South Africa Asks Travellers to Submit Online Declarations From 1 July 2026 | IAS News

Planning a trip to South Africa to experience its epic wildlife, breathtaking mountain and ocean views, or visit the iconic Table Mountain? Know that you must submit an online declaration within the 24 hours before travelling from 1 July 2026 onwards.

In what is being called by the media a ‘historic customs modernisation move’, South African Revenue Service (SARS) has introduced an online traveller declaration process from this July.

If you are entering or leaving the country through any of its air, land, sea or rail ports of entry and departure, you must submit a declaration regarding certain goods, currency and other items in your possession, which are subject to customs reporting requirements.

We’ve explained all that is there to know about this new traveller requirement using the ‘5Ws and H’ methodology, i.e., asking who, what, when, where, why, and how. But if you want to hear more about it or seek further professional advice, remember that our team is just one phone call or message away.

What Is the South African Online Traveller Declaration Requirement?

First of all, understand that there is no reason to think that here comes another ‘bureaucratic hurdle’. The customs requirement for declaration of goods is nothing new. What has actually changed from 1 July 2026 onwards is how you file the declaration.

Previously, travellers to and from South Africa were provided with physical customs forms (i.e., forms printed on paper), during flights or at their respective ports of entry, to declare certain goods and currency in their possession. From 1 July 2026, the same declaration will have to be submitted online during the 24 hours before you travel through the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS).

Why Did SARS Introduce This New Process?

This move is part of the South African Government’s strategic approach to strengthen data integration and facilitate inter-agency risk management. The goal is to enhance the monitoring, analysis, and reporting of cross-border activities.

In their announcement, SARS also pointed out that this new paperless, online submission method would result in faster processing of the relevant information, ultimately improving the overall border experience for the travellers.

The new process comes at a time when South Africa is witnessing a major recovery of its tourism sector post COVID-19. Around 10.5 million tourists visited the country in 2025, an almost 18% increase from 8.9 million in 2024. It also recorded 36.5 million total travellers in 2025, including 18.9 million arrivals, 17 million departures, and 527,116 transit travellers.

A digital declaration system at this juncture is bound to give customs officials a better visibility into goods and currency declarations, while helping the travellers pass through the customs barriers faster without requiring any elaborate paperwork.

Who Must Submit the Online Declaration Before Travelling?

Every traveller entering or exiting South Africa by air, land, sea or rail must submit the online declaration. It applies equally to South African citizens, residents and foreign nationals.

For minor travellers, their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may complete and submit the declaration on their behalf. This provision also applies for adults who cannot submit the declaration themselves due to advanced age, ill health or any mental or physical disabilities, in which case a caretaker or any other assisting person may submit the declaration for them.

The person completing the declaration will be responsible for the accuracy of the information provided in both of the above scenarios.

If you are only transiting through South Africa by air or sea and will not be leaving the designated transit area, however, you won’t have to submit this traveller declaration.

When Must I Submit the Declaration?

You can submit the online declaration within 24 hours before you depart for, or from, South Africa. People on a multi-stop journey or those taking connecting flights must submit their declaration no more than 24 hours before travelling directly to South Africa.

In case there is any change of information after submitting your declaration, update the same before proceeding through the South African customs processing channel to ensure that the system has the correct information.

Where and How Can I Submit My Declaration?

SARS has put in place a number of convenient digital channels to declare the goods, currency and other relevant items in your possession. These include:

• The SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Portal
• The SATMS mobile application
• The Scan-to-Declare QR codes
• Self-service kiosks at the ports of entry/departure

To submit a declaration, you will usually require the following information:

• Your passport or travel document details
• Travel itinerary
• Contact details
• Details of anyone travelling with you
• Whether you have goods, currency or bearer negotiable instruments that must be declared under customs reporting requirements
• No need to declare ordinary personal effects meant for your own use. You will only be required to declare goods, currency or other items that exceed your traveller allowance (e.g., currency or items above a certain monetary value) or require customs attention (e.g., firearms even if they are government-issued and you have a licence to carry them)

You may check this step-by-step video tutorial from SARS for more instruction.

Once you have completed and submitted your declaration, retain proof of the submission. You may have to show the same to the South African customs officials at the port of your entry or departure, if requested.

Based on the type of goods you have declared, the system may ask you for further information about them, such as item descriptions, serial numbers and values. You may also have to provide supporting documents or be subjected to further processing at your port of entry or departure.

What If I Fail to Submit an Online Declaration Before Travelling?

SARS encourages all travellers to submit the online declaration to simplify the process and enhance the overall traveller experience. However, your compliance with this requirement is voluntary in nature.

Note that you will not be denied entry into or departure from South Africa solely because you have not submitted an online declaration. Customs officials will assist those who were unable to submit their declarations before travelling because of a systems failure, a lack of internet access, or any other reasonable grounds, to do so at the ports through self-service declaration terminals.

A paper-based declaration may still be used in limited cases (e.g., where a traveller is otherwise reasonably unable to submit online). You may complete the prescribed paper forms at the customs processing area at your port of entry or departure in such a scenario.

However, if you fail to declare, electronically or otherwise, goods, currency or other relevant items that are subject to customs reporting requirements, it may lead to unnecessary delays and even the detention or forfeiture of goods. If you make a false declaration, expect hefty penalties and/or other enforcement actions under customs legislation.

We strongly recommend you to seek legal advice if you have any questions or concerns. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 today or contact us online to speak with one of our immigration advisers.