Moving abroad from South Africa is a huge decision, and the first months are the hardest part. There's paperwork, a new way of doing everything, and a strange feeling that you're on a long holiday that never ends. Then, somewhere around month three, homesickness tends to arrive — usually when you least expect it.
This is a friendly, practical checklist from South Africans who've been through it. It won't replace official advice for your new country — every country's rules are different and change over time — but it will help you settle faster and feel less alone doing it.
The first few weeks: admin first
The unglamorous stuff unlocks everything else, so get it moving early. Exact requirements differ by country, so use your new government's official websites as the source of truth.
Early admin checklist
- Get a local phone number — you'll need it for almost every sign-up.
- Open a local bank account. Some banks let new arrivals start the process before landing.
- Register for your country's tax number so you're taxed correctly from your first pay.
- Find out how healthcare works for your visa type, and register with a local GP or clinic.
- Check whether you can drive on your South African licence, for how long, and how to convert it.
- Keep certified copies of key documents: passports, visas, qualifications, birth and marriage certificates.
- Look into school enrolment early if you have kids — it can depend on your address.
Loose ends back home
It's easy to forget what you left running in South Africa. A few hours of sorting now can prevent headaches later:
- Accounts and debit orders — cancel what you don't need and keep a list of what's still running.
- Tax residency — ceasing SA tax residency has its own process and implications. Get advice from a registered tax practitioner who understands emigration.
- Your SA phone number — many banks use it for one-time PINs. Think carefully before you let it go.
- Documents — check that your SA passport and ID are current, and look up your nearest South African embassy or consulate for renewals.
Making friends (it's harder than it looks)
Many South Africans are surprised by how long it takes to build a social circle abroad. At home, friends came with school, varsity, church, family and decades of history. Here you're starting from scratch — and so, often, is everyone else who moved.
Two circles, both worth building
Most settled Saffas end up with two groups: locals, who help you truly feel at home in your new country, and fellow South Africans, who just get it — the humour, the food, the rugby, the in-between feeling. Both matter. Don't hide in a Saffa bubble, but don't feel guilty about wanting your own mense either.
Practical ways to meet people
- Join a sports club — rugby, cricket, running, hockey, anything. Clubs are built for newcomers.
- Say yes to every invite in the first six months, even the awkward ones.
- Host a braai. It's the South African superpower. (Our braai abroad guide covers the local rules.)
- Go to South African events — Springbok screenings, markets and meetups.
- Volunteer, join a church or community group, or take a class.
Homesickness is normal
Being homesick doesn't mean you made the wrong decision. It's a normal part of moving, and it often comes in waves: the excitement of the first weeks, a dip once the novelty wears off, and a slow climb as life starts to feel like yours. Birthdays, holidays and news from home can bring it back for a day or two.
Things that genuinely help
- Keep a routine — exercise, sleep and regular meals do more than you’d think.
- Schedule calls home at a set time each week instead of doom-scrolling SA news at night.
- Bring small rituals with you: rusks with your coffee, a Sunday braai, rugby with friends.
- Find the South African food you miss — see our guide to South African shops abroad.
- Talk to other Saffas who are a year or two further along. They’ll tell you it gets better, because it does.
- If low moods last or feel heavy, speak to a GP or a mental health professional. Reaching out is a strength.
If you moved with a family
Kids often adapt faster than adults, but they have their own adjustments — new accents, new slang, new sports. Keep some South African traditions going at home and let them lead on the new ones. Partners who aren't working yet, or who moved for the other's job, can find the first months especially isolating, so make building their network a shared priority.
How Oorsee helps in the first months
Oorsee exists because this part is hard. It's a free app — the home for South Africans abroad — and it's most useful exactly when you've just landed:
- Members directory — find South Africans in your city and country.
- Continent groups and the feed — ask questions about settling in and get answers from Saffas who've done it.
- Events — braais, meetups and Springbok viewings near you.
- Messaging — chat privately with people you meet.
- Homesick and the business directory — SA food, and SA-owned businesses from biltong makers to plumbers.
You can also join the South Africans Living Abroad Facebook group. And when you're ready, read how to find the South African community wherever you live.
Get Oorsee · Free
Land softly with Oorsee
- Find South Africans in your new city
- Ask settling-in questions in your continent group
- Braais, meetups and Bok viewings near you
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first after moving abroad from South Africa?
Get a local phone number, open a bank account, register for a tax number, understand how healthcare works for your visa, and check the rules on driving with your South African licence. Use your new country’s official government websites for the details.
Is it normal to feel homesick after moving abroad?
Very. Homesickness often arrives a few months in, after the novelty wears off, and comes in waves. Routines, regular calls home, South African rituals and friends who understand all help. If low moods persist, talk to a GP or mental health professional.
How do South Africans make friends abroad?
Join a sports club, say yes to invitations, host a braai, go to South African events, and use community apps like Oorsee to meet South Africans nearby. Most people end up with both local and South African friends.
Do I need to cease South African tax residency when I emigrate?
It depends on your circumstances, and the rules are technical. Speak to a registered tax practitioner who specialises in emigration before making decisions.
Can I keep my South African phone number?
Many South Africans keep their SA number, often because banks use it for one-time PINs. Check your options with your network provider before you cancel.
How can Oorsee help new arrivals?
Oorsee is a free app for South Africans abroad with a members directory, continent groups, events, private messaging, a Homesick shop finder and a directory of SA-owned businesses — so you can find your people and a taste of home quickly.
South African communities near you
See what's happening where Saffas live.