Moving to South Africa from Gibraltar

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Gibraltar to South Africa — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Gibraltar to South Africa. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to South Africa

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Gibraltar to South Africa, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
63 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in Gibraltar live in South Africa · UN DESA

Who's moving to South Africa?

Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Gibraltar and South Africa stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GI
3.2
ZA
45.5

Gibraltar performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GI
16.1t
ZA
6.9t

South Africa performs significantly better than Gibraltar across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GI
70.2
ZA
3.3
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2023

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

GI
5,424 kWh
ZA
3,247 kWh

Gibraltar performs better than South Africa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GI
1.0%
ZA
28.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GI
$61,700
ZA
$14,300

Gibraltar performs better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GI
80.4 yrs
ZA
65.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GI
6.2
ZA
25.9

Gibraltar performs better than South Africa across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Gibraltar and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.

South Africa passport

South Africa passport holder visiting Gibraltar

Visa Required
South Africa passport holders need a visa to enter Gibraltar.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from South Africa?

With 3.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, South Africa can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Gibraltar and South Africa.

Is South Africa safe for expats?

Gibraltar performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Gibraltar.

What language do they speak in South Africa?

The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Gibraltar, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

GI ZA
Population 29,573 57,516,665
Currency Gibraltar Pound (GIP) South African Rand (ZAR)
Languages English Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +350 +27
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 10111