Offshore investments, held in the right place.
Independent advice on moving money offshore, building a hard-currency portfolio and managing South African assets from overseas, for clients across eight jurisdictions.
Sixty minutes, at our cost, in Durbanville or online from any time zone.
Who we usually help.
Offshore advice covers both directions: money leaving South Africa, and South Africans who already have.
- You want part of your wealth in hard currency and are weighing direct offshore investment against rand-denominated funds.
- You have lived abroad for years and still hold retirement annuities, property or investments in South Africa.
- You plan to emigrate or stop being a South African tax resident and want to get the sequence right.
- You have assets overseas and no will or plan that covers them.
Two allowances, one plan.
South African residents aged 18 or older can invest directly offshore within two allowances each calendar year. Which one you use, and in whose name, is part of the plan.
| Per adult, per calendar year | Single discretionary allowance | Foreign investment allowance |
|---|---|---|
| How much | R2 million | Up to R10 million |
| SARS approval | Not needed within the limit | Needed first, through SARS's Approval for International Transfers process |
| What SARS asks for | Nothing, within the limit | Where the money came from, and a statement of your assets and liabilities |
| Usually used for | Travel, gifts, donations and smaller investments | Larger investments and building a hard-currency portfolio |
A small practice that knows your file, backed by institutional depth when it counts.
BKA Wealth, independent and a Graviton Partner
If you live abroad.
The rules change once you are no longer a South African tax resident.
- Tax residency
- South African tax residents pay tax on income earned anywhere in the world. Leaving is a formal step: you tell SARS the date you stopped being resident and provide supporting documents.
- Exit tax
- When you stop being resident, SARS treats you as having sold most of your worldwide assets the day before, and capital gains tax may apply. South African property is excluded.
- Retirement annuities
- If you stopped being resident on or after 1 March 2021, you may take your retirement annuity or preservation fund in cash once you have been non-resident for at least three unbroken years. Tax is deducted before payment.
- Moving money after you leave
- You can keep your South African investments. Transferring money abroad needs SARS approval, and amounts above R10 million a year need extra checks and Reserve Bank approval.
- Foreign assets and your will
- Property or accounts in another country may need a separate will there. The wills should be drafted together so that one does not cancel the other.
- Retirement funds
- Retirement annuities and pension funds may invest up to 45% of their assets offshore under Regulation 28.
Common questions.
How much can I invest offshore without SARS approval?
Up to R2 million a calendar year using your single discretionary allowance, if you are a South African resident aged 18 or older. Larger amounts, up to R10 million a year, need SARS approval under the foreign investment allowance.
Do you work with clients who live overseas?
Yes. We advise clients across eight jurisdictions, with reviews held online at times that suit your time zone.
Should I invest directly offshore or through a rand-denominated fund?
Direct investment gives you assets held outside South Africa in hard currency. Rand-denominated funds are simpler and do not use your allowances, but they remain South African assets. Many clients hold both; the right mix depends on your plans, your estate and where you expect to spend the money.
Are the exchange control rules changing?
Yes. Draft regulations published in 2026 would replace the 1961 exchange control regulations and bring crypto assets into the framework. They are not final yet, and we will update this page when they take effect.
Figures checked on 10 September 2026 against National Treasury's 2026 Budget Review, SARS guidance on tax residency and South African Reserve Bank exchange control circulars. Limits change, so confirm the current rules before acting.
Talk your offshore plan through with a CFP® professional.
Sixty minutes at our cost, in Durbanville or online from wherever you are. You leave knowing whether we can help, whether or not you become a client.
[email protected] · 021 976 0738
Unit 3, Kings Landing Building, 17 King Street, Durbanville, 7550
