Travelling this school holiday? SARS rule travellers keep missing

If you’re thinking of jetting off somewhere overseas during the school break, there’s a new SARS rule you can’t afford to skip.

THE SARS RULE THAT YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO SKIP

Since 1 July this year, all travellers entering or leaving South Africa through air, land, sea and rail ports of entry have been required to submit an online traveller declaration before travelling. This replaces the old paper-based system that many South Africans have used for years. This applies whether you’re a citizen, resident or foreign visitor.

The declaration applies to everyone entering or leaving South Africa, including South African citizens and residents. It is important to note that this does not just apply to tourists visiting the country. A separate, dedicated online declaration must be filled out for every single individual, including infants and children, completed by a parent or guardian on their behalf. So if you’re travelling as a family, that means one declaration per child, not one per household.

THE 24 HOUR WINDOW TRAVELLERS KEEP MISSING

This is the detail that trips people up: the declaration must be completed within 24 hours before departure, or before the final leg of your journey if you’re travelling to South Africa via a connecting flight. If you fill it in too early, and it may not count.

You can complete it via the SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Portal, the SATMS mobile app, or by scanning a Scan-to-Declare QR code available at some ports.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO DECLARE AS A TRAVELLER

Two things matter most for holidaymakers:

• Goods: Goods worth up to R5000 are free of duty and VAT. Goods valued between R5001 and R25 000 may attract duties and VAT, and above R25,000, normal Customs charges apply.
• Cash: Travellers may carry up to R100 000 in local or foreign currency, or bearer negotiable instruments, without prior approval. This is a jump from the previous R25 000 threshold. These allowances apply per traveller and can’t be combined or transferred between travellers. So, pooling family cash into one person’s allowance won’t work.

SARS says travellers won’t automatically be refused entry or departure. Customs officials and self-service kiosks will help those who still need to complete the process at the border. Passengers who remain inside an airport or harbour transit area while connecting to another international destination are exempt from the declaration.

Take a look at whether you can fly domestically without an ID here.