Implementation of SATMS Effective 1 July 2026

Implementation of SATMS

As part of advancing South Africa’s economic growth, digital transformation, and ease of doing business, this correspondence serves to formally communicate a significant milestone within the SARS Customs Modernisation SMART Border project.

Effective 1 July 2026, the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) will transition from its multi-year pilot phase to a mandatory electronic declaration framework across all international airports, land borders, seaports, and the rail network. This progression follows the successful piloting of the system in collaboration with both public and private sector stakeholders and replaces the old legacy manual paper traveller declaration cards with a swift, pre-arrival, digital declaration process.

This transition is being implemented in partnership with the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to enhance data integration, strengthen transparency, and support inter-agency risk management, thereby improving the monitoring and reporting of cross-border activities, including currency movements to prevent illicit financial flows.

Recognising the critical role of international travellers and tourists, SARS will not use the new system to impede, restrict, or delay any legitimate traveller entering or departing South Africa. Rather, the intent is to shift compliance processes away from physical border points, enabling travellers to fulfil their legal declaration obligations conveniently by means of advance electronic declarations. In addition, the platform incorporates an online payment capability that enables travellers to declare and pay any applicable duties and VAT seamlessly, where required.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MANDATORY DIGITAL SOUTH AFRICAN TRAVELLER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SATMS) EFFECTIVE 1 JULY 2026

The core elements of the mandatory traveller declaration are as follows:

• The mandatory declaration framework is anchored in Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Act, which obliges all travellers entering or leaving the Republic to declare goods, including currency. To enhance compliance and traveller convenience, the system enables advance online declarations prior to arrival, facilitating a more efficient and seamless process at ports of entry.

• The cross-border cash declaration threshold has been increased from R25,000 to R100,000 in accordance with the South African Reserve Bank regulatory framework.

• Additionally, any traveller carrying cash or bearer negotiable instruments exceeding R100,000 is required to obtain prior authorisation from the South African Reserve Bank and must comply with Section 30(1) of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) and Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Act, to declare all currency in their possession.

• Through the implementation of the SATMS platform, SARS advances a coordinated whole-of-government approach by enhancing data integration, transparency, and inter-agency risk management, thereby strengthening the monitoring and reporting of cross-border activities, including currency movements, to prevent illicit financial flows.

To support a seamless rollout, SARS requests stakeholders including operators, hospitality groups across air, sea, land, and rail environments to integrate the declaration solution into their passenger workflows including travel e-booking system to strengthen education and awareness and promote voluntary compliance. SARS has also developed ready-to-use digital tools, including scan-to-declare QR codes and digital banners.

The traveller declaration digital platforms are also accessible at no cost via the SATMS mobile application (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store) as well as the SARS website under Traveller Declaration. In addition, a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document has been developed and published on the SARS website to ensure clear and consistent guidance.

For more information, kindly visit the traveller declaration webpage at Traveller declaration | South African Revenue Service (sars.gov.za).

Any further communications in relation to this matter can be directed to Ms Carla da Silva-Nel, Business Area Head: Stakeholder Liaison: Other Government Agencies (CDaSilva-Nel@sars.gov.za).

Method to Use to do the Traveller Declaration

Traveller Management System here on the SARS website.

Download the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) App from your Google, Huawei or Apple store on your mobile device.

Do the traveller declaration on the SARS MobiApp, also available for download from your Google, Huawei or Apple store.

FAQ's for the Required Online Traveller Declarations from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, all travellers entering or leaving South Africa through air, land, sea and rail ports of entry are required to submit an online traveller declaration before travelling. The implementation adopts a whole-of-government approach to strengthen data integration and facilitate Inter-agency risk management, thereby enhancing the monitoring, analysis, and reporting of cross-border activities. The South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) enables travellers to meet their legal obligation to declare goods in their possession, including currency through convenient digital channels such as the SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Portal, the SATMS mobile application, and Scan-to-Declare QR codes. Through convenience and digital accessibility, SATMS promotes voluntary compliance to simplify the declaration process and enhance the overall traveller border experience.

Travellers will not be denied entry into or departure from South Africa solely because they have not completed a declaration before arriving at a port of entry. SARS Customs officials, supported by self-service declaration terminals, will be available to assist travellers who were unable to submit their declarations before travelling. SARS encourages all travellers to familiarise themselves with the new requirements and complete their declarations in advance to ensure a seamless and efficient travel experience.

In general, any person entering or leaving South Africa by air, land or sea and rail must submit a traveller declaration. This includes South African citizens, residents and foreign travellers. A parent, legal guardian, caretaker or another assisting person may complete the declaration on behalf of a minor or a person who cannot complete it themselves.

Yes. Air or sea travellers who are only transiting through South Africa and who do not leave the designated transit area are excluded from submitting a traveller declaration.

The online declaration system makes it easier for travellers to comply with Customs formalities before arriving at a port of entry or exit. It also improves the traveller experience, supports faster processing, and strengthens Customs risk management.

You must submit the online declaration no more than 24 hours before departure from the country from which you are travelling. If you are travelling to South Africa on a journey with stops, the declaration must be submitted no more than 24 hours before departure on the last leg of your journey directly to South Africa.

