Buying property in South Africa as a non-resident

South Africa continues to attract growing interest from foreign property buyers – whether it’s returning South African expats, international investors, or lifestyle buyers targeting coastal and leisure properties.

But while buying property in South Africa as a non-resident is possible, the process of funding a purchase from abroad – and later repatriating the proceeds when selling – is far more complex than many buyers expect.

While South African law places relatively few restrictions on foreign property ownership, recent updates from the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) and South African Revenue Service (Sars) have made tax compliance a central requirement in every international transaction – and errors or missing documentation can stall a transfer for weeks.

On top of this comes the friction of using traditional banks to facilitate your payments, which offer limited support with the broader transfer requirements despite charging hefty hidden premiums along the way.

It’s against this backdrop that multi-award-winning South African fintech Future Forex has built a specialist end-to-end solution for non-residents moving funds into and out of South Africa – making it significantly quicker, simpler, and more cost-effective to secure a property purchase, and, when the time comes, to take the proceeds of your sale back home.

“Even though international transactions are largely digital, bank clients regularly face hidden exchange rate mark-ups of 2% to 3% per transaction, on top of admin, back-and-forth communication, and delays that make the experience far from seamless,” says Harry Scherzer, CEO of Future Forex and a qualified actuary.

These challenges are amplified in offshore property transfers, where timing is critical and multiple stakeholders – including conveyancers, attorneys, and compliance teams – must work within strict deadlines.

The compliance reality for non-resident buyers and sellers

Cross-border property transactions in South Africa are subject to increasingly strict tax and compliance requirements. All non-resident buyers must obtain a South African tax number, which must be verified alongside the source of funds before a purchase can proceed.

On resale, non-residents are subject to capital gains tax (CGT) on South African immovable property, and a withholding tax is applied upfront against the seller’s final tax liability.

Where the actual CGT liability is expected to be lower than the amount withheld, sellers must apply to Sars for a tax directive prior to the transfer to reduce the withholding.

And when it comes to repatriating the proceeds offshore, non-residents must obtain a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) and an Approval for International Transfer (AIT) PIN – confirmation from Sars that the movement of funds offshore has been reviewed and approved.

“Without these approvals and the correct documentation, offshore transfers can be delayed or blocked entirely until compliance is resolved,” explains Scherzer.

It’s a regulatory landscape that has caught many non-residents off guard – and one that traditional banks are poorly equipped to navigate on a client’s behalf.

A structured, end-to-end solution for expats and non-residents

This is where Future Forex’s model comes into its own.

By combining advanced financial technology with personalised, high-touch support, Future Forex ensures a swift and seamless transfer process – cutting out the heavy paperwork and manual steps along the way.

“We pair every client with a dedicated account manager who oversees the process from start to finish; coordinating with banks, conveyancers, and attorneys, and managing all compliance requirements. This all comes at a fraction of what traditional banks typically charge,” says Scherzer.

The company’s support extends across the full regulatory framework – from South African tax number registration to Sars AIT applications and tax directives for non-resident sellers. This removes the need for clients to navigate multiple compliance touchpoints on their own.

Alongside this compliance-led approach, Future Forex offers transparent pricing with competitive exchange rates and no hidden spreads, delivering a fully managed solution.

A platform built for ease and clarity

In addition to its renowned white-glove service, Future Forex offers an intuitive online platform and mobile app to manage transactions with ease.

Clients can access live exchange rates, request quotes, track payments, and upload supporting documentation all from a single interface.

This powerful mix of regulatory expertise, white-glove service, and innovative technology has positioned Future Forex as a pioneer in the international property payments landscape.

The company has earned multiple accolades, including ‘Company of the Year’ at the 2025 Africa Career Summit and ‘Outstanding Customer Service in Forex & Payments, South Africa’ at the World Business Outlook Awards, adding to a consistent string of recognitions in previous years.

Follow this link to get in touch with a Future Forex expert or request a quote for your transaction. You can also give them a call on 021 518 0558 or send them a message on WhatsApp.

Brought to you by Future Forex.

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