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The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially launched its new South African Traveller Management System (SATMS), requiring all travellers (including minors) entering or leaving the country through airports, land borders, seaports and rail ports to complete an online traveller declaration.
The system is designed to modernise customs processing and make it easier for travellers to declare goods, cash and other items they are legally required to disclose when crossing the border.
The good news? Forgetting to complete the declaration before travelling won't stop you from boarding your flight or entering South Africa. SARS says travellers will not be denied entry or departure solely because they haven't submitted a declaration in advance.
Instead, customs officials and self-service declaration terminals will be available at ports of entry to assist travellers who still need to complete the process. For frequent travellers, the biggest takeaway is simple: complete your declaration online before you travel to avoid delays and make your arrival or departure smoother.
How to complete your traveller declaration
SARS has also published a step-by-step guide to help travellers understand the new requirements. However, since going live the portal has been prone to bringing up an error.
Travellers can submit their declaration through:
- The SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Portal
- The SATMS mobile application
- Scan-to-Declare QR codes available at ports of entry
What you'll need to complete the online declaration:
- Passport or travel document
- Flight or travel details
- Contact information
- Details of anyone travelling with you
Who needs to complete it?
- South African citizens, residents, or international visitors.
- Minors would need their parents or legal guardians to complete it for them too.
- passengers simply transiting through South Africa, without leaving the international transit area do not need to complete the declaration.
What would you need to declare?
- Cash and negotiable instruments above the legal reporting thresholds.
- Goods purchased abroad that exceed your duty-free allowances.
- Expensive items intended for resale, business use or commercial purposes.
- Restricted or controlled goods, such as certain medicines, food products, plants, animals, firearms or ammunition (where legally permitted).
- Valuable items that may attract customs duties or taxes.
- Any goods for which customs duties, VAT or other taxes may be payable.
In most cases, you would not need to declare:
- Your personal clothing, toiletries and everyday travel items.
- A personal cellphone, laptop, camera or other devices you are taking on your trip and bringing back.
- Personal gifts and purchases that fall within South Africa's duty-free allowances.
- Ordinary personal luggage for holiday or business travel.
South Africa's duty-free allowances include:
- Goods (excluding alcohol and tobacco) worth up to R5,000.
- Up to 2 litres of wine per person.
- Up to 1 litre of spirits or other alcoholic beverages per person.
- Up to 200 cigarettes and 20 cigars per person.
- Up to 250g of tobacco per person.
- Up to 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette per person.
Time Out Tip: If you're heading abroad or returning home, it's worth adding the online declaration to your travel prep alongside checking in, downloading your boarding pass and making sure your passport is ready to go.
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