What does African Land do?

African Land is a full-service real estate investment advisory firm. We help investors buy, develop, rent, and manage property across Africa, with offices in Lagos, Accra, and London.

Which countries does African Land operate in?

We primarily operate in Nigeria and Ghana, with advisory services covering Kenya, South Africa, and other sub-Saharan African markets.

Can overseas investors buy property in Africa through African Land?

Yes. We specialise in helping diaspora and international investors acquire and manage African property remotely. We handle sourcing, legal due diligence, refurbishment, and ongoing management.

Does African Land offer joint ventures with landowners?

Yes. We structure and facilitate joint ventures between landowners in Africa and developers or investors, covering legal arrangements, profit sharing, and project management.

Does African Land have a construction training school?

Yes. The African Land Building and Construction Training Institute offers certification programmes for construction workers and site managers across Africa.

Can I hire vehicles or heavy machinery through African Land?

Yes. We facilitate the hire and lease of transport vehicles and heavy construction machinery for projects across Africa.

How do I invest in African real estate through African Land?

Book a Zoom consultation at african.land/book-a-zoom-meeting, or email enquiry@africanland.net. We offer direct property acquisition, managed sales, and pooled investment fund options.

Property ownership in Africa

Can foreigners buy property in Africa?

A plain-English, country-by-country check of what a non-citizen can actually own across Africa — freehold, leasehold, or through a company or scheme — with the governing law and a source for each. Pick a country and get a straight answer.

Check a country

Select a market, see what you can own.

Tap any country for the detail: tenure, the key restriction, the governing law, and a link to the source. Filter by what type of ownership is allowed, or search by name.

🇬🇭

Ghana

West Africa

Leasehold only

Leasehold up to 50 years (renewable)

African Land operates here

Non-citizens cannot hold freehold. The maximum grant is a 50-year leasehold, renewable; you own any building outright, the restriction is on the land. Ghanaian and diaspora citizens may hold leases up to 99 years. A company that is more than 40% foreign-owned is treated as a non-citizen.

Max tenure: 50 yrs (non-citizen); 99 yrs citizens/diaspora

Key restriction: No freehold for non-citizens; >40% foreign-owned companies treated as non-citizen.

Governing law: Land Act 2020 (Act 1036)

Source: Ghana Land Act 2020

Ask us about Ghana

🇳🇬

Nigeria

West Africa

Via local structure

Right of occupancy (no absolute freehold)

African Land operates here

Land is vested in the State Governor; you hold a right of occupancy rather than absolute freehold. A valid transfer needs the Governor's consent and a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). Foreign investors commonly acquire and hold through a locally registered Nigerian company.

Max tenure: Up to 99-yr right of occupancy

Key restriction: Governor's consent + Certificate of Occupancy required; foreigners usually hold via a Nigerian company.

Governing law: Land Use Act 1978

Source: Nigeria Land Use Act

Ask us about Nigeria

🇰🇪

Kenya

East Africa

Leasehold only

Leasehold up to 99 years (no freehold)

African Land operates here

Under Article 65 of the 2010 Constitution a non-citizen may hold land on leasehold of up to 99 years only, not freehold; any longer term is treated as 99 years. Agricultural land is further restricted, and coastal or security-sensitive areas can carry extra limits.

Max tenure: 99 yrs

Key restriction: No freehold; agricultural land restricted; coastal/security-sensitive limits.

Governing law: Constitution of Kenya 2010, Art. 65

Source: Constitution of Kenya 2010

Ask us about Kenya

🇷🇼

Rwanda

East Africa

Leasehold only

Leasehold, typically up to 99 years

Rwanda allows foreign nationals and entities to hold land, generally structured as a leasehold (commonly up to 99 years) and tied to development use. One of the more open East-African regimes for foreign investors.

Max tenure: 99 yrs (typical)

Key restriction: Structured as leasehold; land expected to be put to development use.

