Updated for the 2026 rules

SARS Online Traveller Declaration: Complete 2026 Guide for South Africa

From 1 July 2026, the SARS online traveller declaration is compulsory for anyone entering or leaving South Africa by air, land, sea or rail. This guide explains exactly who must submit it, what you need, how to declare goods and cash, and what happens at the border — so you can travel without delays, penalties or seized goods.

Effective date

1 July 2026

Submit within

24 hours of departure

Cash limit

R100 000

Duty-free allowance

R5 000 p.p.

SARS online traveller declaration confirmation on a smartphone at a South African airport

From 1 July 2026, travellers must submit the SARS online traveller declaration before entering or leaving South Africa.

What Is the SARS Online Traveller Declaration?

The SARS online traveller declaration is a digital Customs process run through the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS). It lets travellers meet their legal obligation to declare goods, currency, bearer negotiable instruments (such as traveller’s cheques and bearer bonds) and other relevant items in their possession before they reach a port of entry or exit.

The system was piloted at King Shaka, Cape Town and OR Tambo International Airports in 2022 and has since been rolled out to every South African air, land and sea port. According to the official SARS traveller declaration page, the declaration is now a required part of the Customs process under a whole-of-government approach that strengthens data integration and risk management at the borders.

Once you submit, SARS emails you a confirmation with instructions for arrival or departure. Keep it on your phone or print it — Customs officers at the port may ask for it.

Who Must Submit a SARS Online Traveller Declaration?

The requirement applies broadly. You must submit a declaration if you are:

A South African citizen or resident entering or leaving the country
A foreign national or visitor crossing a South African border
Travelling by air, land, sea or rail — the rule covers every port type
Travelling for business (you must indicate your business capacity and provide entity details)

Every traveller needs an individual declaration. If you travel with family or friends, each person submits their own form, and a parent or legal guardian completes declarations on behalf of children and infants. Someone may also submit on behalf of a person who cannot do so themselves because of age, ill-health or disability.

Who is excluded?

Air and sea passengers who are only transiting through South Africa and never leave the designated international transit area do not need to submit a traveller declaration.

What You Need Before You Start

Have the following details on hand before completing your SARS online traveller declaration — the form goes much faster when everything is ready:

What you need for the SARS online traveller declaration: passport, travel details, contact details, travel companions and business entity details

The five sets of details SARS asks for when you complete your online traveller declaration.

Passport details

Your passport or travel document number and personal particulars, exactly as printed in the document.

Travel details

Flight, vessel, vehicle or rail information, your port of entry or exit, and travel dates.

Contact details

A valid email address per traveller — your declaration confirmation is sent here.

Travel companions

Details of anyone travelling with you, including children and infants you declare for.

Business entity details

Company information if you travel in a business capacity or carry commercial goods.

How to Submit Your Traveller Declaration, Step by Step

You can submit your SARS online traveller declaration through four official channels: the SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Portal, the SATMS mobile app (Google, Huawei or Apple app stores), Scan-to-Declare QR codes at ports, or self-service kiosks where available. The process works as follows:

Confirm your travel. Book and confirm your trip into or out of South Africa first.

Open the declaration channel. Within 24 hours of departure, go to the portal, open the SATMS app or scan a QR code.

Complete and submit. Select “Complete Declaration”, capture your details and declare any goods or currency. Submit one declaration per person travelling.

Save your confirmation. SARS emails a confirmation of declaration with Customs instructions. Save it on your phone or print it.

Travel and follow the instructions. Present the confirmation if asked and follow the Customs directions at the port.

Timing matters: submit no more than 24 hours before departure from the country you are travelling from. On multi-stop trips to South Africa, the 24-hour window counts from the last leg directly to South Africa. If your details change before Customs processing, update your declaration so the system stays correct.

What Must You Declare?

Ordinary personal effects for your own use — clothing, toiletries, your own phone or laptop — do not need to be declared. You must declare anything that exceeds your allowance, needs Customs attention, or falls into the categories below.

Goods above the duty-free allowance

South Africa’s duty-free allowances still apply under the new system, per the SARS Duty-Free Allowances for Travellers guide:

New or used goods up to R5 000 per person enter duty- and VAT-free (travellers from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini receive a VAT exemption up to R25 000).
A further R20 000 of goods can be cleared at a flat duty rate of 20%, with VAT exempted.
Above R25 000 in total, normal Customs duties and VAT apply per item.
Consumables within limits — 200 cigarettes, 20 cigars, 250g tobacco, 2 litres of wine, 1 litre of spirits, 50ml perfume and 250ml eau de toilette — are additional to these amounts.
The allowance applies once per person in any 30-day period, does not apply after an absence of less than 48 hours, and cannot be pooled or transferred between travellers.

