Client alert: Online traveller declarations become mandatory from 1 July 2026
Client alert: Online traveller declarations become mandatory from 1 July 2026
By Mary Mola, Junior Tax Consultant, BDO
With effect from 1 July 2026, travellers entering or leaving South Africa will generally be required to submit an online traveller declaration before travelling. The declaration is intended to give SARS advance visibility of goods, currency and other declarable items before travellers arrive at, or depart from, a South African port.
The change forms part of SARS’ broader customs modernisation programme and is designed to support voluntary compliance, improve border processing and strengthen customs risk management.
Who is affected?
The requirement applies to South African citizens, residents and foreign travellers entering or leaving South Africa by air, land, sea or rail. A parent, legal guardian, caretaker or assisting person may complete the declaration for a minor or for a person who is unable to do so themselves.
Travellers who are only transiting through South Africa by air or sea and remain within the designated transit area are not required to submit a declaration.
Timing and submission channels
The declaration must be submitted within 24 hours before departure. Where a traveller has stopovers before entering South Africa, the declaration should be completed within 24 hours before the final leg to South Africa.
Declarations may be submitted through the SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Portal, the SATMS mobile application or SARS scan-to-declare QR codes. SARS may also provide assistance at ports through self-service terminals where travellers could not complete the declaration in advance.
Information travellers should have ready
Travellers should have their passport or travel document details, itinerary, details of accompanying travellers and information on any goods, currency or bearer negotiable instruments that must be declared.
Ordinary personal effects for the traveller’s own use generally do not need to be declared. However, goods exceeding duty-free allowances, commercial goods, restricted goods and currency or bearer negotiable instruments above prescribed thresholds must be disclosed.
Why it matters
Travellers should complete the declaration timeously and retain SARS’ confirmation for presentation at the relevant port. Inaccurate or incomplete declarations may lead to delays, forfeiture of goods, detention or other enforcement action under customs legislation.
BDO perspective
The shift to online traveller declarations should make customs processing more efficient, but it also increases the need for accurate pre-travel compliance. Travellers, including business travellers, should familiarise themselves with the available digital channels and ensure that goods, currency and other declarable items are correctly disclosed before departure.
With effect from 1 July 2026, travellers entering or leaving South Africa will generally be required to submit an online traveller declaration before travelling. The declaration is intended to give SARS advance visibility of goods, currency and other declarable items before travellers arrive at, or depart from, a South African port.
The change forms part of SARS’ broader customs modernisation programme and is designed to support voluntary compliance, improve border processing and strengthen customs risk management.
Who is affected?
The requirement applies to South African citizens, residents and foreign travellers entering or leaving South Africa by air, land, sea or rail. A parent, legal guardian, caretaker or assisting person may complete the declaration for a minor or for a person who is unable to do so themselves.
Travellers who are only transiting through South Africa by air or sea and remain within the designated transit area are not required to submit a declaration.
Timing and submission channels
The declaration must be submitted within 24 hours before departure. Where a traveller has stopovers before entering South Africa, the declaration should be completed within 24 hours before the final leg to South Africa.
Declarations may be submitted through the SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Portal, the SATMS mobile application or SARS scan-to-declare QR codes. SARS may also provide assistance at ports through self-service terminals where travellers could not complete the declaration in advance.
Information travellers should have ready
Travellers should have their passport or travel document details, itinerary, details of accompanying travellers and information on any goods, currency or bearer negotiable instruments that must be declared.
Ordinary personal effects for the traveller’s own use generally do not need to be declared. However, goods exceeding duty-free allowances, commercial goods, restricted goods and currency or bearer negotiable instruments above prescribed thresholds must be disclosed.
Why it matters
Travellers should complete the declaration timeously and retain SARS’ confirmation for presentation at the relevant port. Inaccurate or incomplete declarations may lead to delays, forfeiture of goods, detention or other enforcement action under customs legislation.
BDO perspective
The shift to online traveller declarations should make customs processing more efficient, but it also increases the need for accurate pre-travel compliance. Travellers, including business travellers, should familiarise themselves with the available digital channels and ensure that goods, currency and other declarable items are correctly disclosed before departure.