Oshoek – All travellers crossing into South Africa are now required to submit an online customs declaration and declare any foreign-registered vehicles they bring into the country, following the launch of the South African Revenue Service’s new digital Traveller Declaration System on 1 June 2026.
The development is of direct relevance to Swazis and other travellers from the Kingdom who regularly cross into South Africa for work, trade, study or other purposes.
The new system is grounded in Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Act of 1964, which requires travellers to declare all goods, including vehicles, when entering or leaving South Africa. SARS said the move is aimed at modernising border controls, streamlining legitimate travel and trade, and reducing non-compliance. 
SARS Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu and his senior team were present at key border posts on the day of the launch, including Skilpadshek and Kopfontein in Bokone Bophirima, as well as Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg Bridge in Bloemfontein, to monitor implementation and assist travellers. Other senior SARS officials were deployed at major ports of entry and inland enforcement hubs to ensure consistent application of the new rules.
Before the launch date, more than 38,900 Temporary Import Permits had already been issued to foreign-registered vehicle owners by 31 May 2026.
“The obligation to declare goods and vehicles at our borders is firmly rooted in South African law, which clearly states that everyone must declare everything they bring into or take out of the country. As SARS, in collaboration with other state law enforcement agencies, we have a duty to enforce that law consistently and fairly while making it easy for honest travellers to comply,” said Dr Makhubu.
He made clear that vehicles from Southern African Customs Union member states, including Eswatini, are not exempt. “SACU arrangements facilitate trade, but they do not remove customs control. A vehicle registered outside South Africa remains a foreign vehicle under our law and must be declared as such. This approach ensures equal treatment and predictability at all our borders and conforms to our strategic intent of fostering voluntary compliance,” he said.
A Temporary Import Permit allows a foreign vehicle to be used legally in South Africa for up to six months and covers multiple entries and exits within that period, meaning regular commuters, traders and other frequent border crossers do not need to obtain a new permit for each trip. South Africans who use a foreign-registered vehicle exclusively for business purposes are also covered under the same arrangement.
SARS confirmed there is no charge for obtaining a TIP or for submitting an online traveller declaration. “Complying with the law shouldn’t impose a financial burden; we have designed these systems to be accessible to all travellers,” Dr Makhubu said.
To comply, travellers must submit a digital declaration of their goods and any accompanying vehicles before crossing the border. This can be done through the SARS website or the SARS MobiApp. After completing the declaration, travellers receive a personal reference number to present at the border.
“Modernisation is not about adding red tape but replacing manual, fragmented processes with digital systems that are simpler, faster and more transparent,” Dr Makhubu said. “When travellers pre-declare and follow the rules, border processing is quicker and more predictable, and a single temporary import permit covers multiple entries. That’s a real benefit for the many commuters, traders and tourists who cross our borders regularly.”
Travellers without access to the online system in advance can be assisted by SARS officers at ports of entry through on-site digital kiosks. Traditional border controls and physical inspections remain in place alongside the new digital system.
