Clarifications on those New Customs Declarations for Travel to South Africa

SCI members going to South Africa have been asking the Hunter Information Service (HIS) for clarification on those new recently implemented declaration requirements for all travelers entering and leaving that country.

HIS first reported on the new declaration requirements in an SCI blog post on July 8 and in an article in the Safari Times newspaper sent to SCI members (see page 3 of the August issue).

Two items are of particular interest to traveling hunters: declaring firearms for safaris and declaring all currencies being imported to pay for safaris.

Declaring Firearms

HIS has received clarification on the firearms declarations. The digital Customs declaration form is only for the permanent import of firearms. Hunters temporarily importing firearms for a hunting safari do not need to declare the guns on this form and should proceed with the established system of declaring firearms to the South African Police Service at the airport to receive the temporary import permits.

Declaring Currency

If you are carrying currency or bearer negotiable instruments above the applicable legal threshold, you must declare them. The system may ask you for additional details such as the type of currency or instrument, the amount, the Rand value and the source of the funds.

Travelers are permitted to carry a maximum of R100 000 in or out of South Africa in foreign or local currency, or bearer negotiable instruments, without prior approval.

Declaring Items for Humanitarian Donations

Duty-free allowances apply to all goods permanently imported into the country. Each traveler may import goods up to R5,000 in value per person without paying duty or VAT.

Additional goods up to R20,000 may be allowed but may be subject to duty and VAT.

If the total value exceeds R25,000, normal Customs duties and VAT will apply.

Personal Effects

You do not need to declare ordinary personal effects for your own use. However, you must declare goods, currency or other items that exceed your traveler allowance or require Customs attention.

In most cases, you would not need to declare:

• Your personal clothing, toiletries and everyday travel items.
• A personal cell phone, laptop, camera or other devices you are taking on your trip and bringing back.
• Personal gifts and purchases that fall within South Africa’s duty-free allowances.
• Ordinary personal luggage for holiday or business travel.

South Africa’s duty-free allowances include:

• Goods (excluding alcohol and tobacco) worth up to R5,000.
• Up to 2 litres of wine per person.
• Up to 1 litre of spirits or other alcoholic beverages per person.
• Up to 200 cigarettes and 20 cigars per person.
• Up to 250g of tobacco per person.
• Up to 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette per person.

Helpful Links for More Information:

• Declarations should be made digitally using the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Traveler Declaration Portal of the SATMS telephone app or online at SARS Customs Online Traveler Declaration.
• Read the SARS Press Release and Frequently Asked Questions.
• Watch a short Traveller Declaration System video on the SARS TV YouTube channel.
• Visit the SARS Customs Online Traveler Declaration web page to see the step-by-step instructions.
• Download the SARS Traveller Declaration External PDF Guide.