Travellers getting into or leaving South Africa should submit their traveller declaration on-line earlier than they journey, except they qualify for one of many restricted paper-based exceptions. The South African Income Service (SARS) has confirmed that the brand new obligatory journey guidelines got here into impact from 1 July 2026.
The web declaration system makes it simpler for travellers to adjust to Customs formalities earlier than arriving at a port of entry or exit. It additionally improves the traveller expertise, helps sooner processing and strengthens Customs danger administration.
On-line traveller declaration
In line with SARS, anybody getting into or leaving South Africa by air, land, sea or rail should submit a traveller declaration. This contains South African residents, residents and international travellers. A mum or dad, authorized guardian, caretaker or one other aiding particular person could full the declaration on behalf of a minor or somebody who can not full it themselves.
Nevertheless, air or sea travellers who’re solely transiting by means of South Africa and don’t go away the designated transit space usually are not required to submit a traveller declaration. You need to submit your on-line declaration not more than 24 hours earlier than departing from the nation you might be travelling from. If you’re travelling to South Africa on a journey with stopovers, the declaration should be submitted not more than 24 hours earlier than departure on the ultimate leg of your journey to South Africa.
Submission course of
You may submit your declaration by means of the SARS web site utilizing the Traveller Administration System, the South African Traveller Administration System (SATMS) app downloaded out of your cellular gadget’s app retailer, or through the use of a QR code on a tool with web entry. At ports the place obtainable, you too can use self-service kiosks. SARS has additionally printed a step-by-step video explaining full your declaration.
After submitting your declaration, SARS will ship you affirmation with directions on what you must do if you arrive on the related port of entry or exit. Maintain this affirmation obtainable in your telephone or as a printed copy and observe the directions and signage on the port. If the data you submitted adjustments earlier than you go by means of the Customs processing channel, you should replace your declaration in order that the knowledge on the system stays correct. For those who intend to make use of a non-designated place, which is a spot with out a Customs presence, you should submit your declaration by means of the net system earlier than travelling and point out that you simply want to use that location. SARS will then ship directions confirming whether or not you might proceed to that non-designated place or whether or not you should report back to the closest designated place of entry or exit.
Necessities
To finish the declaration, SARS says travellers might want to present:
Passport or journey doc particulars.
Contact particulars and particulars of any travelling companions, the place relevant.
You need to additionally point out whether or not you might be carrying items, foreign money or bearer negotiable devices (a written monetary doc) that want to be declared. If prompted by the system, you should present additional particulars about these gadgets.
Exceptions
For those who can not submit your declaration electronically due to a methods failure, an absence of web entry or one more reason, you might be assisted by an officer on the port or use a self-service terminal, the place obtainable. In restricted circumstances, a paper declaration should still be used.
A paper declaration is barely permitted the place there’s a SARS methods failure, the place web connectivity is unavailable on the related place of entry or exit, or the place a traveller is in any other case fairly unable to submit electronically. In these circumstances, the traveller could full the prescribed paper kinds within the Customs processing space.
Obligation-free allowances
You need to declare any items exceeding the related duty-free or different allowance thresholds. As soon as declared, Customs will assess the products, calculate any duties and VAT payable, and advise you of any additional steps you must observe on the port of entry or exit. Allowances apply per particular person and can’t be transferred or mixed between travellers.
The duty-free allowances for travellers are:
Items value as much as R5,000 per particular person could also be imported with out paying obligation or VAT.
Extra items value as much as R20,000 could also be allowed however could possibly be topic to obligation and VAT.
If the whole worth exceeds R25,000, regular Customs duties and VAT will apply.
This allowance is barely obtainable as soon as per particular person throughout a 30-day journey interval. This doesn’t apply to items imported by folks returning after being away for lower than 48 hours.
For extra data, go to right here.