Governing law: Land Law No. 27/2021 (and 2004 Land Law)

Source: Comparative land-ownership review (Mondaq)

🇹🇿

Tanzania

East Africa

Via local structure

No direct ownership; via Tanzanian company

Land is reserved for Tanzanian citizens; non-citizens cannot own land outright. Foreign investors access land indirectly, usually through a Tanzanian-incorporated company holding a derivative right granted for investment purposes (often via the Tanzania Investment Centre).

Max tenure: Derivative right (investment)

Key restriction: No direct ownership by non-citizens; access only via a Tanzanian company / derivative right.

Governing law: Land Act 1999

Source: Comparative land-ownership review (Mondaq)

🇺🇬

Uganda

East Africa

Leasehold only

Leasehold up to 99 years (no freehold/mailo)

Non-citizens are generally not allowed to hold freehold or mailo land. They may hold a leasehold interest of up to 99 years. Tenure is governed by the Constitution and the Land Act.

Max tenure: 99 yrs

Key restriction: No freehold or mailo for non-citizens; leasehold only.

Governing law: Constitution & Land Act

Source: Comparative land-ownership review (Mondaq)

🇿🇦

South Africa

Southern Africa

Freehold allowed

Freehold — same rights as citizens

Foreigners may purchase and own immovable property in South Africa essentially without restriction, on the same basis as citizens; the only people excluded are those in the country illegally. Buyers are subject to exchange-control rules (local borrowing is capped for non-residents) and the usual transfer duty / CGT. Reform of foreign ownership has been debated politically but no general restriction is in force.

Max tenure: Freehold (full title)

Key restriction: Exchange-control limits on local finance; standard transfer duty & CGT; illegal residents excluded.

Governing law: Common law (no general foreign-ownership restriction)

Source: Property24

🇪🇬

Egypt

North Africa

Allowed, with limits

Yes — up to 2 units, each ≤ 4,000 m²

Foreigners may own up to two residential properties nationwide, each not exceeding 4,000 m² (exceptions need Council of Ministers approval). Agricultural and desert land is barred, as is property in border, military and antiquities zones.

Max tenure: 2 residential properties

Key restriction: Max 2 units; ≤4,000 m² each; no agricultural/desert land; no border/military/antiquities zones.

Governing law: Law 230/1996 (and Law 15/1963 on ag land)

Source: Andersen Egypt

🇲🇦

Morocco

North Africa

Freehold allowed

Freehold — residential & commercial

Foreigners can own residential and commercial property freely, with full title. The main exclusion is agricultural land, which non-citizens generally cannot acquire (a measure to protect local farming).

Max tenure: Freehold (full title)

Key restriction: Cannot acquire agricultural land.

Governing law: Moroccan property law

Source: Global Property Guide

🇲🇺

Mauritius

Island Africa

Allowed, with limits

Yes — via approved schemes (IRS/RES/PDS/Smart City)

Non-citizens buy through approved routes: IRS (from US$500,000), RES, PDS and Smart City schemes, or a Ground+2 apartment (from MUR 6 million). Buying above US$375,000 under most schemes confers a residence permit for the owner and family.

Max tenure: Scheme-based; residence above US$375k

Key restriction: Must buy within an approved scheme; price thresholds apply; outside schemes ownership is limited.

Governing law: Non-Citizens (Property Restriction) Act & scheme rules

Source: Mauritius buyer guide

🇧🇼

Botswana

Southern Africa

Freehold allowed

Freehold in most areas (not tribal/state land)

Non-citizens can buy freehold property in most areas, including Gaborone. They cannot buy tribal land or state land. A transfer duty of 30% applies to foreign buyers of property.

Max tenure: Freehold (full title)

Key restriction: No tribal or state land; 30% transfer duty for foreign buyers.

Governing law: Land policy (tribal/state land excluded)

Source: Global Property Guide

🇳🇦

Namibia

Southern Africa

Freehold allowed

Freehold for urban/residential property

Foreigners can own urban and residential property outright, in their own name. Agricultural / commercial farm land is restricted for non-citizens, and reform in this area has been debated.

Max tenure: Freehold (urban)

Key restriction: Agricultural/farm land restricted; reform debated.

