For South Africans abroad and foreign buyers

Buying South African property from abroad

Semigrating home, investing from overseas, or buying for family - here's how it works for non-residents, step by step, and the tools on Property HQ that help.

7.5%withheld when you sell (s35A)
R 2 000 000sales above this (SARS)
10.75%prime rate (SARB)
The steps

From the first sum to the keys - most of it can be done without flying in.

  1. Work out the cash you need South African banks usually lend non-residents up to about half of the price, so plan for a large deposit plus transfer duty and attorneys' fees. Check what you could borrow and the total cost of buying.
  2. See homes without flying in Many listings have a video or 3D tour; on any listing you can ask for a video viewing when you enquire. Switch the site to your currency at the top of the page - asking prices stay in rand.
  3. Make the offer The Offer to Purchase can be signed electronically or abroad. Make the bond approval a suspensive condition with a realistic deadline - non-resident applications take longer.
  4. Bring the money in properly Send the deposit through a South African bank (an authorised dealer) and keep its confirmation of the funds coming in. Ask the transferring attorney to have the title deed endorsed non-resident, so the money from a future sale can be sent back out.
  5. FICA and signing from abroad The attorneys need certified copies of your passport and proof of address. Documents signed outside South Africa are usually signed before a notary and authenticated (an apostille in Hague Convention countries) or at a South African embassy - or you can give someone in South Africa a power of attorney to sign for you.
  6. Track the transfer Use the offer-to-keys tracker to keep the deadlines in one place.
Tax for non-resident owners

What SARS expects when you buy, rent out and sell - with today's figures.

When you buy You pay the same transfer duty as a resident (or VAT, when buying new from a developer). Work out the transfer duty
Rent you earn Rent you earn from South African property is taxed in South Africa - register with SARS and declare it. See what a rental leaves you
When you sellWhen you sell for more than R 2 000 000, the buyer must withhold 7.5% of the price and pay it to SARS as an advance on your tax (section 35A) - you can apply to SARS for a lower amount. These are the current SARS figures.
Capital gains tax Capital gains tax applies to the gain when you sell. Estimate it

General information, not tax or legal advice - speak to a South African conveyancer and a registered tax practitioner.

Frequently asked questions

3 quick answers - tap a question to open it
Can a non-resident buy property in South Africa?

Yes. Foreigners and South Africans living abroad can own property here. Banks usually lend non-residents up to about half of the price, so most need a large deposit.

How do I get the money out again when I sell?

Bring the purchase money in through a South African bank and keep its confirmation, and have the title deed endorsed non-resident. That documents the money so the proceeds of a sale can be sent back out.

Do I have to fly in to sign?

No. Documents can be signed abroad before a notary and authenticated (an apostille in Hague Convention countries) or at a South African embassy, or someone in South Africa can sign under a power of attorney.