Which allowance applies to you?
South Africa has three main pathways for transferring money to the UK. We will advise which applies to your situation and sequence them correctly if you are using more than one.
Single Discretionary Allowance (SDA)
Every SA resident adult can transfer up to R2 million per calendar year offshore without any SARS pre-approval. Doubled from R1 million in the 2026 Budget (announced 25 February 2026), applying to the 2026 calendar year. Resets every 1 January, unused allowance does not carry over. This is the simplest and fastest route and covers most day-to-day transfers.
- Valid SA ID or passport
- UK bank account details
- Completed transfer instruction
- No SARS pre-approval required
Foreign Investment Allowance (FIA)
The FIA lets you transfer an additional R10 million per calendar year offshore, on top of your R2 million SDA, for a combined capacity of R12 million per person per calendar year. The FIA requires an Approval for International Transfer (AIT) from SARS. When the AIT is approved, SARS issues a TCS PIN which the authorised dealer uses to verify the clearance and process the transfer. WBForex prepares and submits the full AIT application on your behalf.
- Valid SA ID or passport
- SARS AIT approval (we apply for this)
- UK bank account details
- SARS eFiling registration
- Tax compliance up to date
SARB FinSurv Special Approval
Transfers above the combined R12 million SDA + FIA ceiling are possible but require SARB Financial Surveillance Department special approval, supported by a SARS Letter of Compliance. This is a separate process from AIT and is assessed case by case, typically for significant inheritances, business sale proceeds, or emigration of substantial wealth. WBForex manages the full process.
- Full SARS tax compliance
- SARS Letter of Compliance
- Detailed source-of-funds documentation
- SARB FinSurv application
- Extended processing time
Different rules apply — and they are often simpler than you think
If you have never held a South African ID, or you have formally ceased your SA tax residency through tax emigration, the resident-based SDA and FIA ceilings no longer apply to you in the same way. Non-residents can remit funds from South Africa outside the standard allowance structure, provided the source of funds can be properly evidenced and the transfer is processed through an authorised dealer.
The documentation requirements are different - and often simpler than people expect - but every case is unique. Get in touch and we will walk you through exactly what applies to your situation.
Moving funds to Ireland, the Netherlands, or anywhere in Europe
The same SDA and FIA allowances that govern UK transfers apply equally to EU destinations. Whether your account is in Dublin, Amsterdam, Berlin, or Barcelona, the compliance process is identical — SARS requirements do not change based on where the destination account sits.
WBForex handles ZAR to EUR transfers for South Africans living across the EU, with Ireland — Dublin and Cork especially — being our strongest EU corridor. The same SA expat community we serve in the UK has a substantial Ireland chapter, and we move funds into AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB euro accounts every week.
- Target currency is EUR rather than GBP.
- Transfers arrive via SWIFT into your EU bank account — the same process as a UK transfer, no difference in how we handle it on our side.
- Irish clients with euro accounts at AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB are fully supported.
- The named consultant handling your case manages the EU destination exactly as they would a UK one — nothing changes on your side.
How your transfer works
From first contact to funds landing in your UK account. SDA transfers typically complete within a few days; FIA transfers depend on SARS turnaround on the AIT.
Contact Us
WhatsApp, email, or the contact form. Tell us how much you want to send and your timeline, and we will explain which allowance applies.
Documentation
We send you a precise list of what we need. If SARS AIT approval is required (FIA portion only), we prepare and submit the full application on your behalf.
Compliance & Approval
SDA transfers can proceed immediately. FIA transfers wait on SARS turnaround for the AIT, typically a few weeks. We keep you updated throughout.
Live Rate & Confirmation
With everything in place, we give you a live rate - the actual rate your funds convert at. You confirm, we lock it in.
Funds Arrive
Funds typically arrive in your UK account the next business day after conversion. Bank-to-bank via our authorised dealer partner.
SARS AIT: the current process
Since 2023, SARS requires an Approval for International Transfer (AIT) for the FIA portion of any transfer (amounts above your R2 million SDA in a calendar year). When approved, SARS issues a TCS PIN which the authorised dealer uses to verify the clearance. The SDA itself still requires no SARS pre-approval. WBForex prepares and submits the full AIT application to SARS on your behalf.
2026 Budget: SDA doubled to R2 million
The Single Discretionary Allowance was doubled from R1 million to R2 million per calendar year per adult in the 2026 Budget, announced on 25 February 2026 and applying to the 2026 calendar year. Combined with the R10 million Foreign Investment Allowance, the total annual capacity is now R12 million per person per calendar year.
WBForex vs. the big SA banks
The rate matters, but so does everything around it - the guidance, the follow-through, and who actually answers the phone when you call.
| FEATURE | BIG 4 BANK | WBFOREX |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | Wide, opaque margin built into the rate | Live rate shown clearly at moment of conversion |
| Transfer speed | 2 to 5 business days | Same day or next business day |
| Account manager | Call centre rotation | Named consultant, direct line |
| AIT application | Limited guidance | Full end-to-end management |
| Fees | Percentage-based, up to R900 per transfer | No WBForex fee, R250 bank SWIFT fee only * |
| Minimum transfer | Often R50,000 plus | No minimum |
| Above-R12m pathway | Not offered | SARB FinSurv + SARS Letter of Compliance handled in-house |
* The R250 SWIFT fee is a standard bank charge that applies to all international transfers regardless of provider. It is a flat fee that does not change with transfer size, so it is particularly competitive compared to the percentage-based fees charged by most South African banks.
“My dealings with WBForex has been nothing but seamless from the start. I have done a few overseas transfers with them with no problems whatsoever. Their professional and speedy response and delivery is highly recommended.”
Sue Bax · Google Review
Common questions
Everything you need to know about transferring money from South Africa to the UK.