SARS clarifies new travel declaration rule, says travellers won’t be turned away

The South African Revenue Service has clarified its new mandatory online traveller declaration system, saying passengers who fail to complete the form before arrival or departure will not be denied entry or exit from South Africa. Instead, SARS says Customs officials will assist those travellers at ports of entry using self-service declaration terminals.

The clarification comes after concern around the implementation of the new requirement, which took effect on 1 July 2026 for all travellers entering or leaving South Africa through air, land, sea and rail ports of entry. Under the system, travellers are expected to submit their declarations online no more than 24 hours before departing the country from which they are travelling.

SARS said the change is designed to improve data integration and strengthen the monitoring, analysis and reporting of cross-border movement. The online declaration forms part of the South African Traveller Management System, or SATMS, which has been in trial use since 2022.

In its initial announcement, SARS said the online form was compulsory, but its guidance on what would happen if a traveller could not complete it in time was less prominently communicated. The revenue service had indicated that in cases where travellers faced a system failure, no internet access or another reasonable obstacle, they would be helped at the port of entry. It also said that, in limited cases, a paper declaration could still be used.

In its latest clarification, however, SARS made it clear that travellers will not be blocked from entering or leaving the country simply because they did not complete the declaration in advance. The agency said Customs officials, supported by self-service terminals, would be available to assist travellers who arrive without having submitted the form online.

The updated guidance is likely to ease fears among passengers, especially those who are unfamiliar with the new digital process or who may face connectivity challenges while travelling. It also suggests SARS is prioritising compliance with the new system while allowing a practical fallback for travellers caught out by technical problems or poor preparation.

SARS has urged all travellers to familiarise themselves with the new requirements and to complete the declaration before travel where possible. The revenue service says doing so will help ensure a smoother and more efficient journey through ports of entry.

The new rule applies broadly to people moving across South Africa’s borders and marks a significant shift in how customs declarations are handled. While the online system is now mandatory, SARS’ clarification means the emphasis is on facilitation rather than refusal, at least in the early stages of implementation.

For travellers, the message is straightforward: complete the declaration in advance if possible, but if you cannot, help will be available on arrival or departure.