15/07/2026
TRAVEL NEWS 🚨: New mandatory travel rules for anyone entering or leaving South Africa
From 1 July 2026, travellers crossing any of the country’s air, land or sea borders and who have in their possession cash, goods, currency and/or bearer negotiable instruments above the threshold of R100,000 will be required to declare this via the Customs and Excise traveller management system.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has warned that from Wednesday, 1 July 2026, any travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit an online traveller declaration before they travel.
During the pilot phase, the system operated on a voluntary basis, but it has now become a mandatory process.
All travellers must now submit the online declaration no more than 24 hours before departure from the country from which they are travelling.
This includes South African citizens, residents and foreign travellers.
A parent, legal guardian, caretaker or another assisting person must complete the declaration on behalf of a minor or a person who cannot complete it themselves.
Air and sea travellers who are only transiting through South Africa are also exempt, as long as they do not leave designated transit areas, SARS said.
Everyone else will have to submit their details to the online platform.
For those travelling to South Africa on a multi-stop journey, the declaration must be submitted no more than 24 hours before departure on the last leg of their journey to South Africa.
To complete the forms, SARS said that travellers need to submit:
Their passport or travel document details;
Travel details;
Contact details;
Details of any travelling companions, if applicable;
Declarations of any goods, currency or bearer negotiable instruments—and if prompted by the system, provide further details about those items.
What you need to declare
For clarity, the revenue service outlined the duty-free limits—per traveller—for declarations. These include:
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,” it said.
“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,” it said.
“You should keep that confirmation available on your phone or in printed form and follow the instructions and signage at the port.
“Travellers will not be denied entry into or departure from South Africa solely because they have not completed a declaration before arriving at a port of entry,” SARS said.
“SARS Customs officials, supported by self-service declaration terminals, will be available to assist travellers who were unable to submit their declarations before travelling.”
The revenue service warned that 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,” it said.
This activates the requirement for domestic and foreign travellers to declare cash in their possession above the threshold of R100,000, when crossing the country’s land and seaports.
