Aussies bound for South Africa face new compulsory customs declaration from 1 July
South Africa is overhauling how travellers declare goods and cash at its borders, with a new digital system becoming compulsory from 1 July 2026. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has confir…
South Africa is overhauling how travellers declare goods and cash at its borders, with a new digital system becoming compulsory from 1 July 2026. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has confirmed that all travellers entering or leaving the country must now use the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) – an online platform designed to modernise customs declarations and crack down on illicit financial flows. What’s changingUnder the new rules, travellers can complete declarations online ahead of arrival, a shift SARS says will speed up processing at ports of entry. The legal backbone of the requirement remains Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Act, which has long required travellers to declare goods – including currency – but the digital system marks the most significant change to how that’s enforced. In a move likely to be welcomed by frequent travellers, the cash declaration threshold has quadrupled, rising from R25,000 to R100,000, in line with South African Reserve Bank policy. Anyone carrying more than that – whether in cash or bearer negotiable instruments – will need prior authorisation from the Reserve Bank and must declare the full amount, complying with both FICA Section 30(1) and Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Act. Why it mattersSARS says the rollout is part of a broader “whole-of-government” push to tighten data-sharing between agencies and improve monitoring of cross-border cash movements – part of a wider effort to combat money laundering and illicit financial flows. The agency is also leaning on industry to help drive adoption. Airlines, cruise operators, and hospitality groups across air, sea, land and rail have been asked to build the declaration step directly into passenger booking systems, in a bid to normalise compliance before travellers even reach the airport. The bottom line for travellersFrom 1 July, anyone flying into or out of South Africa should expect to complete a digital declaration – and those carrying large sums of cash will want to check the new R100,000 threshold well before departure. SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR FREESign up to receive a subscription to the Travel Weekly daily email newsletter