If you’re considering leaving South Africa, whether to pursue flag theory, become a digital nomad, or simply to escape the country’s political and economic uncertainty, or even just to spend a year abroad, here are the countries where South Africans can easily obtain a resident visa.
1. Mexico
You’ve probably heard that Mexico is the most dangerous country on the planet, with drug cartels ruling the streets. Don’t believe everything you see on television or on social media. Many people in Europe and the United States assume that wild animals wander the streets of South Africa. They assume we spent a significant amount of time with elephants and lions. In truth, more than 92% of South Africans have never seen a lion or elephant in their lives. South Africa’s global image is a product of the media, not reality. The same is true for Mexico; the image that has been marketed to the rest of the world is far from reality on the ground.
Over 1 million Americans who have permanently relocated from the United States to Mexico can’t be wrong! Mexico is the quickest and least expensive place to obtain a residence visa.
The reasons why Mexican residence is becoming increasingly popular among South Africans are self-evident. You can drive to the United States as often as you like because it is in the same time zone, there are numerous expat communities to join, life is affordable, the quality of life and food is fantastic, and English is commonly spoken.
If you are retired, the simplest way to obtain residency in Mexico is to provide a guaranteed income of at least $1,550 (R20,000) for one person plus $520 (R8000) for each dependent. If you don’t have a pension, you can buy $210,000 (R3,300,000) in Mexican real estate or show a bank account balance of at least $25,000 (R340,000) for at least 8 months.
2. Belize
Belize has the most straightforward residence program for South African retirees. You can become a resident of Belize using their QRP scheme if you have roughly $2,000 (R30,000) per month in guaranteed payments.
Belize is primarily interested in attracting pensioners and those on fixed incomes. However, you do not have to be retired to qualify. The QRP is available to anyone over the age of 45 who has a pension or a guaranteed passive income source of $2,000 (R30,000) per month. You can set up a bank annuity if you don’t have any pension distributions.
3. New Zealand
Unlike Belize, New Zealand is moving in the opposite direction of the country. This country is interested in attracting young people. If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30, obtaining a resident visa in New Zealand is a straightforward process.
4. Indonesia
Indonesia is a popular destination for digital nomads, with Bali, the country’s capital, providing the most relaxed lifestyle on this list. Combine this with a low cost of living, good internet, and one of the simplest visas for South Africans, and it’s easy to see why Bali is a popular destination, particularly for tech-savvy hipsters.
5. Nicaragua
Anyone who invests $35,000 (R480,000) in Nicaragua’s reforestation initiative and you might become a resident of this inviting country. Legal and government fees vary by country of origin and can cost up to $10,000 (R16,000) per person (South Africa, US, UK, and EU citizens are much lower).
Nicaragua is the only country that will grant you permanent residency right away. Most countries begin with temporary residency and then allow you to advance to permanent residency.
