YOUR GUIDE TO RELOCATION, MOVING HOME AND LIVING IN AND AROUND DURBAN NORTH  

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Relocation and Moving

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Immigration Information

Legalities entry visa work permit bringing in your pets Practicalities evaluating your decision transportation of goods local considerations get the timing right Resources consultants & Attorneys official information

Evaluating Your Decision

Changing countries is a major decision, not to be taken lightly. Perhaps a ridiculous statement to make, yet it may be worth your while to reflect for a moment before spending vast amounts of money and causing total upheaval in your life. This is not designed to talk you out of it, but purely because there are so many stories about people immigrating (or emigrating) only to return 6 months later because things were not as they had expected. There is a lot that we take for granted in our every day lives and only really appreciate once it is no longer there. This will in most cases occur no matter where you are coming from or where you are going to, because humans are creatures of habit and change is never comfortable. For this reason, consider for a moment all the implications of new surroundings, new people and places, new ways of doing things. Relocating to a country on a permanent or semi-permanent basis is very different to visiting on a holiday or business trip. Leaving behind people that we care about or are used to may seem easy when you consider that global technology allows for instant communication between most places, but there are limitations. For most people, the cost of long distance calls means that you can no longer just pick up the phone to call someone back home when you think of them. You can't just pop in anymore and nor can they. Neither of you will any longer be available to the other if help is needed for any reason ... even something basic, like running an errand or helping with a chore. Then there are the other considerations that relate to cultural differences and different local and national infrastructures. For example, if you are coming from a location which has a good public transport system that you are accustomed to using, you are in for a shock. Realise that this is one of the things that you will be trading off against the wonderful climate, great lifestyle and amazing people of South Africa. You will also suddenly find that you have gone from knowing exactly how everything works, what to do to get things done, who to contact, etc. to feeling as if you are floundering on some of the most basic things. Just a simple thing like knowing what shops sell what goods can take some getting used to, let alone trying to figure out how the local bureaucracy works because you need to get your electricity connected. All of these things things take time to get used to and your own level of adaptability will dictate to a large extent. One of the great things about South Africa is that we are a friendly, helpful nation and as long as you are not scared to ask ... and keep asking, you will eventually unravel the local mysteries and settle in. - Remember that it takes an average of 2 years to settle in any new location, so be sure that you and those accompanying you on this new adventure are prepared to grit teeth and hang in for at least this long after you arrive. back to top

Local Considerations

Apart from what we mentioned above about public transport and local infrastructures, there are a number of additional things to take into account. Many of these will not even be considered in the bustle to tend to more important things. For example, if you are coming from a cold region like Europe the chances are that you will need to completely revamp your wardrobe for the South African climate. On our general lack of public transport, count on needing a vehicle from the moment that you arrive. Car hire is one option, but not the most cost-effective in the long term. Good used cars can be purchased for a reasonable price if you shop around, but be careful to use reputable dealers who offer warranties that are worth something and good after-sales service. When purchasing a car you will need to get it registered into your name as soon as possible, which means getting it passed through the roadworthy test. Most dealers will do this for you and it is normally best to let them save you the hassle, but be sure that it gets done. If you are going for a used vehicle and decide not to use one of the bigger, better-known dealers, please make sure that you have had it checked by the police (not stolen) and that you get all the car papers. It is a good idea to have the license number checked by the traffic department for outstanding road offences as well. Finding your way around can be a nightmare in some places and in the Durban area in particular. Although we have a great freeway system, it is once you are off the freeways that things get more complicated. With the area being fairly hilly, few suburban roads run in straight lines and it is easy to get lost. Make the purchase of a streetmap one of your first priorities. These are available from any CNA (Central News Agency) and most petrol stations. Whether you are purchasing or renting a property, tap your estate agent or the person you are dealing with for as much related information as possible. - How to get your lights connected, where to make application for a telephone, where to pay your lights, rates, water and other related bills. Remember to ask what the basic cost of these items are on the property, because it varies from one area to the next. Remember to ask what days refuse is collected on as well. Much of this information is available on this website for your convenience and much more will be added as it continues to grow, so keep checking back. Get connected into the local community as soon as possible. Accept all invitations, attend local meetings and reach out to invite others. From this you will soon learn the local ways and make local connections. This building up of a local support structure can be your most valuable asset. More specific local information can be found in our travel and tourism section. back to top

Getting the Timing Right

In planning your move, getting the timing right is one of the things that can save you endless frustration and complications. Be sure to allow enough time for all the legal processes as well taking the practical issues into account. This is probably one of the toughest aspects to juggle, especially if you need to sell a property in your home country before coming over, because this and the legal processes may not coincide. The basic timing of the legal processes can be found on the SA Home Affairs website, but remember that nothing is carved in stone and the process can take longer than anticipated. Also, If you have school-going children, take the school terms into account so that the disruption of starting in a new school with hundreds of strange faces is minimised. Also remember that the school year here does not run the same as, for example, Europe and the USA and that the curricula is also different. Planned badly, your child could end up wasting 6 months to a year of their school career. Plan the shipment of your goods carefully as well and be sure to allow for contingencies. Generally it would be better to arrive ahead of your goods so that storage costs are minimised. Bear in mind that there will most likely be a period both in your home country as well as here that you will have to live with friends or relatives or in furnished accommodation while your goods are in transit. If possible, pre-arrange car hire so that you do not have a period of being stranded without transport once you arrive. back to top

Consultants and Attorneys

The South African Department of Home Affairs maintains that it makes no difference whether you use an immigration specialist or not - the process will work in exactly the same way. Whether or not this is accurate, we do not know, but if for no other reason than peace of mind, it may be of use to have at least one consultation with someone who can objectively advise and guide you. back to top

Official Information

All information regarding the legalities of immigration, visas, residency, as well as downloadable versions of most application forms, are available from the South African Home Affairs website. Because their site can be difficult to navigate on a bad day, we have also included some links to specific sections to save you the hassle. Addresses of local offices in various countries click here For enquiries from within South Africa, a list of national hotline numbers is available here and the contact details of all Home Affairs offices throughout South Africa can be found by clicking here All about visas click here Permanent residence permits click here. Finally, the Department's frequently asked questions section deals with some pertinent issues and covers information that does not seem to be available anywhere else on their website. Click here to access it. We hope this section has helped you. back to top

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