Step-by-step instructions for completing the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Online Traveller Declaration when entering or leaving South Africa
Do not declare temporarily imported hunting firearms or ammunition on the SARS Online Traveller Declaration. Temporary hunting firearms and ammunition continue to be processed separately through the South African Police Service (SAPS) using the applicable Temporary Firearm Import Permit or In-Transit Firearm Permit. The SARS Traveller Declaration does not replace your SAPS firearm permit requirements.
WHEN TO COMPLETE THE DECLARATION
The SARS Online Traveller Declaration should be completed within 24 hours before departure of your final flight operating directly to South Africa.
Examples:
Atlanta – Johannesburg non-stop
Complete the declaration within 24 hours before departure from Atlanta.
Dallas – Dubai – Johannesburg
Complete the declaration within 24 hours before departure of the Dubai – Johannesburg flight.
Dallas – Doha – Johannesburg
Complete the declaration within 24 hours before departure of the Doha – Johannesburg flight.
ONE DECLARATION PER TRAVELLER
A separate Traveller Declaration must be completed for each person travelling, including children and infants.
If travelling with family or friends, you may add their passport details under Travelling Companions, but this does not replace their individual Traveller Declaration.
For children and infants, the accompanying parent or guardian should complete the declaration on their behalf.
DEPARTING SOUTH AFRICA
A new Traveller Declaration must also be completed when leaving South Africa.
Complete the departure declaration before your journey out of South Africa, following the same SARS online process.
We recommend keeping this guide open in a separate browser tab while completing the SARS declaration.
Have the following information available before opening the SARS Traveller Declaration:
Currency Note: If you are carrying more than ZAR 100,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency, you must select “I HAVE GOODS AND / OR CURRENCY TO DECLARE (FULL)”. Written authorization from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) must be obtained before travel. ZAR 100,000 is approximately USD 6,000–6,100, but exchange rates fluctuate, so always use ZAR 100,000 as the controlling amount.
IMPORTANT – TRAVELLING WITH HUNTING FIREARMS:
Your temporarily imported hunting firearm and ammunition are not declared on the SARS Online Traveller Declaration.
Firearms and ammunition continue to be handled separately through the South African Police Service (SAPS) using the applicable Temporary Firearm Import Permit or In-Transit Firearm Permit.
Travelling with a hunting firearm and ammunition does not, by itself, require you to select the Full declaration.
At the top of the first screen, choose the appropriate Declaration Type.
If you are travelling with only:
Select:
I HAVE NO GOODS AND / OR CURRENCY TO DECLARE (NIL)
CARRYING MORE THAN ZAR 100,000?
If you are carrying more than ZAR 100,000, or the equivalent value in foreign currency, you must select:
I HAVE GOODS AND / OR CURRENCY TO DECLARE (FULL)
The ZAR 100,000 limit applies to the Rand equivalent of the currency you are carrying, so the equivalent amount in U.S. Dollars will vary according to the exchange rate.
IMPORTANT: SARS currently requires travellers carrying more than this amount to obtain written permission from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) before entering or leaving South Africa.
If you intend to carry more than the ZAR 100,000 equivalent, please contact TWG before travel so this can be addressed in advance.
If you have any other goods that require a Customs declaration, you must also select the FULL declaration.
Example: If travelling Dallas – Dubai – Johannesburg, enter the Dubai – Johannesburg flight number.
Enter the address where you will be staying in South Africa.
If staying at a hotel:
Enter the hotel name and full address.
If staying at a hunting lodge or with your outfitter:
Enter the lodge or outfitter’s address, which should normally appear on your Letter of Invitation.
Complete the required fields, including:
If you are connecting through South Africa on a same-day connection, with no overnight stay, but must clear Immigration and Customs to collect and recheck your baggage or firearms, you are considered to have entered South Africa.
Use the following address:
Check all information carefully and click NEXT.
TRAVEL DETAILS
Traveller Type:
Select Travelling in my personal capacity.
Travel Reason:
IMPORTANT – INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT: If you remain entirely within the international transit area, do not pass through South African Immigration, and continue on an international flight without entering South Africa, you are not required to complete the SARS Traveller Declaration.
Travelling From:
For travellers originating in the United States, select United States of America.
Travelling Via:
Examples:
Travelling To:
Select or confirm South Africa.
South Africa should be entered as the Travelling To country whether your Travel Reason is Leisure or Transit. If you are completing this declaration, you are entering South Africa even though you may be continuing to another country shortly afterwards.
Arrival Date:
Enter the date you arrive in South Africa in the format shown on the form.
Travelling Companions:
If you are travelling with others, you may add their passport information under ADD COMPANION PASSPORT.
Remember: each traveller must still have their own Traveller Declaration. A parent or guardian may complete a declaration on behalf of a child or infant.
Check all information carefully and click NEXT.
REVIEW & DECLARATION
Review the information shown on this page and make sure everything is correct.
Under Declaration, change the button from NO to YES to confirm:
“I hereby declare that the information provided is true and correct.”
Click NEXT.
On the following screen, complete the CAPTCHA security check and click SUBMIT.
We recommend saving or taking a screenshot of your submission confirmation for your records.
The detailed instructions above are primarily for your arrival declaration. When departing South Africa, the same form is used, but some travel details must be changed as shown below.
DEPARTING SOUTH AFRICA
A new SARS Traveller Declaration must also be completed before leaving South Africa.
Complete the departure declaration within 24 hours before your flight departing South Africa.
When completing the departure declaration:
If you entered South Africa only for a same-day or overnight transit and did not stay at a hotel, use the same South African transit address used on your arrival declaration.
Then complete the declaration, review the information, change the confirmation to YES, complete the CAPTCHA and submit.
Information last reviewed: 19 August 2026. South African Customs requirements may change; always follow the latest SARS instructions.
If you are unsure about any section of the form, contact TWG.travel before submitting your documentation.
