Moving checklist · EuroKompis

12 months or more before

Plan and gather documents

Order unabridged birth certificates for everyone moving, and unabridged marriage certificates.Most European authorities ask for the unabridged version. Home Affairs can take weeks or months, so order these first.
Check which passports your family might hold.A parent or grandparent from the UK, Ireland, Portugal, Germany or Italy can change everything. Run the passport check.
Have your qualifications verified by SAQA.DIRCO will only authenticate qualifications after they have been verified by SAQA, Umalusi or the issuing body. Then check the recognition body in your target country.
Renew passports that expire within the next two to three years.Most visas need a passport valid well beyond your planned stay.
Shortlist two or three countries.Check your options and read the country guides.

6 to 12 months before

Job search and money

Start your job search in your target countries.Adapt your CV to the local format and apply directly to employers that sponsor visas or have offices in South Africa.
Speak to a cross-border tax adviser about ceasing South African tax residency.SARS treats this as a formal process. It affects how you are taxed on income earned abroad.
Understand the three-year rule for retirement annuities and preservation funds.Since 1 March 2021, people who cease tax residency can usually only withdraw these after three years of non-residency.
Plan how you will move money.Talk to your bank about South African Reserve Bank allowances and the tax compliance status you need for larger transfers.
If you have pets, start now.The EU requires a microchip, rabies vaccination and a rabies blood test at least 30 days after the vaccine and at least three months before entry.

3 to 6 months before

Visa and paperwork

Apply for your visa or permit once you have an offer, or are eligible without one.Use the official pages linked on each country guide. Processing times vary from weeks to months.
Get a police clearance certificate from SAPS.Time it so it is still recent when you apply. DIRCO only legalises clearance certificates issued in the last six months.
Have documents apostilled.DIRCO's legalisation service is free for public documents such as unabridged certificates and police clearance. Notarised private documents go through the High Court.
Arrange certified translations if your target country requires them.Check whether the authority accepts English documents first.
Request school reports and transfer letters for your children.International and bilingual schools often have waiting lists, so contact them early.

The last month

Before you fly

Get an International Driving Permit.Then check whether your South African licence can be exchanged in your new country. The rules differ by country.
Collect medical and dental records and a supply of any prescriptions.Bring a letter from your doctor listing your medicines by generic name.
Tell your bank, insurers and medical aid, and set up non-resident banking.Keep one South African account open for any income or payments you still have there.
Book temporary accommodation for your first weeks.Many landlords want a local address, bank account or ID number before they will rent to you.

First three months

After you arrive

Register your address and get your local ID number.For example: Anmeldung in Germany within 14 days, municipality registration and BSN in the Netherlands, personnummer from Skatteverket in Sweden, IRP registration in Ireland, an eVisa in the UK.
Open a local bank account and register with a doctor.Your ID number and registered address usually come first.
Start language lessons if you need them.In Sweden residents can learn Swedish free through SFI.
Notify SARS and finalise your tax residency position.Keep records of your move date and new tax residence.

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General information checked on 16 October 2026. Tax and pension rules are complex, so take advice from a qualified cross-border tax adviser. Sources include DIRCO legalisation services and SARS.