Relocating from South Africa: Immigration Pathways to the US, UK, Italy, Grenada and Beyond
D&A Visa Services for South Africans
South African entrepreneurs, investors, professionals and families are increasingly exploring global relocation opportunities. Whether your goal is business expansion, investment-based residence, employment, education, or family reunification, strategic immigration planning is essential.
We assist South African nationals with expert guidance on immigration pathways to the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Grenada, Turkey and other key destinations. Our team helps identify the most suitable pathway based on your personal or business objectives, ensuring you understand all requirements, timelines and obligations to make an informed decision about your relocation.
United States Immigration Pathways for South Africans
South African passport holders who wish to relocate to the United States have multiple structured pathways.
What are the main United States immigration options for South Africans?
- The L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa for business owners and executives expanding to the United States
- The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa for qualifying treaty nationals
- The H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa for professionals
- The O-1 Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability
- Employment-Based Green Cards such as EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3
- The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program for qualifying investments
- Family-Based Green Cards
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa
Data source: Department of State “Report of the Visa Office” Table VI (Part IV)
The EB-5 Investor Visa has experienced the sharpest growth of any visa category among South Africans. There has been a six-fold increase in the number of EB-5 visas issued to South Africans since 2014.
EB-5 is one of the fastest routes to a U.S. Green Card for individuals or families able to make a qualifying $800,000 investment. A Green Card offers a wide range of benefits, including the freedom to live, work, retire or study anywhere in the United States.
Read Our Guide to
L-1 Visas for South Africans
Overview
There has been growth in the number of L visas issued to South African nationals, although the increase has been slower than for EB-5. The L-1 visa allows an intracompany transfer of employees from a South African office to a related U.S. office of the same company.
Davies & Associates assists companies with establishing new U.S. offices and preparing L-1 new office filings for eligible executives, managers and specialized knowledge employees.
Which South Africans Use L-1 Visas?
Employees of South African companies planning to live and work in the United States as executives, managers or specialized knowledge personnel must document qualifying employment. In most cases, you must show that you have worked for the overseas company for at least one continuous year within the three years immediately preceding the transfer.
How Do South Africans Qualify for an L-1 Visa?
To qualify for an L-1 transfer, the employee must have been employed abroad in an executive, managerial or specialized knowledge capacity. The U.S. role must also be in an executive, managerial or specialized knowledge capacity, although it does not have to be identical to the role held abroad.
More Information on L-1 Visas
Read Our Guide to
Grenada Citizenship by Investment and U.S. E-2 Visas
We are seeing an increasing number of inquiries from South Africans seeking another passport to allow more seamless global travel. The Grenada passport allows visa-free access to significantly more countries than the South African passport, including the UK, EU Schengen states, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Grenadian citizenship may also make South Africans eligible for the United States E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, which allows the holder to live in the United States for the purpose of owning and operating a business.
Read Our Guide to
Corporate and Tax Support
Relocating overseas can be complex, particularly when dealing with tax laws and corporate structuring. D&A is a full-service immigration law firm offering integrated tax advice and corporate legal services to support international relocation.
UK Immigration Options for South African Nationals
Summary
South African nationals who wish to relocate, work, study or establish a business in the United Kingdom must obtain the appropriate UK visa or immigration status. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), part of the UK Home Office, manages visa applications and eligibility requirements.
For official UK government guidance on coming to the UK from South Africa, including visa requirements and application procedures, see the Home Office’s “Coming to the UK from South Africa” page.
Work and Skilled Visas
South Africans with a job offer from a UK employer may apply under routes such as the Skilled Worker Visa, which requires sponsorship and meeting minimum job and salary thresholds.
Business and Entrepreneur Routes
Entrepreneurs may consider the UK Innovator Founder Visa, designed for individuals setting up or growing an innovative business with endorsement from an approved body.
Read Our Guide to
Family, Study and Other Visas
South Africans may also relocate through family visas, study visas and other work-related categories depending on individual circumstances. Official UK visa categories and how to apply are outlined on the UK government’s “How to apply for a visa to come to the UK” page.
Visitor Visas and ETAs
For short-term visits, South African passport holders must apply for the appropriate UK visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) as required by recent UK digital immigration reforms.
To check if an ETA is needed and how to apply, visit the official UK information on Electronic Travel Authorisation.
Local Visa Application Centres
UK visa application services in South Africa operate through VFS Global centres in major cities including Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria.
Legal Help
For tailored legal advice on UK immigration pathways from South Africa — including work, business, study, entrepreneur and family visas — see our UK immigration legal services overview, or find an experienced immigration attorney in London and across Europe.
Italian and EU Immigration and Visa Options
In addition to serving South African clients with U.S. and UK options, D&A is one of Italy’s largest and most successful immigration law firms.
Many South Africans are unaware of the advantages of the Italian Representative Office Visa, the Italian Elective Residence Visa and other Italian immigration pathways.
D&A also maintains a presence in Lisbon, Portugal, where we assist South African and other clients with the Portuguese Residency by Investment program. As a law firm, D&A does not earn commissions or referral bonuses from client investments. Any such incentives are returned to our clients.
About the Authors
Mark I Davies, Esq.
Chairman of Davies & Associates; focused on E visa strategy and complex consular filings.
Mark I Davies, Esq. JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Licensed with the SRA (SRA ID: 384468) in the UK, Member Law Society of England & Wales, MBA, Wharton School of Business. Top 10 Investment Visa Lawyer, Licensed (USA), Georgia State Bar. AILA Member.
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | JD, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | MBA (Finance), The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania | Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) |
| Financial Training | Completed Analyst Training Program at a major international bank | Chartered Accountant background with professional training in financial analysis and reporting |
| Legal Practice | Admitted to practice in Georgia (USA) | Registered Solicitor with the Law Society of England & Wales | Former CMBS lawyer at one of the world’s largest international law firms |
| Immigration Track Record | 15+ years advising HNW investors | Zero denials for clients advised on source-of-funds compliance in EB-5 | Hundreds of successful EB-5 cases globally |
| Recognition | Named a Top 25 EB-5 Immigration Attorney by EB5 Investors Magazine (2018–2023) |
| Professional Engagements | Lecturer/trainer for other lawyers at AILA, ACA, University of Pennsylvania Law School | Frequent speaker at global investment immigration conferences |
