Focus On South Africa

Due to the country's high unemployment figures and large number of unskilled workers, temporary positions and low-income jobs are very hard to come by. Top positions - such as senior managers in the public sector - are in higher demand; as are nurses, specialist doctors and architects. Foreign nationals with extensive experience, outstanding qualifications or niche skills in high-demand sectors stand the best chance of being accepted into the country.

Post-apartheid, a scheme was put in place called ‘affirmative action', which dictates that companies with over 50 employees are legally obliged to hire a certain proportion of previously disadvantaged staff. This can limit white job seekers, but won't impact expats with high-demand skills as they're exempt from the regulations.

Visas and work permits

Rather confusingly, a South African visa only relates to a short-term stay and is mainly for tourists or people on short business trips. Those looking for a longer, or permanent, stay in South Africa will need to get a work permit and not a visa. Unfortunately, the process requires a huge amount of patience.

While it's feasible to organise the necessary documentation once you arrive in the country, it's much better to arrange the paperwork before you move. The South African consulates in western countries are often more efficient than the South Africa's own Department of Home Affairs.

There are three main types of work permit:

• General work permit
• Quota work permit
• Exceptional skills permit

A general skills permit is granted to a person applying for a specific position in a specific company. The employer or sponsor offering the job has to prove that the position can't be filled by a South African citizen. To this end, the role has to be advertised for a certain amount of time

South Africa once every three years to ensure it remains valid.

Additionally, permanent residency holders are able to:

• Access credit and banking in the same way as a South African citizen
• Obtain a South African driving licence
• Sponsor relatives who also wish to relocate
• Work with far less restrictions, set up a business or study

Although applications for permanent residency visas can - in theory - be made as stand-alone requests, the vast majority of immigrants have to get a temporary residency visa first. This is mainly because permanent residency applications can take anywhere between 12 and 36 months to be processed and expats have to have some form of official approval in the meantime.

The Department of Home Affairs in South Africa is notorious for its slow customer service, disorganisation and seemingly conflicting standards. And, because each application is reviewed on a case by case basis, there are large grey areas. Not only that, the application process for a residency visa varies according to what an expat wishes to do in the country. There are various categories and it’s essential to apply within the right one.

The help, experience and knowledge an immigration practitioner provides can be invaluable in preparing the correct application and monitoring its process.

The cost of living in South Africa is not as cheap as it once was. Increasing food costs, frequent electricity hikes and high fuel prices are all contributory factors. And, although salaries negotiated in the South African currency may make for a fairly comfortable lifestyle, they may not go as far outside local borders.

Nonetheless, for the many expats who end up living in one of the big cities, everyday costs will be far cheaper than in New York City, London, Hong Kong or any of the other western or Asian superpowers.

Taxes

Income tax rates in South Africa range from 18% to 40% and, thanks to the introduction of capital gains tax in 2001, any capital assets can be taxed as long as an expat is regarded as a resident; even if the assets are situated overseas and remain unsold.

Expats that are recognised as residents are also taxed on their worldwide income, whereas non-residents are only taxed on their South African-based income. This includes taxation on rent from property assets in South Africa, interest from loans used or applied for in South Africa, and salaries.Some countries – such as the UK - have a double taxation agreement with South Africa. For instance, if you pay tax on a rental property in London you won't pay tax on it a second time in South AfricaIt pays to get help from an accountant - both in your home country and in South Africa - before you arrive.

Accommodation

Whether you're relocating to Johannesburg, Cape Town, or anywhere else in South Africa, the range, quality and affordability of accommodation will probably make adjusting to life on the African continent a little easier. On the whole, houses are larger than in most European countries, and even a relatively inexpensive property often has a garden and a swimming pool.

Renting property

Renting is, thankfully, a straightforward process. To secure a deal, you just have to show that your monthly income is at least three times the rental-value of the property and then pay a deposit of one or two month's rent. Leases are typically signed on a one or two-year basis, although shorter periods are possible.

Generally, the further away from the city you plan to live, the less expensive the rent will be. Equally, expats will get more for their money in Johannesburg than in Cape Town.

Paying a monthly fee for private security is an expense that many expats won’t have factored into their budgets. Although most expats invest in some form of security protection, expats that end up living in Johannesburg will discover a particular obsession with home security, electrified fences and a hatred for walking alone at night.

For ultimate peace of mind, it’s prudent to hire a private security firm that will install an alarm system in your home; some will even provide a night patrol and an armed response service. Most firms charge a monthly fee that is very reasonable.

Internet

South Africa lags behind the US and Europe in terms of fast, affordable internet access. Broadband is still a fairly new thing and is comparatively expensive. You can expect to pay around 500 ZAR a month for 1 Gig of data at 512 mbps; although this usually includes a phone line.

Be wary of signing an extended contract as there may be penalty fees if you have to terminate it early.

School Fees

When it comes to education, there are plenty of schools to choose from. However, there’s a vast difference in fees for the much-praised private schools and much-maligned government-run facilities.

A top private school will charge from 30,000 ZAR to around 100,000 ZAR, depending on what school year the child is in.

Model C school fees vary from 20,000 ZAR to 40,000 ZAR, again depending on the school year. (Model C are government schools that are administered and funded by the parents. They can offer exceptional facilities and a very high standard of tuition.)

Government-funded schools charge on a sliding scale according to parental income. Fees can be anything from 500 ZAR to 15,000 ZAR.

South Africa is well-known for its outdoor lifestyle, excellent standard of living and a working environment that's full of opportunities for career development – especially for the highly educated and highly skilled.

But, South Africa is also country of massive disparity. It has well-developed areas and under-developed areas, obvious wealth runs alongside obvious poverty; and you'll soon encounter these harsh divides. For some expats, this can be hard to get used to. But, for those that can acclimatise, a host of new experiences and a fantastic lifestyle lie in wait.

The most popular places to settle are the very different cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Johannesburg is a bustling 24-hour business centre with a work-hard, play-hard attitude, while Cape Town offers a more space, cleaner air, beach and mountain-framed landscapes and a famously relaxed way of life.

Safety

As mentioned before, a lot has been made of the crime levels in South Africa and, unfortunately, it's true that the country does have a problem. It's really only to be expected in a country that still has so much poverty and is still recovering from the divisive Apartheid era.

However, as long as expats take appropriate precautions, and remain vigilant, there's no reason to be

Lots of Africans of all cultures are avid sports fans: cricket, rugby and soccer are the national sports and - in keeping with the outdoor lifestyle - you’ll often see them being played by groups of friends or families.

Wine connoisseurs will love the tours round the Cape winelands, where you can sample real South African hospitality... and real South African wine! Pinotage is the country’s signature grape variety.

And don’t forget to participate in one of the favourite national pastimes: a ‘braai’ (Afrikaans for barbecue or grill), which involves cooking meat on an open fire. It’s basically a laid-back social event where family and friends get together to cook and eat and socialise. It’s so popular that there’s even a national Braai Day on 24 September every year!

And if none of that tickles your fancy, there’s also 3,000 km of coastline to explore and mountains to climb. Wildlife lovers will be spoilt for choice: cage-diving with sharks, swimming with African penguins, whale watching and tracking the ‘big five’ on safari. And that’s just for a start!