South Africans and international visitors travelling into or out of the country will now have to complete a compulsory online traveller declaration before they travel.
This comes after the introduction of a new digital customs system by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
The new requirement came into effect on July 1 2026 and applies to most people travelling by air, road, sea and rail. The move forms part of SARS’ efforts to modernise customs processes, reduce delays at ports of entry and improve compliance with customs laws.
This is everything travellers need to know.
Online declarations are now the default and under the new rules, travellers must submit their declaration electronically within 24 hours before departure.
The declaration replaces the need to complete most paper customs forms and allows travellers to declare goods, cash and other items before arriving at a South African border or airport.
According to SARS, the system is designed to make customs processing quicker while improving its ability to identify high-risk travellers and undeclared goods.
Who needs to complete the declaration?
The requirement applies to South African citizens, permanent residents, foreign visitors, business travellers and children and infants (through a parent or guardian).
Parents, legal guardians or caregivers may complete the declaration on behalf of children or anyone unable to do so because of illness, age or disability.
The only major exemption is for air or sea passengers who are merely transiting through South Africa and remain inside the designated international transit area.
How to complete and when should travellers submit the declaration?
Travellers must complete the declaration no more than 24 hours before departing for South Africa or before leaving South Africa.
For journeys involving multiple flights, the declaration must be submitted within 24 hours before the final flight directly bound for South Africa.
Travellers can complete the declaration through several ways: the SARS Traveller Management System on the SARS website, the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) mobile app, QR codes provided by SARS and self-service kiosks at selected ports of entry.
Once submitted, travellers receive a confirmation containing instructions for customs clearance, which should be kept either electronically or as a printed copy.
What information is required?
The online form requests:
Passport or travel document details.Travel itinerary.Contact information.Details of accompanying travellers.Information about goods, currency or financial instruments requiring declaration.
If the system identifies items requiring additional scrutiny, travellers may be asked to provide further information before travelling.
Another thing to note is that personal belongings do not need to be declared.
However, travellers must declare goods that exceed duty-free allowances or require customs inspection, including commercial goods or items intended for business use.
Cash must still be declared and travellers carrying cash or bearer negotiable instruments above the legal threshold must declare them.
The system may also request information including currency type, amount being carried, Rand value and source of the funds. Failure to declare qualifying amounts could result in enforcement action.
What are the current duty-free limits?
SARS says travellers may bring in the following:
Goods worth up to R5,000 per person without paying duty or VAT.
Additional goods worth up to R20,000, although these may attract customs duties and VAT.
Goods valued above R25,000 are subject to normal customs duties and VAT.
The allowance applies once every 30 days per traveller and cannot be shared or combined between family members or travel companions.
It also does not apply to travellers returning to South Africa after being away for less than 48 hours.
So what happens if you don’t have access to internet?
Although online submission is now the standard, SARS says paper declarations have not disappeared entirely.
Paper forms may still be used in limited circumstances, including SARS system failures and internet connectivity problems or situations where travellers are reasonably unable to submit electronically. Paper forms can also be used if one is travelling by train or through remote border crossings.
Border officials or self-service terminals will also assist affected travellers where available.
Rail passengers must also complete electronic declarations before reaching South Africa’s first or last railway station, depending on the direction of travel.
People wishing to enter or leave South Africa through a non-designated place without customs officials must first notify SARS through the online system. SARS will then advise whether they may proceed or whether they must report to an official port of entry.
Business travellers are also required to complete the declaration.
Anyone transporting goods for trade, sale or commercial purposes must indicate this on the form, as additional customs procedures may apply.
Travellers temporarily importing or exporting goods — including foreign-registered vehicles entering South Africa by road — must also declare these items and may need to provide supporting documentation.
The introduction of online declarations does not affect VAT refund claims.
Travellers seeking VAT refunds must still declare the relevant goods through the online system before presenting them to Customs officials for inspection and verification at the port of departure.
What happens if someone doesn’t declare?
SARS warned that providing false information or failing to submit a declaration is a violation of customs legislation.
Consequences may include delays at the border, detention or forfeiture of goods, financial penalties and other enforcement action under customs laws.
The tax authority said travellers who require assistance can obtain help from Customs service counters, self-service kiosks where available, or by contacting SARS through its traveller support channels.
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