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South Africa

Reality Brief: Johannesburg

What to know about Johannesburg, gathered from AfriPilot's sourced information: alerts, rules, addresses and useful places. Nothing is added without a source.

Region: GautengGathered from 9 sources checked on October 2, 2026.

Current alerts

  • Mandatory online declaration

    Since 1 July 2026, all travellers must declare goods and currency online on entry and exit.

    Published on September 14, 2026 · France Diplomatie, Travel advice: South Africa, latest news and alerts

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

Living in Johannesburg

Field experience

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    Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (106), clinics (68), hospitals (48). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

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    Where to shop for food

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (13), supermarkets (285). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

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    Banks, cash machines and exchange

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (141), cash machines (3), currency exchange (8). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

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    A shop for your SIM card

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (31). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

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    A furnished flat for the first weeks

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (4). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

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    A coworking space as a fallback

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): coworking (1). Useful for remote work when the connection or power fails at home.

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    Consulates in the city

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): consulates (6). Note the address of your country's consulate or the nearest embassy.

Useful contacts

Contact details taken from the official sources cited. Check them before going.