Cash and bearer negotiable instruments

You may carry up to R100 000 in local or foreign currency, or bearer negotiable instruments such as traveller’s cheques, bearer cheques, money orders and bearer bonds, without prior approval. Above that threshold you must declare the full amount, and written permission from the South African Reserve Bank is required. The system may ask for the currency type, amount, Rand value and the source of the funds. The SARS Travellers page sets out the excess currency rules in detail.

Commercial and business goods

Goods for trade, sale or business use — or goods whose nature, quantity or volume make them look commercial — must be declared and never qualify for traveller allowances. The same applies to goods carried on behalf of someone else. If you import or export regularly for business, our South African business compliance hub covers the registrations that sit alongside Customs, including VAT and importer requirements.

Temporary imports, foreign-registered vehicles and restricted goods

Goods for temporary importation, exportation, re-importation or re-exportation must be declared, and the system may request serial numbers, values and supporting documents. Since 1 June 2026, foreign-registered vehicles used by travellers must also be declared in the Traveller Management System when travelling by road. Vehicles under an international carnet remain a separate, manual process and are not declared online — though the driver must still declare other goods not covered by the carnet. Prohibited and restricted goods (certain medicines, plants, animals, firearms and similar) always require a declaration and, where applicable, permits.

What Happens at the Port?

Arriving in South Africa

Proceed to immigration first.
Go to the Customs control area as instructed in your declaration confirmation — red channel if you have goods to declare, green if you do not.
Exit the port of entry.

Leaving South Africa

On arrival at the port, go to the Customs office to register goods for re-importation, or follow your confirmation instructions.
Claim your VAT refund or acquit goods previously registered for temporary importation, if applicable.
Proceed to immigration.

VAT refunds still work under the SARS online traveller declaration system: declare the goods, present yourself to Customs for verification, and then visit the VAT Refund Administrator office where available. Travellers who frequently move funds or goods across the border may also find our guide on the SARS Tax Clearance Certificate (TCS PIN) useful, especially for Approval International Transfer requests.

What If You Don’t Declare — or Declare Falsely?

Making a proper and true declaration is a legal requirement under the Customs and Excise Act. Failing to declare goods, currency or other relevant items — or making a false declaration — can lead to delays, detention or forfeiture of the goods, administrative penalties, and in serious cases criminal prosecution. SARS may also scan luggage and stop travellers in either channel for inspection.

If you already face a SARS penalty, assessment or debt problem, our SARS tax dispute assistance and tax clearance services can help you regularise your position.

Frequently Asked Questions About the SARS Online Traveller Declaration

Is the SARS online traveller declaration compulsory?

Yes. From 1 July 2026, all travellers entering or leaving South Africa by air, land, sea or rail must submit an online traveller declaration before travelling, unless they qualify for one of the limited paper-based exceptions such as a SARS system failure or no internet access at the port.

When must I submit my traveller declaration?

No more than 24 hours before departure from the country you are travelling from. If your journey to South Africa includes stops, submit it no more than 24 hours before the last leg of your journey directly to South Africa.

What happens if I don’t submit the declaration before I travel?

You will not be denied entry into or departure from South Africa solely because you have not completed a declaration. SARS Customs officials and self-service declaration terminals at ports of entry can assist you, and a paper declaration may be used in limited cases. Submitting online in advance is strongly encouraged to avoid delays.

Do children need their own traveller declaration?

Yes. Every 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 the accuracy of the information.

How much cash can I carry without declaring it?

Travellers may carry a maximum of R100 000 in local or foreign currency, or bearer negotiable instruments, into or out of South Africa without prior approval. Anything above that threshold must be declared and requires written permission from the South African Reserve Bank.

Do I need to declare my personal clothes, phone and laptop?

No. Ordinary personal effects for your own use do not need to be declared. You must declare goods, currency or other items that exceed your traveller allowance, are for commercial purposes, or are otherwise prohibited, restricted or controlled.

What are the duty-free allowances for travellers to South Africa?

Goods up to R5 000 per person may be imported without paying duty or VAT. Additional goods up to R20 000 may be allowed at a flat duty rate of 20%. If the total value exceeds R25 000, normal Customs duties and VAT apply. The allowance is valid once per person in a 30-day period and does not apply to travellers returning after an absence of less than 48 hours.

Can I still claim a VAT refund when using the online traveller declaration?

Yes. Declare the relevant goods through the traveller declaration system, present yourself to Customs at the port for verification, and then proceed to the VAT Refund Administrator office, where available, to finalise your claim.

Official Sources and Further Reading

This guide is based on the following official sources, which we recommend checking before you travel:

Related Admin Boss guides:

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Disclaimer: This guide to the SARS online traveller declaration is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or customs advice. Rules and thresholds are set by SARS and may change — always confirm current requirements on the official SARS website before travelling.