Can a foreigner buy property in South Africa?

Foreigners may buy on much the same terms as citizens

South Africa places no nationality limit on buying property. Non-residents must follow exchange-control rules when they move money in or out.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Foreigners may own land.

Houses and flats

Houses and flats can be bought on the same terms as by South Africans.

Buying through a company

A foreign buyer may buy through a South African company.

Limits and closed zones

The purchase price and sale proceeds of a non-resident are subject to exchange-control rules.

What to watch for

A conveyancing attorney handles the transfer at the deeds registry. Ask about the rules for sending sale proceeds abroad.

Understand the legal system first

South Africa belongs to the Mixed: civil and common law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the South Africa legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare South Africa with another country →

Official sources

South African government portal (gov.za)

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.