Q1: What is changing on 1 July 2026?
From 1 July 2026, travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit their traveller declaration online before they travel, unless they qualify for one of the limited paper-based exceptions. The declaration forms part of the Customs process and helps travellers meet their legal obligation to declare goods, currency and other relevant items in their possession.
Q2: Who must submit an online traveller declaration?
In general, any person entering or leaving South Africa by air, land or sea and rail must submit a traveller declaration. This includes South African citizens, residents and foreign travellers. A parent, legal guardian, caretaker or another assisting person may complete the declaration on behalf of a minor or a person who cannot complete it themselves.
Q3: Are any travellers excluded from submitting a declaration?
Yes. Air or sea travellers who are only transiting through South Africa and who do not leave the designated transit area are excluded from submitting a traveller declaration.
Q4: Why is SARS introducing required online traveller declarations?
The online declaration system makes it easier for travellers to comply with Customs formalities before arriving at a port of entry or exit. It also improves the traveller experience, supports faster processing, and strengthens Customs risk management.
Q5: When must I submit the online declaration?
You must submit the online declaration no more than 24 hours before departure from the country from which you are travelling. If you are travelling to South Africa on a journey with stops, the declaration must be submitted no more than 24 hours before departure on the last leg of your journey directly to South Africa.
Q6: How do I submit an online traveller declaration?
You can submit your declaration through the SARS website on the Traveller Management System or the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) App downloaded from your mobile device’s store or by using a quick response code on a device that can connect to the internet. At ports where available, self-service kiosks may also be used.
Q7: What information do I need to complete the declaration?
You will generally need your passport or travel document details, your travel details, contact details, and details of any travelling companions, if applicable. You must also indicate whether you have goods, currency or bearer negotiable instruments that need to be declared, and if prompted by the system, provide further details about those items.
Q8: Do I need to declare personal effects?
No. You do not need to declare ordinary personal effects for your own use. However, you must declare goods, currency or other items that exceed your traveller allowance or require Customs attention.
Q9: What happens after I submit the declaration?
After you submit the declaration, SARS will send a confirmation with instructions on what you must do when you arrive at the relevant port of entry or exit. You should keep that confirmation available on your phone or in printed form and follow the instructions and signage at the port.
Q10: What must I do if my details change after I have submitted the declaration?
If any of the information you submitted changes before you proceed through the Customs processing channel, you must update your declaration so that the information on the system remains correct.
Q11: What if I cannot submit the declaration online before I arrive at the port?
If you could not submit electronically because of a systems failure, a lack of internet access, or another reasonable ground, you may be assisted at the port by an officer or at a self-service terminal where available. In limited cases, a paper declaration may still be used.
Q12: When can a paper declaration still be used?
A paper declaration may be used only where there is a SARS systems failure, where internet connectivity is not available at the relevant place of entry or exit, or where a traveller is otherwise reasonably unable to submit electronically. In those cases, the traveller may complete the prescribed paper forms at the Customs processing area.
Q13: Can someone submit a declaration on behalf of another person?
Yes. A parent or legal guardian may submit a declaration on behalf of a minor, and a caretaker or another assisting person may submit on behalf of a person who cannot do so because of age, ill-health, or mental or physical disability. The person completing the declaration takes responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided.
Q14: What if I am travelling by train?
Travellers entering or leaving South Africa by train should also submit their declarations electronically before reaching the first or last railway station in the Republic, depending on the direction of travel. If this is not possible because of circumstances already referred to, the declaration may be completed at the railway station in the prescribed way.
Q15: What if I want to use a non-designated place to enter or leave South Africa?
If you intend to use a non-designated place (i.e. a place without Customs presence), you must submit your declaration through the online system before travelling and indicate that you want to use that place. SARS will then send instructions telling you whether you may proceed to that non-designated place or whether you must go to the nearest designated place of entry or exit.
Q16: What happens if I do not submit a declaration or if I make a false declaration?
Travellers are legally required to make a proper and true declaration. Failure to declare goods, currency or other relevant items, or making a false declaration, may lead to delays, the detention or forfeiture of goods, penalties, or other enforcement actions under Customs legislation.
Q17: Where can I get help?
If you need help with completing the declaration, you can ask for assistance at a Customs service counter or self-service kiosk where available, or contact SARS through the traveller declaration support channels. Travellers may also email [email protected] for assistance.
Q18: Must children also have a traveller declaration?
Yes. Each traveller must be covered by a declaration, including children and infants. A parent or legal guardian may complete and submit the declaration on behalf of a child and is responsible for ensuring that the information provided is correct.
Q19: Must I declare cash or other financial instruments?
Yes. If you are carrying currency or bearer negotiable instruments above the applicable legal threshold, you must declare them. The system may ask you for additional details such as the type of currency or instrument, the amount, the Rand value and the source of the funds.
Q20: What if I am travelling for business?
Business travellers must also complete the traveller declaration. When completing the form, you must indicate that you are travelling in a business capacity and provide the required travel and goods information. If you are carrying commercial goods or goods for business purposes, further Customs requirements may apply.
Q21: What are commercial goods?
Commercial goods are goods that you are bringing into or taking out of South Africa for trade, sale, business use, or another commercial purpose. Goods may also be treated as commercial if, because of their nature, quantity or volume, they reasonably appear to be intended for business purposes rather than personal use.
Q22: What if I am carrying goods for temporary importation, exportation, re-importation or re-exportation?
These goods (including foreign registered vehicles when travelling by Road) must be declared. Depending on the type of goods, the system may ask for more detailed information, such as item descriptions, serial numbers and values. Customs may also require supporting documents or apply further processing at the port.
Q23: Can I still claim a VAT refund if I use the online traveller declaration system?
Yes. If you want to claim a VAT refund, you should declare the relevant goods through the traveller declaration system and then present yourself to Customs at the port for the required verification process. After Customs has completed the verification requirements, you may proceed to the VAT Refund Administrator office, where available, to finalise your claim.
Q24: What if I have goods above the duty-free allowance?
You must declare goods that exceed the relevant duty-free or other allowance thresholds. Once declared, Customs will assess the goods and calculate any duties and VAT payable, and advise you of what further steps you must follow at the port of entry or exit.
Q25: Can duty free allowance be combined between travellers?
No. Allowances apply per person and cannot be transferred or combined between travellers.
Q26: What duty-free allowances apply to travellers?
- Goods up to R5 000 per person may be imported without paying duty or VAT.
- Additional goods up to R20 000 may be allowed but may be subject to duty and VAT.
- If the total value exceeds R25 000, normal Customs duties and VAT will apply.
This allowance is only valid once per person during a 30-day period and does not apply to goods imported by persons returning after an absence of less than 48 hours.
Q27: How does the online traveller declaration impact the international carnet process
The traveller declaration system does not replace the carnet process; carnets will continue to be processed as a separate and manual Customs declaration. Vehicles under a carnet are therefore not required to be declared on the online traveller declaration platform, however the drivers of such vehicle must declare other goods not covered in the carnet.
