South Africa has introduced a mandatory online traveller declaration for all international arrivals and departures. Read our quick guide to help prepare your clients before they travel.
Helping You Keep Clients Prepared: South Africa's New Digital Traveller Declaration
As your on-the-ground partner in Southern Africa, we like to keep our trade partners informed of any updates that may affect your clients' travel experience. Here's one to be aware of before your next South Africa booking.
From 1 July 2026, South Africa introduced a new digital traveller declaration, replacing the paper customs declaration forms previously completed during international travel.
What does this mean for your clients? All travellers entering or leaving South Africa, including international visitors, South African citizens and permanent residents, are now required to complete an online traveller declaration.
The requirement applies to travellers entering or departing South Africa by air, road, sea and rail. Importantly, the declaration must only be completed within the 24 hours before entering or leaving South Africa. Travellers should therefore not complete it earlier than this 24-hour window.
The declaration includes basic travel details, along with information about any cash, goods or other items that may need to be declared for customs purposes. Once submitted, travellers will receive confirmation by SMS or email, which should be kept accessible until they have cleared customs.
Travellers who are simply transiting through South Africa and remain within the designated international transit area are not required to complete the declaration.
What should agents do? We recommend reminding your clients about this requirement when sending their final travel documentation, with particular emphasis that the declaration can only be completed within 24 hours before entering or leaving South Africa.
Completing the declaration within the correct 24-hour window before arriving at the airport, border, seaport or rail crossing can help clients arrive prepared and minimise unnecessary delays during the customs process.
The declaration can be completed online via the SARS Customs Traveller Portal or the SARS MobiApp. Complete the Traveller Declaration: https://tools.sars.gov.za/sarsonlinequery/traveller Read More & Official Information: https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/
As always, the Raha Retreats team will continue to monitor any developments and keep our trade partners informed of any updates that may affect their clients' travel experience.