing list, Britannia can help you with the appropriate import documentation. You will also need a residence permit (permanent or temporary) and a work permit to move to South Africa.
	Prohibitions and Restrictions In general it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & Tobacco
	Transit Times Groupage or shared load consignments usually take 8 to 12 weeks door to door. However, this can vary depending on volumes being shipped, customs or immigration delays and prevailing weather conditions. Sole use containers usually take 21 to 36 days port to port.
	Bar Coding All Groupage consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the shipping container. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Domestic Pets Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Moving Motor Vehicles to South Africa Motor vehicles may be imported to South Africa duty free, if you have used the vehicle for at least one year prior to importation, and if you are not intending to sell it.
	Currencies Direct When you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from Currencies Direct expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. Currencies Direct can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. Currencies Direct offers : International payments Regular Overseas Transfers Prepaid Currency Card Forward Contracts More info on Currencies Direct website.

Moving to South Africa With Britannia

• Customs Clearance -  It normally takes 7 to 10 days for customs clearance and delivery. The time taken to clear goods through customs can be affected by Government policy, X-raying of goods, physical inspection, volume of traffic and the levy of any import duties or taxes.
   
• Packing & Delivery -  Our removers can pack and wrap all your items to ensure that they are transported safely. If you choose a full door to door shipping service to South Africa, Britannia will deliver the goods to your new home. We can then unwrap your furniture and unpack your moving boxes onto a flat surface, and all used packing materials will be removed from the site.
   
• Additional removal services – If you require additional removal services when moving to South Africa, Britannia is authorised to provide comprehensive insurance, and arrange international storage or pet transport.

If you are interested in moving to South Africa, get an online removals quote, read more about our international removals, and contact us for more information.

Living in South Africa

South Africa is a colourful country that has an open and multi-cultural society, combining many ethnic groups, and it offers amazing sceneries and a variety of lifestyles. Despite racial tensions, and strong inequalities just a few decades ago, South Africa has a competitive global economy, and is classed as a developing, middle-income country nowadays, with great potential for future growth.

Situated at the southern tip of Africa, between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, South Africa is an ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse country that also offers a amazing and varied landscapes. Eleven official languages are recognised in the constitution, including Afrikaans, English, Sotho or Swazi, just to name a few. The country is also characterised by a high level of ethnic diversity. Almost 80% of the country is of African ancestry, from different ethnic groups, and speaking different Bantu languages, and South Africa also contains the largest European and Asian communities on the continent. While the general quality of life in South Africa is not as high as in Europe or the USA, crime is high in certain areas, and education standards can be poor in certain schools, there are fully developed areas such as Cape Town or Durban, and a good quality of life is certainly attainable.

The amazing diversity of South African culture, and wildlife, the varied scenery ranging from deserts to lush forests, and the relatively low living costs make South Africa a very attractive destination. South Africa has a huge potential for future growth, and if you are planning to settle down permanently, you can definitely have a great lifestyle, enjoying what the country has to offer.

Interesting Facts About South Africa

• Table Mountain in Cape Town is believed to be one of the oldest mountains in the world.
• South Africa is one of the largest exporters of fruits in the world.
• South Africa has the cheapest electricity in the world.
• South Africa has the third largest biodiversity in the world.
• South Africa has three capital cities – Cape Town as the legislative capital, Pretoria as the administrative capital, and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital

Tips about Moving to and Living in South Africa

• To move permanently to South Africa and to get a visa, you will need to fall into one of the applicable groupings that the South African government has determined.
   
• Before moving to South Africa, you will have to explore your employment options. Unemployment levels are quite high, but you can find opportunities in the finance, communications, energy and media sectors.
   
• If you are moving to South Africa with your children, you will also have to learn more about the education system. Public schooling in certain areas is of a relatively poor standard. Teaching usually takes place in English, but there are some schools where Afrikaans is used as well.
   
• Living and housing costs will greatly depend on the area you are moving to. However, you will be able to live relatively cheaply even in bigger cities, like Cape Town.

 Moving to South Africa brochure