If you are travelling to or from South Africa, there is something new you need to know before your next trip.
From 1 July 2026, all travellers entering or leaving South Africa — by air, land, sea or rail — are required to submit an online traveller declaration before they travel. This is no longer optional. The paper customs form most of us were used to handing in at the airport has been replaced by a digital process that needs to be completed before you even get to the border.
Who does this apply to?
In general, any person entering or leaving South Africa by air, land, sea or rail must submit a traveller declaration. This includes South African citizens, permanent residents, and foreign travellers. The only exemptions are for air and sea travellers who are transiting through South Africa and do not leave the designated transit area.
Business travellers are not exempt either. If you are travelling for business purposes, you must indicate this on the form and provide the required travel and goods information. If you are carrying commercial goods, additional customs requirements may apply.
When must you submit it?
The declaration must be submitted no more than 24 hours before your departure. For journeys involving multiple flights, it must be submitted within 24 hours before the final flight directly bound for South Africa.
What do you need to declare?
You do not need to declare ordinary personal belongings. However, you must declare goods, currency or other items that exceed your traveller allowance or require customs attention. Duty-free allowances are: 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 could attract duty and VAT; and if the total value exceeds R25,000, normal customs duties and VAT will apply. This allowance applies once per person per 30-day period and does not apply to travellers returning after an absence of less than 48 hours.
Travellers are also permitted to carry up to R100,000 in local or foreign currency or bearer negotiable instruments without prior approval. Amounts above this threshold must be declared and may require permission.
How do you submit the declaration?
You can submit your declaration through the SARS website using the Traveller Management System, the SATMS mobile app, or by scanning a QR code at selected ports. Self-service kiosks are also available at certain ports of entry. After submitting, SARS will send you a confirmation with customs instructions — keep this on your phone or as a printed copy.
A word of caution on launch day issues
It is worth noting that on the first day of the requirement (1 July 2026), the online system experienced technical difficulties, with some fields not functioning correctly and the application page being intermittently inaccessible. SARS has made provision for this: if you cannot submit electronically due to a systems failure or lack of internet access, you may be assisted at the port by an officer or at a self-service terminal. That said, we strongly recommend submitting your declaration well in advance and not leaving it to the last minute.