How To Buy International Shares From South Africa

I used to think that if you wanted to buy company shares, you could just walk into that company and ask the CEO to sell you some shares.

But in 2021, Ive learned thats not how it works. If you want to buy International shares in South Africa, you need to go through a**stockbroker**. A stockbroker is a platform or a company that helps you buy and sell shares easily and safely.

My name is Thabiso, a South African forex trader since 2020, also started investing in stocks. In this article, I will give you all you need to know to start buying International shares while living in South Africa.

What is the Stock Exchange

Astock exchangeis a regulated marketplace where companies list their shares for buying and selling through a licensed stockbroker.

List of popularstock exchanges in the world

Country	Exchange Name	Exchange Code
United States	New York Stock Exchange	NYSE
United Kingdom	London Stock Exchange	LSE
South Africa	Johannesburg Stock Exchange	JSE
Australia	Australian Securities Exchange	ASX
Japan	Tokyo Stock Exchange	TSE
Table of Content

1. What is the Stock Exchange
2. How To Buy InternationalShares In South Africa
   1. Step 1: Create an Account With EasyEquity
   2. Step 2: Deposit Money on EasyEquity
   3. Step 3: Buy InternationalShares on EasyEquity
3. Stockbrokers Offering InternationalShares
4. Conclustion

How To Buy InternationalShares In South Africa

In order to buy Internationalshares in South Africa, you must register with a stockbroker that offers Internationalshares. For example, (EasyEquities) then search for the company you want to buy shares in.

Here is a step-by-step guide to buying Internationalshares in South Africa.

Step 1: Create an Account With EasyEquity

First things first, you need a stockbroker who will be the middleman between you and the company. EasyEquities is one of the best stockbrokers, easy to use and great for newbies. Heres what to do:

• Visit the EasyEquities Website or App
• Click Register and fill in your details: name, email, ID number, and a password.
• Verify Your Account: Youll need to submit some documents (like your ID and proof of address) to comply with South Africas FICA regulations. Dont worry, its quick and secure.
• Once verified (usually within a day or two), youre ready to invest!

EasyEquities Signup

Step 2: Deposit Money on EasyEquity

Now that your account is set up, its time to add some cash to start buying shares. There are, best banks for traders or investors that you can switch to if you are serious about investing.

• Log in to your EasyEquities account.
• Choose Deposit Funds.
• Transfer money from your bank account (EFT or card payments work).

I recommend using Stitch (FET) or Capitec Pay so that your funds will reflect instantly.

Step 3: Buy InternationalShares on EasyEquity

Time to become a shareholder! Heres how to buy your first shares.

• Use the search bar to find a company you like (e.g., Microsoft or Lloyds Banking).
• Enter the amount of money you want to invest. (EasyEquities allows you to buy fractional shares, meaning you can invest with as little as R10)
• Confirm your purchase.

Congratulations You now officially own shares in an Internationalcompany.

Stockbrokers Offering InternationalShares

While EasyEquities is the easiest for beginners, there are other alternative brokers you can use, like Shayft and BrokStock.

Broker	Rating	Exchanges	Fees	Fractional Shares
EasyEquities	★ 4.9/5	JSE, US Stocks, ETFs, Bundles, RA, TFSA	0.25%	✓
Shyft	★ 4.7/5	JSE, US Stocks, Global ETFs	0.40%	✓
BrokStock	★ 4.6/5	JSE, US, UK, EU, Asia-Pacific Stocks	0.10%	✓

Conclustion

Investing in Internationalstocks in South Africa is much easier than it seems. You dont need to be rich or experienced. Check out our guide to investing in stocks for beginners if you want to learn more.