Travellers entering or leaving South Africa by air, land or sea.
South Africa customs update · Effective 1 July 2026
SARS online traveller declaration: what to do before you travel
Travellers entering or leaving South Africa must complete the SARS traveller declaration within the 24-hour window before departure. This guide turns the official requirement into a practical journey checklist.
Editorially reviewed6 August 2026 · Official SARS guidance checked
No more than 24 hours before the relevant departure.
Travel document, itinerary, contact details and goods information.
Your submitted declaration confirmation accessible while travelling.
01
Understand the requirement before your journey
From 1 July 2026, SARS requires online traveller declarations for people entering or leaving South Africa through air, land and sea ports, subject to limited paper-based exceptions. The process is a customs declaration, not a visa application, immigration permission or airline check-in. Completing one does not replace any passport, visa, health, transit or carrier requirement.
Important distinction
The declaration concerns your journey and goods. Entry permission is handled separately by the relevant immigration authorities. Confirm both sets of requirements.
02
Use the correct 24-hour window
SARS says to submit no more than 24 hours before departure from the country from which you are travelling. For a connecting inbound journey, use the final leg that travels directly to South Africa. Do not complete the form weeks in advance, and do not interpret the rule as requiring submission at exactly the 24-hour mark.
| Journey | Practical timing | Extra check |
|---|---|---|
| Direct flight into South Africa | Submit within 24 hours before the direct flight departs. | Use the departure point shown for that flight. |
| Connecting flight into South Africa | Use the 24 hours before the final leg travelling directly to South Africa. | Allow for time zones and connection schedules. |
| Leaving South Africa | Submit within 24 hours before your departure from South Africa. | A new outbound declaration is required. |
| Land or sea journey | Use the 24 hours before the relevant departure towards or from the South African port. | Confirm the port and operating times. |
03
Prepare accurate details before opening the form
Passport or accepted travel document exactly as issued.
Flight, vehicle, vessel or rail details and arrival or departure information.
Reliable contact details and accommodation or address information where requested.
Details for accompanying travellers; complete separate declarations for children.
Accurate information about purchases, gifts, food, plants, animals and restricted items.
Amounts and instruments that fall within the declaration questions.
04
A calm, repeatable submission checklist
- 1Confirm your departure time
Identify the journey leg that starts the official 24-hour submission window.
- 2Gather every traveller's details
Adults complete their own declaration. A parent or guardian completes one for each child or infant.
- 3Review goods and currency honestly
Check receipts and amounts. If uncertain, consult SARS guidance or ask a customs official.
- 4Submit through the official SARS service
Check the domain before entering personal information. Avoid unofficial forms that imitate government services.
- 5Save the result
Keep the confirmation accessible offline or as a screenshot, while protecting personal details.
- 6Allow time at the port
A submitted form does not remove normal customs, security, airline or immigration processing.
05
Goods and currency: answer what the form actually asks
The declaration is designed to help customs assess goods and currency moving across the border. Keep purchase receipts and be ready to describe items clearly. Categories may include commercial goods, gifts, food, plants, animal products, medication, alcohol or tobacco, valuable items and cash or monetary instruments. Thresholds and restrictions can change, so verify the current official SARS traveller guidance instead of relying on an old social-media checklist.
When unsure, declare and ask
Do not hide, split or misdescribe goods to avoid a question or threshold. A SARS customs official is the appropriate source for a decision about a specific item.
06
If you cannot complete the declaration online
SARS says travellers will not be denied entry or departure solely because they did not complete the declaration before arriving at the port. Officials and self-service terminals may assist, while limited paper-based exceptions are available in specific circumstances. This does not mean the declaration can be ignored: arrive earlier, carry your travel details and ask for the official customs process.
Accessibility needs, device failure, poor connectivity or unfamiliarity with the form are good reasons to plan extra time. Never share a passport image or one-time code with an unverified person offering to “fast-track” customs.
07
Frequently asked questions
Does every traveller need a declaration?
SARS says the requirement applies to travellers entering or leaving South Africa through air, land or sea ports. This includes South African citizens and residents. A declaration is also required for a child or infant, completed by a parent or guardian.
Must I submit exactly 24 hours before departure?
No. The official wording is no more than 24 hours before departure from the country from which you are travelling. Treat this as a submission window, not a deadline exactly 24 hours earlier.
Which departure counts if my inbound trip has a connection?
For an inbound itinerary with stops, SARS says to submit no more than 24 hours before the final flight or journey leg that travels directly to South Africa.
Do I submit for both arrival and departure?
A declaration is required when entering and when leaving South Africa. A later outbound journey therefore needs its own declaration within the relevant departure window.
What if I have nothing to declare?
You still complete the declaration. Select the answers that accurately describe your journey and goods; do not invent items or omit goods that SARS requires you to declare.
Can one declaration cover my whole family?
Each traveller needs a declaration. A parent or guardian completes it on behalf of a child or infant. Keep every traveller's confirmation easy to retrieve.
What details should I prepare?
Have your passport or travel document, transport and itinerary details, South African address where relevant, contact details, accompanying-traveller details and accurate information about goods and currency.
What if I cannot complete it online?
SARS states that officials and self-service facilities may assist at participating ports. Limited paper-based exceptions also exist. Arrive with extra time and ask a SARS customs official for the correct process.
Will I be prevented from travelling if I did not submit before reaching the port?
SARS says a traveller will not be denied entry or departure solely because the declaration was not completed before arrival at the port. You may still need to complete the required process with assistance, so allow additional time.
Where should I verify the latest rule?
Use the official SARS Traveller Declaration page and FAQ linked at the end of this guide. Airline notices can help with reminders, but SARS is the controlling source for customs-declaration requirements.
09
Verify with the official SARS source
FMLT explains the process but does not administer customs declarations. Requirements, ports and form questions may change. Complete the declaration only through the official SARS service and read the current SARS FAQ before travel.