Your first 90 days in South Africa: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Exchange control is what makes South Africa different from every other country on this list: money is easy to bring in and genuinely bureaucratic to take out. Document the source and the inbound transfer of every significant sum from day one, because reconstructing that paper trail years later is where people lose access to their own capital.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Activate the visa or permit with the Department of Home Affairs and, for long-stay categories, obtain the identity document for permanent residents
Most temporary residence visas must be applied for and issued BEFORE travel; changing status inside South Africa is restricted and frequently refused
The Department of Home Affairs has a long-standing backlog, and the digital nomad and remote-work visa introduced in 2024 is the newest route. Applications go through VFS Global centres rather than directly to Home Affairs.
Get your SARS tax reference number
Employment, banking, property and every filing with the South African Revenue Service key off it, and residents are taxed on worldwide income.
Registered with SARS at a branch or through eFiling once you hold a qualifying visa; note that South African tax residence is determined by physical presence and ordinary residence, not by your visa type.
Open a bank account
FNB, Standard Bank, Absa and Nedbank open accounts on the visa and proof of address; non-residents can open restricted accounts. Exchange control is the defining feature — the Reserve Bank governs how money moves in and out, and getting funds OUT later depends on how you documented bringing them in. Keep the inbound records.
Enrol in healthcare
Public hospitals are free or means-tested but severely overstretched; essentially all foreign residents buy private medical aid (Discovery, Momentum, Bonitas) and use private hospital groups (Netcare, Mediclinic, Life), which are world-class. Medical aid is close to a mandatory cost of living here, not an option.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence in English, or with a certified translation, is valid while it remains valid and you hold a valid visa; permanent residents must convert to a South African licence within 12 months. Conversion runs through the licensing department with an eye test. Driving is on the left.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in South Africa: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in South Africa?
Activate the visa or permit with the Department of Home Affairs and, for long-stay categories, obtain the identity document for permanent residents — Most temporary residence visas must be applied for and issued BEFORE travel; changing status inside South Africa is restricted and frequently refused. The Department of Home Affairs has a long-standing backlog, and the digital nomad and remote-work visa introduced in 2024 is the newest route. Applications go through VFS Global centres rather than directly to Home Affairs. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the SARS tax reference number and do I need one?
SARS tax reference number is South Africa's personal tax/ID number. Employment, banking, property and every filing with the South African Revenue Service key off it, and residents are taxed on worldwide income. Registered with SARS at a branch or through eFiling once you hold a qualifying visa; note that South African tax residence is determined by physical presence and ordinary residence, not by your visa type.
Can I drive in South Africa on a US license?
A foreign licence in English, or with a certified translation, is valid while it remains valid and you hold a valid visa; permanent residents must convert to a South African licence within 12 months. Conversion runs through the licensing department with an eye test. Driving is on the left. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to South Africa?
Public hospitals are free or means-tested but severely overstretched; essentially all foreign residents buy private medical aid (Discovery, Momentum, Bonitas) and use private hospital groups (Netcare, Mediclinic, Life), which are world-class. Medical aid is close to a mandatory cost of living here, not an option. See our healthcare-systems guide for how South Africa's system treats foreign residents.