Clearing Agents

What is a clearing agent?

Any person (excluding a registered agent) who lodges a Customs Clearance Declaration (CCD):

For reward on behalf of another Customs Client type; or
Provides a service that includes the clearance of goods (e.g. Licensee of a Customs warehouse making CCD on behalf of the importer, exporter or owner of the goods) must license as a Customs clearing agent in terms of Section 64B of the Act.

Which forms are required for the Clearing agent licence application?

DA 185 – Application form – Registration and licensing of Customs and Excise Clients – External Form
DA 185.4B5 – Licensing Client Type 4B5 – Clearing agent – External Form
If the security is required, also complete DA 185.C – Security particulars – External Form.
Clearing Agent Pro forma agreement

How long is the Clearing agent licence valid?

The clearing agent licence is valid from 01 January until 31 December of each year, see item 835.00 of Schedule 8 of the Act.

Top tip: It is a legal requirement for Clearing Agents to lodge a bond. However, this would be defined during the application process. For full details, refer to the SC-CF-19 – Registration Licensing and Designation – External Policy and SC-SE-05 – Bonds – External Policy.

To access this page in different languages click on the links below:

Related Documents

SC-CF-55-A01 – Completion of Goods Declarations – External Annexure

SC-CF-55 – Goods Declaration – External Policy

SC-CF-55-A12 – Customs Declaration SAD 502 – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A13 – Customs Declaration SAD 505 – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A14 – Customs Declaration SAD 509 – External Annexure

SC-CF-69 – Air Passenger Tax Registration Portal – External Guide

SC-CF-19-A01 – Documentary Requirements – External Annexure

SC-CF-19 – Registration Licensing and Accreditation – External Policy

SC-CF-55-A11 – Supporting Document Codes – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A10 – List of Acquittal and Proof of Export Requirements – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A09 – Customs Status Response Messages – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A08 – Export Coding – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A07 – Countable Quantity Codes – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A06 – Supplementary Unit Codes – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A05 – Country and Currency Codes – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A04 – Procedure Measure Matrix – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A03 – CPC Combination Matrix – External Annexure

SC-CF-55-A02 – Alphabetic District Office Codes – External Annexure

SC-CF-19-A05 – Registration and Licensing Application Types – External Annexure

SC-RO-02 – Administration of Trade Agreements – External Policy

SC-SE-05 – Bonds – External Policy

SC-RO-02-A02 – Application for Export Origin Certificates – External Annexure

SC-RO-02-A01 – Application for Determination or Verification – External Annexure

SC-SE-05-A01 – Bond Assessment – External Annexure

DA 185 4A15 – Registration Client Type 4A15 – Manufacture of excisable goods solely for own use – External Annexure

DA 185 4A17 – Registration Client Type 4A17 – Tobacco Leaf Dealer – External Annexure

DA 185 4A16 – Client Type 4A16 – Non-commercial manufacturer of sugary beverages (Section 59A and Rule 54I 03) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A14 – Registration Client Type 4A14 – Registered still – External Annexure

SC-CF-19-A03 – Exemption from Ad Valorem Excise Licence and Payment – External Annexure

SC-CF-19-A04 – Joint Ad Valorem Excise Licence – External Annexure

SC-CF-36 – Use of DA 490 and DA 494 – External Policy

DA 8 – Application for registration to submit reporting documents for sea cargo – External Form

DA 185.4B16 – Licensing Client Type 4B16 – Container depot – External Form

DA 185.4B14 – Licensing Client Type 4B14 – Degrouping depot – External Form

DA 185.4B15 – Licensing Client Type 4B15 – Searcher of or searching for wreck – External Form

Customs-G004 – Customs Statement of Account – External Guide

SC-PR-01-02 – Rebate Item 470 03 – External Guide

DA 185.4B11 – Licensing Client Type 4B11 – Distillation of spirits by an agricultural distiller – External Form

DA 185.4B12 – Licensing Client Type 4B12 – To own, possess or keep stills – External Form

DA 185.4B13 – Licensing Client Type 4B13 – To manufacture or import stills for sale or repair stills – External Form

DA 185.C – Security particulars – External Form

DA 185.4B2 – Licensing Client Type 4B2 – Manufacturing warehouse – External Form

DA 185.4B5 – Licensing Client Type 4B5 – Clearing agent – External Form

DA 133 – Return in respect of Spirits – External Form

DA 8B – Application for registration to submit reporting documents for rail cargo – External Form

DA 8C – Application for registration to submit reporting documents for road cargo – External Form

DA 8A – Application for registration to submit reporting documents for air cargo – External Form

SC-CF-26 – Application to Submit Cargo Reports – External Manual

Last Updated:

19/08/2026
11:42