The mailboxes below let you send enquiries to Customs at Sea Ports of Entry. These mailboxes are monitored by SARS Customs employees to improve communication and turnaround times.
Sea Modality Branch | Mailbox names | Purpose of Mailbox |
Sea Modality Compliance Centres (Durban and Cape Town) | External queries specific to declaration-based cases for the Sea Modality Compliance Centres i.e. documentary inspections, provisional payments, conditional releases, embargo applications, adjustments, refunds, ROO and TDN’s. | |
Sea Modality IAA Enquiries | Submission of all DA51 IAA applications for cases related to the Sea Modality as well as all queries relating to the respective cases | |
Durban | External queries specific to the port, including Inwards and Outwards Processing, Submission of manifests, state warehouse, CN1, Licensing & Registration related queries, Deferment, DA304, DA490, TRD1 and any other general Customs query related to Branch Operations. | |
Durban | Booking enquiries relating to cargo examinations, e.g. scanner bookings, as well as physical-inspection bookings for system-generated stops, manual stops and bookings for Customs Supervision inspections. | |
City Deep — Johannesburg | External queries specific to the port, including state warehouse queries, CN1, Licensing and Registration, Deferment, DA304, DA490, TRD1 and any other general Customs query related to Branch Operations. | |
City Deep — Johannesburg | Booking enquiries relating to cargo examinations, e.g. physical-inspection bookings for system-generated stops, manual stops and bookings for Customs Supervision inspections. | |
Cape Town | External queries specific to the port, including Inwards and Outwards Processing, Submission of manifests, state warehouse, CN1, Licensing & Registration, deferments, DA304, DA490, TRD1, and any other general Customs query related to Branch Operations. | |
Cape Town | Booking enquiries relating to cargo examinations, e.g. scanner bookings, as well as physical-inspection bookings for system-generated stops, manual stops and bookings for Customs Supervision inspections. | |
Pretoria | External queries specific to the port, including CN1, Licensing & Registration, Deferment, DA304, DA490, TRD1, and any other general Customs query related to Branch Operations. | |
Pretoria | Booking enquiries relating to cargo examinations, e.g. physical-inspection bookings for system-generated stops, manual stops and bookings for Customs Supervision inspections. | |
Richards Bay | External queries specific to the port, including bookings, Licensing & Registration, and CN1 requests | |
Eastern Cape | External queries specific to the port, including Inwards and Outwards Processing, submission of manifests, state warehouses, CN1 , Licensing & Registration, Deferment, DA304, DA490, TRD1 and any other general Customs query related to Branch Operations. | |
Eastern Cape | Booking enquiries relating to cargo examinations for both system generated stops and manual stops for all Eastern Cape Sea ports. |
Dos and Don’ts of Sending Emails to These Inboxes
- Important: In the subject line, please insert the operational activity or area, with the applicable SSM case number/details, that the enquiry relates to.
- Compliance Centre Escalations: [email protected] ; [email protected]
- Send queries about updates on declaration-based cases.
- Before sending a query, check the system for the latest messages from Customs.
- Give the case number in the subject line.
- Booking mailbox: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
- Use these mailboxes to book a physical inspection; subject line example: Book for exam + case number
- Book scanner exams; subject line example: Book for exam + case number
- Supporting documents for JOC and manual detentions; subject line example: Supporting documents + case number
- Supervision bookings; subject line example: Supervision (this includes all EWPs, destructions under supervision, etc.)
- Enquiry mailbox: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
- All queries for state warehouses (SWH), including releases and bookings for goods into and out of the SWH; subject line example: SWH + details of query
- Submission of manifests; subject line example: Manifest + details of vessel
- Shipping requests; subject line example: Shipping + details of query (Inwards, Outwards, Transires, Landing Orders, OPL Movements, etc.)
- Overcarried Cargo; subject line example: Overcarried cargo + details of clearance
- Request for blank certificates i.e. SADC, AGOA, etc
- Applications for returning residents to import household goods and personal vehicles
- Diplomatic queries – be specific on the request and include the word “Diplomat” in the subject line
- All requests for CN1’s – E.g. CN1 + LRN number
- All queries related to Licensing and Registrations – E.g. L&R Query + Company name
- All queries related to Deferment statements – E.g. Deferments + Company name
- Any other general query not listed above i.e. Bond Stores, Warehouses, DA304, DA490, TRD1, etc.: Please be specific in the subject line.
- IAA Mailbox: [email protected]
- Submission of DA51 + details of complainant
- Follow-up on DA51 already submitted + reference number allocated
- Please do not use any other mailbox or communication platforms to send Customs enquiries if these have not first been submitted through the provided mailboxes.
Please note: Upon submission of your query, an automated response will provide escalation and follow-up guidance. This information is also available on request through the query logging system.
