Declare online before you cross the border.

SARS is moving border declarations online, in two steps. Since 1 June 2026, travellers entering or leaving South Africa in a foreign-registered vehicle must declare it on the SARS Traveller Management System. From 1 July 2026, every traveller must submit an online declaration before travelling — by air, land, sea or rail, and including South African citizens and residents.

Both are free. SARS has confirmed there is no fee for submitting a traveller declaration or for the vehicle permit.

What changes, and when

• 1 June 2026 — foreign-registered vehicles: Declare the vehicle when you cross the border in it. Entering, you receive a Temporary Import Permit valid for six months, which covers multiple entries and exits — regular crossers don't re-register the vehicle for every trip. Vehicles registered in Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho and Namibia are included
• 1 July 2026 — all travellers: Submit your declaration online no more than 24 hours before departure. Every traveller needs one, children and infants included — a parent or guardian completes it for them
• Not affected: Air and sea passengers only transiting, who stay in the transit area. Foreign-registered vehicles already in South Africa before 1 June and not crossing the border are left for a later phase

How to declare

• On the SARS website, through the Traveller Management System
• On the free SATMS app, from the Google, Apple or Huawei store
• By scanning a SARS QR code on any device with internet access
• At a self-service kiosk at the port, where there is one

You need your passport or travel document, your travel and contact details, and the details of anyone travelling with you. SARS sends a confirmation with instructions: keep it on your phone or printed, and follow it at the border.

If you travel for business

Business travellers must declare too, and must say on the form that they are travelling in a business capacity. If you carry goods for trade, sale or business use, further Customs requirements may apply. Goods can count as commercial simply because of their nature, quantity or volume, and goods you take out or bring in temporarily must be declared as well.

SACU arrangements facilitate trade, but they do not remove customs control. A vehicle registered outside South Africa remains a foreign vehicle under our law and must be declared as such.

Dr Johnstone Makhubu, SARS Commissioner · 1 June 2026

The allowances

Duty-free

Goods up to R5 000 per person, with no duty or VAT

The next R20 000

May be allowed, but may be subject to duty and VAT

Over R25 000

Normal Customs duties and VAT apply

Cash

Up to R100 000 in rand or foreign currency, or bearer negotiable instruments, without prior approval

The allowance applies once per person in a 30-day period and can't be combined between travellers. It doesn't apply if you come back after less than 48 hours away. Anything above an allowance must be declared.

Don't get caught out

Failing to declare goods, currency or other items, or making a false declaration, may lead to delays, the detention or forfeiture of goods, penalties or other enforcement action under Customs law. You won't be turned back only because you didn't declare in advance — SARS officials and kiosks can help at the port — but SARS asks travellers to declare before they arrive.

Bottom line

Before every trip across the border, declare online in the 24 hours before you leave — one declaration per traveller. If you travel for business, or carry goods, cash or a foreign-registered vehicle, declare those too. It costs nothing, and it keeps you on the right side of Customs.

Sources: SARS, FAQs for the required online traveller declarations from 1 July 2026 · Declaration of foreign registered vehicles used by travellers · media release, 1 June 2026 · For informational purposes only