You can submit your declaration through the SARS website on the Traveller Management System or the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) App downloaded from your mobile device’s store or by using a quick response code on a device that can connect to the internet. At ports where available, self-service kiosks may also be used. See our step-by-step video on how to declare.

You will generally need your passport or travel document details, your travel details, contact details, and details of any travelling companions, if applicable. You must also indicate whether you have goods, currency or bearer negotiable instruments that need to be declared, and if prompted by the system, provide further details about those items.

No. You do not need to declare ordinary personal effects for your own use. However, you must declare goods, currency or other items that exceed your traveller allowance or require Customs attention.

After you submit the declaration, SARS will send a confirmation with instructions on what you must do when you arrive at the relevant port of entry or exit. You should keep that confirmation available on your phone or in printed form and follow the instructions and signage at the port.

If any of the information you submitted changes before you proceed through the Customs processing channel, you must update your declaration so that the information on the system remains correct.

If you could not submit electronically because of a systems failure, a lack of internet access, or another reasonable ground, you may be assisted at the port by an officer or at a self-service terminal where available. In limited cases, a paper declaration may still be used.

A paper declaration may be used only where there is a SARS systems failure, where internet connectivity is not available at the relevant place of entry or exit, or where a traveller is otherwise reasonably unable to submit electronically. In those cases, the traveller may complete the prescribed paper forms at the Customs processing area.

Yes. A parent or legal guardian may submit a declaration on behalf of a minor, and a caretaker or another assisting person may submit on behalf of a person who cannot do so because of age, ill-health, or mental or physical disability. The person completing the declaration takes responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided.

Travellers entering or leaving South Africa by train should also submit their declarations electronically before reaching the first or last railway station in the Republic, depending on the direction of travel. If this is not possible because of circumstances already referred to, the declaration may be completed at the railway station in the prescribed way.

If you intend to use a non-designated place (i.e. a place without Customs presence), you must submit your declaration through the online system before travelling and indicate that you want to use that place. SARS will then send instructions telling you whether you may proceed to that non-designated place or whether you must go to the nearest designated place of entry or exit.

Travellers are legally required to make a proper and true declaration. Failure to declare goods, currency or other relevant items, or making a false declaration, may lead to delays, the detention or forfeiture of goods, penalties, or other enforcement actions under Customs legislation.

If you need help with completing the declaration, you can ask for assistance at a Customs service counter or self-service kiosk where available, or contact SARS through the traveller declaration support channels. Travellers may also email travellerescalations@sars.gov.za for assistance.

Yes. Each traveller must be covered by a declaration, including children and infants. A parent or legal guardian may complete and submit the declaration on behalf of a child and is responsible for ensuring that the information provided is correct.

Yes. If you are carrying currency or bearer negotiable instruments above the applicable legal threshold, you must declare them. The system may ask you for additional details such as the type of currency or instrument, the amount, the Rand value and the source of the funds.

Business travellers must also complete the traveller declaration. When completing the form, you must indicate that you are travelling in a business capacity and provide the required travel and goods information. If you are carrying commercial goods or goods for business purposes, further Customs requirements may apply.

Commercial goods are goods that you are bringing into or taking out of South Africa for trade, sale, business use, or another commercial purpose. Goods may also be treated as commercial if, because of their nature, quantity or volume, they reasonably appear to be intended for business purposes rather than personal use.

These goods (including foreign registered vehicles when travelling by Road) must be declared. Depending on the type of goods, the system may ask for more detailed information, such as item descriptions, serial numbers and values. Customs may also require supporting documents or apply further processing at the port.

Yes. If you want to claim a VAT refund, you should declare the relevant goods through the traveller declaration system and then present yourself to Customs at the port for the required verification process. After Customs has completed the verification requirements, you may proceed to the VAT Refund Administrator office, where available, to finalise your claim.

You must declare goods that exceed the relevant duty-free or other allowance thresholds. Once declared, Customs will assess the goods and calculate any duties and VAT payable, and advise you of what further steps you must follow at the port of entry or exit.

No. Allowances apply per person and cannot be transferred or combined between travellers.

• Goods up to R5 000 per person may be imported without paying duty or VAT.

• Additional goods up to R20 000 may be allowed but may be subject to duty and VAT.

• If the total value exceeds R25 000, normal Customs duties and VAT will apply.

This allowance is only valid once per person during a 30-day period and does not apply to goods imported by persons returning after an absence of less than 48 hours.

Travellers are permitted to carry a maximum of R100 000 in or out of South Africa in foreign or local currency, or bearer negotiable instruments, without prior approval.

The traveller declaration system does not replace the carnet process; carnets will continue to be processed as a separate and manual Customs declaration. Vehicles under a carnet are therefore not required to be declared on the online traveller declaration platform, however the drivers of such vehicle must declare other goods not covered in the carnet.

South African Online Traveller Management System (SATMS)

These tutorial videos are provided to help taxpayers understand their obligations and entitlements under the tax Acts administered by the Commissioner for SARS. They provide general assistance, are simply expressed and may provide step by step guidance that does not cover all possibilities.