If you're travelling into or out of South Africa from 01 July 2026, there's an important new requirement you need to factor into your pre-travel planning.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has introduced a mandatory online Traveller Declaration for most international travellers. The declaration forms part of the Customs process and must be submitted electronically before departure or arrival, unless you qualify for limited paper-based exemptions.
What is the Traveller Declaration?
The online Traveller Declaration is a digital Customs form used to declare goods, currency, and other items that fall under South African Customs regulations.
You may need to declare:
- Goods purchased abroad or taken out of South Africa
- Cash and monetary instruments above the legal threshold
- High-value personal items
- Any goods subject to Customs duties or restrictions
The system is designed to streamline Customs clearance while improving compliance and reducing delays at airports.
Submission process
The form can also be submitted by scanning a QR code and completing it on any internet-enabled device. At selected ports of entry and departure, self-service kiosks will be available for added convenience.
When must it be completed?
From 01 July 2026, most travellers must complete the declaration within 24 hours before departure or arrival, depending on their journey.
If your details change after submission, you must update your declaration before proceeding through Customs.
A small number of travellers may still qualify for paper-based declarations under specific exemptions.
Who needs to complete it?
The requirement applies to:
- Travellers entering South Africa by air, land, sea or rail
- Travellers leaving South Africa by air, land, sea or rail
- Returning residents and visitors by air, land, sea or rail
- Families travelling with children (a separate declaration is required for each traveller, including minors) by air, land, sea or rail
Air or sea travellers who are only transiting through South Africa and do not leave the designated transit area are not required to submit a traveller declaration.
Before you start: what you’ll need
To avoid delays when completing the form, make sure you have the following ready:
- Passport or travel document
- Flight or travel itinerary
- Contact details (email and phone number)
- Details of goods or currency to be declared
- Information for each accompanying traveller (including children)
Watch: How to complete your online Traveller Declaration
Not sure how the system works in practice? The video below walks you through the process step by step, showing how to complete and submit your declaration online before travelling.
It provides a practical overview of what information is required, how the submission works, and what travellers can expect when arriving at or departing from South African airports.
Why this matters
Failure to complete the declaration where required could result in:
- Delays at Customs
- Additional questioning or inspection
- Potential penalties for non-declaration of goods or currency
Submitting your declaration in advance should help speed up your passage through Customs and make airport processing more efficient.
Final thoughts
For most travellers, this simply adds one more step to the pre-departure checklist—but an important one. Treat it like checking in online or completing a visa form: quick, mandatory, and best done well before you reach the airport.
As with all Customs-related requirements, planning ahead will make the travel experience significantly smoother.
Subscribe for updates:
Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, border info, road alerts, and travel inspiration for Southern Africa.
