Why live in South Africa as a Digital Nomad?
South Africa’s Digital Nomad Visa, also known as the Remote Worker Visa, offers an enticing opportunity for expats earning above a specified threshold. The people who seek stunning scenery, vibrant culture, and an affordable home while advancing their careers remotely.
Introduced to accommodate digital nomads, this visa allows foreign nationals to reside in South Africa while employed by a foreign company, without integrating into the local business sector.
Despite its appeal, the application process for this visa remains unofficial, leaving many questions unanswered. For example, it is unclear what Application Form is required for this South African Visa. It was initially gazetted, removed for revisions, and re-implemented effective 20 May.
UPDATE – The Digital Nomad Visa has been launched and can be applied for under the name of “Remote Worker Visa” – 30/10/2024
The Appeal of The Digital Nomad Visa
There’s much that’s appealing to South Africa as a whole, and now with the addition of the Digital Nomad Visa, there’s just that much more.
Quality Of Life
South Africa boasts a sufficiently low cost of living, compared to the United States, with a modest to decent standard of living, costing anywhere between USD $1,000 and USD $2,000 per month.
US Dollar (USD) to South African Rand (ZAR) Exchange Rate
The climate in South Africa is beautiful most year-round, with a whopping +3000 hours of sunlight a year.
Add that to the breathtaking landscapes throughout the country, such as savannah and deserts, stunning coastlines, and impressive mountain ranges, and South Africa is considered one of the best tourist and retirement destinations in the world.
South Africa is also a diverse land, with an incredible melting pot of languages, cultures, and cuisines.
Many expats are essentially settling in South Africa for heritage and geo-political reasons too.
Ideal Work Destinations In South Africa
The answer to the question “Where should I work in South Africa” has an interesting answer because there are simply so many locations that fill so many criteria. From the quieter environments like coastal towns and cities, to the two main cities that people settle in for work, however, are Johannesburg, and Cape Town, due to the popularity of these economic hubs.
A digital nomad has multiple genres of location to choose from.
There are multiple quiet locations like small towns on the western and eastern coast, for example:
- St Helena Bay
- Langebaan
- Paternoster
- Yzerfontein
- Villa in Hoedspruit
Otherwise, the bustling cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg offer a stunning nightlife, cultural diversity and non-stop excitement.
Cape Town
Cape Town consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Africa and one of the most popular living destinations in the world. When referring to cultural melting pots, Cape Town ranks as one of the highest.
Cape Town offers a diverse range of culinary options, a thriving arts and music community, and a high infrastructure standard that pushes it to the top of the list of places in Africa to work. There is also a high standard of private healthcare facilities and educational institutions.
Cape Town also offers a wide range of co-working spaces, consistent and overall high-speed internet connectivity at around 56.14Mbps, and a diverse range of cafes and restaurants in which to work.
Some of the best places to live and work for American digital nomads are Sea Point, the CBD, and Camps Bay. Cape Town is also, comparatively, one of the safest places in South Africa to live and work, as a remote worker, but even so as with all places, it’s recommended to always take all necessary precautions.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg (Joburg) is considered the business hub of the country and Africa’s largest business centre, being the home of trade and logistics on the continent.
“Joburg” is perfect for expats looking for a wide range of business opportunities and an opportunity to either enter or further their careers in the business sector.
Joburg’s internet speeds are the highest in the country, sitting at on average around 59.29Mbps, with South Africa’s average sitting at 50.70Mbps.
Accommodation
Options for those looking to move to South Africa are decent, with available short-term rental, long-term rental, and co-living spaces all around the country.
Looking through platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com is great for short-term, and finding long-term rentals through agencies and expat communities will prove to be more cost-effective.
There are also a variety of shared living arrangements, especially around Cape Town, designed for remote workers, offering a blend of private and communal spaces that often include amenities like high-speed internet and cleaning services.
Visa Regulations and Requirements
The visa is much like any other visa with specific requirements and documentation needed to prove you are capable of surviving in South Africa while you’re working.
Documents And Requirements
Among the documents and requirements of the Digital nomad visa are the following:
- A valid passport
- Must be valid for three months on arrival
- Proof of accommodation
- Can come in the form of a lease, a hotel booking, or a rental agreement to prove you already have a place to stay
- Proof of employment
- This must come in the form of an employment contract that states that you are self-employed, or that you are employed by a recognised foreign company
- Proof of income
- Health insurance
- Health insurance is not a requirement for the Digital Nomad visa, but you will have to pass a clean bill of health, and if travelling through Yellow Fever zones in Africa and South America, you will have to produce a vaccination certificate as well.
- Tax clearance
- Please see below
- Police clearance
- You will have to produce a valid police clearance certificate for the past 6 months
The visa is likely to be valid for up to 36 months, this awaits confirmation from the South African Department of Home Affairs. Applicants planning stays exceeding six months must register with South African Revenue Service (SARS) for income tax purposes.
However, uncertainty persists regarding whether the visa will initially be granted for six months pending SARS registration or for the full requested duration.
For foreign companies, compliance with South Africa’s PAYE tax system may necessitate registration, an aspect yet to be clarified by the Department of Home Affairs.
Despite recent updates, the official application form for the Digital Nomad Visa was not included in the Department of Home Affairs’ new application package released on 20 May 2024.
This means that currently, the South African Digital Nomad Visa cannot be applied for yet.
– Last Updated 31 July 2024
Conclusion
The digital nomad lifestyle offers a unique blend of work and travel, providing opportunities to explore the world while effectively maintaining a career. Read: “Living the dream”
South Africa’s Digital Nomad Visa is one of many things the government has done to improve the way of life for potential expats living in South Africa and is one of the more sought-after visas available.
More countries are making is easier for remote workers to live and work within their borders, creating many international communities of digital nomads in the country.
Written by Andreas Krensel, Managing Director
Edited by Simon Carletti, PR and Creative Supervisor
