Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban property — what UK-based South Africans need to know about FICA, exchange control, and remote conveyancing.
Why this matters UK-based South Africans buying back home are squeezed between two regulators: the SARB exchange control rules on bringing money in (or, harder, getting it out later), and FICA / RICA paperwork that requires identity verification you mostly cannot do from London. This guide covers the workflow for buying remotely without flying out twice. The 5 things that trip people up - Non-resident vs. resident status — if you have formally emigrated for tax purposes, your funding routes change. SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN is required for any meaningful repatriation. - FICA documents — banks and conveyancers each require their own bundle. Apostilled UK address proof is the cleanest format. - Power of attorney — special POA in South African format, usually witnessed at the SA High Commission in London. - Bond pre-approval as a non-resident — most SA banks lend up to 50% LTV to non-residents. Plan deposit accordingly. - Section 21 transfer duty vs VAT on developer sales — different exemptions, very different cash impact. Working with a remote conveyancer A verified UK→South Africa property provider should: - Be an admitted conveyancer (LPC number) and registered with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority for any agency role. - Use a digital signing flow accepted by the Deeds Office (DocuSign with witnessing, or in-person via SA High Commission). - Quote a flat fee for transfer and a separate fee for bond registration. - Communicate on WhatsApp + email, with a UK-friendly call window. Coming soon The UK ↔ South Africa corridor goes live on TotallyEnterprise once we have 5+ verified real-estate and conveyancing providers per side. Join the waitlist and we will email you the moment it opens.