Governing law: Namibian property law

Source: HAR Global Properties

No countries match that filter.

At a glance

Every market, side by side.

The same information as a comparison table — who can own what, the maximum tenure, and the headline restriction.

Country	What a foreigner can own	Max tenure	Key restriction
🇬🇭 Ghana	Leasehold up to 50 years (renewable)	50 yrs (non-citizen); 99 yrs citizens/diaspora	No freehold for non-citizens; >40% foreign-owned companies treated as non-citizen.
🇳🇬 Nigeria	Right of occupancy (no absolute freehold)	Up to 99-yr right of occupancy	Governor's consent + Certificate of Occupancy required; foreigners usually hold via a Nigerian company.
🇰🇪 Kenya	Leasehold up to 99 years (no freehold)	99 yrs	No freehold; agricultural land restricted; coastal/security-sensitive limits.
🇷🇼 Rwanda	Leasehold, typically up to 99 years	99 yrs (typical)	Structured as leasehold; land expected to be put to development use.
🇹🇿 Tanzania	No direct ownership; via Tanzanian company	Derivative right (investment)	No direct ownership by non-citizens; access only via a Tanzanian company / derivative right.
🇺🇬 Uganda	Leasehold up to 99 years (no freehold/mailo)	99 yrs	No freehold or mailo for non-citizens; leasehold only.
🇿🇦 South Africa	Freehold — same rights as citizens	Freehold (full title)	Exchange-control limits on local finance; standard transfer duty & CGT; illegal residents excluded.
🇪🇬 Egypt	Yes — up to 2 units, each ≤ 4,000 m²	2 residential properties	Max 2 units; ≤4,000 m² each; no agricultural/desert land; no border/military/antiquities zones.
🇲🇦 Morocco	Freehold — residential & commercial	Freehold (full title)	Cannot acquire agricultural land.
🇲🇺 Mauritius	Yes — via approved schemes (IRS/RES/PDS/Smart City)	Scheme-based; residence above US$375k	Must buy within an approved scheme; price thresholds apply; outside schemes ownership is limited.
🇧🇼 Botswana	Freehold in most areas (not tribal/state land)	Freehold (full title)	No tribal or state land; 30% transfer duty for foreign buyers.
🇳🇦 Namibia	Freehold for urban/residential property	Freehold (urban)	Agricultural/farm land restricted; reform debated.

African Land operates directly in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya — we can take you from this table to a verified, completed purchase in those markets.

Questions

Foreign property ownership, answered.

As a non-citizen you can hold a leasehold of up to 50 years (renewable) — not freehold. You own any building outright; the restriction is on the land. Ghanaian and diaspora citizens can hold leases up to 99 years. African Land handles the tenure check, title verification and purchase for you.

In Nigeria you hold a right of occupancy under the Land Use Act (Governor's consent + Certificate of Occupancy), usually through a Nigerian company. In Kenya, non-citizens may hold leasehold of up to 99 years, not freehold. We structure each purchase to the local rules.

Among the markets on this page, South Africa, Morocco (residential/commercial), Botswana (outside tribal/state land) and Namibia (urban) allow foreigners to hold full freehold title. Most of the rest use leasehold, a local-company structure, or an approved scheme.

No. This is general information gathered from public legal sources (linked per country) to help you orient yourself. Rules change and apply differently to each deal — always take independent local legal advice before committing, which African Land can arrange in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya.

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Know what you can own — now own it, properly.

African Land sources, structures and manages property in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya, and confirms exactly what you can hold before you commit a cedi, naira or shilling. Tell us your market and goal.

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General information only, compiled from public legal sources and current to November 2026 — not legal advice, and not a substitute for independent local counsel. Property law changes and applies differently to each transaction; confirm the current position before relying on it. African Land arranges verified legal due diligence in its core markets (Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya). Sources: Ghana · Nigeria · Kenya · Rwanda · Tanzania · Uganda · South Africa · Egypt · Morocco · Mauritius · Botswana · Namibia.

Can foreigners buy property in Africa?

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