South Africa

66 rules, checked against South Africa’s own pages. Last verified September 12, 2026.

Before anything else

8 rules here carry a consequence heavy enough to state whether or not you asked.

Prohibited in South Africa

Cannabis is banned at South Africa's border, even though private use is permitted at home.

Prosecution

Source · verified Sep 5

Prohibited in South Africa

South Africa bans importing cannabis as a narcotic drug.

Prosecution

Source · verified Sep 8

Prohibited in South Africa

THC edibles may not be brought across South Africa's border.

Prosecution

Source · verified Sep 5

Action required in South Africa

A serious conviction, or one without the option of a fine, can bar entry to South Africa.

Source · verified Sep 5

Action required in South Africa

A prior deportation bars re-entry until South Africa's Director-General rehabilitates you.

Source · verified Sep 5

Action required in South Africa

A drug-related conviction or outstanding warrant can bar entry to South Africa outright.

Source · verified Sep 5

Action required in South Africa

A false statement on a South African visa or entry form can mean up to 8 years in prison.

Source · verified Sep 5

Action required in South Africa

Cash over R100,000 must be declared or it can be seized and forfeited.

Source · verified Sep 5

The final decision rests with the officer.

Look up anything

You do not have to be bringing it.

Food and plants 2
Medication 3
Alcohol 3
Tobacco, vapes, and nicotine 3
Electronics 1
Cash and monetary instruments 8
Purchases and valuables 11
Duty-free allowances 3
Antiques and other restricted goods 9
Forms and documents 10
Entry and admissibility 6
Vaccines and health 6
Plugs and power 1

Food and plants 2

Meat and meat products
- Standing A permit is required
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Seeds, plants, soil
- Standing A permit is required
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Medication 3

A pharmacist checks each medicine before it is listed here. What follows is what the health authority publishes for every traveler.

Health authority
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 8
Medication regime
- Controlled medicines need a permit
  
  Source · verified Sep 8
Prescription or letter
- Required
  
  Source · verified Sep 8

Alcohol 3

Alcohol, any kind
- Alcohol allowance 1 liter
  
  age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Combining alcohol and tobacco
- Per person, never combined
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Wine
- Alcohol allowance 2 liters
  
  age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Tobacco, vapes, and nicotine 3

Cigarettes
- Tobacco allowance 200
  
  age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Cigars
- Tobacco allowance 20
  
  age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Loose tobacco
- Tobacco allowance 250 grams
  
  age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Electronics 1

Used personal effects
- Exempt
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Cash and monetary instruments 8

Cash declaration form
- Traveler Declaration (TD-01) / online traveler declaration
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Cash declaration page
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Cash declaration threshold
- R100,000
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Gold
- Gold, including Kruger Rand coins, must be declared on departure along with South African bank notes and securities; up to 15 Kruger Rand coins may be exported, provided they were acquired with foreign currency the traveler brought into South Africa.
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Local currency brought in
- R100,000
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Local currency taken out
- R100,000
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
What counts as cash
- South African bank notes, Foreign currency, Gold (including Kruger Rand coins), Securities / bearer negotiable instruments
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
When cash is declared
- Arriving and leaving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Purchases and valuables 11

A minor’s share of the allowance
- The full adult allowance
  
  age 17 and under
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Combining allowances
- Per person, never combined
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Duty over the allowance
- 20%
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Duty-free allowance
- R5,000
  
  away 2 days or more
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
- R700
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
- R100,000
  
  away 2 days or more · arriving from BW, LS, NA, SZ
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Perfume allowance
- 50 ml
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Proof of ownership
- Traveler Goods Declaration (TGD1)
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Proof of ownership page
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Self-declaration ceiling
- R20,000
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
VAT over the allowance
- 0%
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Duty-free allowances 3

Arrivals duty-free shop
- There is one
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Duty free authority page
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Minimum age
- 18 years
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Antiques and other restricted goods 9

Antiquities
- Taking it out A permit is requiredProsecution
  
  leaving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
- Penalty Prosecution
  
  leaving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Cultural goods and art
- Taking it out A permit is requiredProsecution
  
  leaving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
- Penalty Prosecution
  
  leaving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Customs authority
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Export permit page
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
How you declare
- Red and green channels
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Local currency
- Taking it out Must be declaredConfiscation
  
  leaving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
- Penalty Confiscation
  
  leaving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Forms and documents 10

Arrival card
- Not required
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Blank passport pages
- 1
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Customs form
- Traveler Declaration (TD-01) / South African Traveler Management System (SATMS) online declaration
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Customs form page
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
e-Visa
- There is one
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
e-Visa
- eVisa (via the DHA eHome portal)
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
e-Visa page
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Onward ticket
- Required
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Passport validity
- 1 month
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Travel authorization
- Required
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Entry and admissibility 6

A crime of moral turpitude
- Does not bar entry
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
A DUI
- Does not bar entry
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
An arrest with no conviction
- Counts
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Immigration authority
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Waiver
- Form 48 - Application for Waiver of Prescribed Requirements
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Where you disclose it
- Visa application form (BI-84 / DHA visa forms)
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Vaccines and health 6

Certificate from age
- 12 months
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Health notes for this destination
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Malaria
- CDC recommends malaria chemoprophylaxis (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or tafenoquine) for travel to the northeastern lowveld: the uMkhanyakude district of KwaZulu-Natal, the Mopani and Vhembe districts of Limpopo, the Ehlanzeni district of Mpumalanga, and Kruger National Park. Lower-risk areas call for insect-bite precautions only, without medication.
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Yellow fever certificate
- Required arriving from a risk area
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Yellow fever in transit
- Not required in transit
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Yellow fever risk area
- No
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

Plugs and power 1

Plug types
- D
  
  Source · verified Sep 12

From the Southern African Customs Union

South Africa applies these alongside its own rules. A national rule that states its own figure wins.

Cash declaration threshold
- R100,000
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Cigarettes
- Tobacco allowance 200
  
  arriving · age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Cigars
- Tobacco allowance 20
  
  arriving · age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Combining allowances
- Per person, never combined
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Customs authority
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Customs form
- Traveler Declaration (TD-01)
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Customs form page
- Official page
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Dairy
- Standing A permit is required
  
  arriving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Duty over the allowance
- 20%
  
  arriving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Duty-free allowance
- R5,000
  
  arriving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Gold
- Gold counts toward the R100,000 excess-currency threshold per the travelers page's own currency-declaration list ('South African bank notes as well foreign currency, securities and gold'); drop or re-source the 'same page ... restricted goods requiring permit' cross-reference, since that quote comes from a different SARS URL (the guide-to-duty-free-allowances page), not from this row's cited source_url.
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
How you declare
- Red and green channels
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Loose tobacco
- Tobacco allowance 250 grams
  
  arriving · age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Meat and meat products
- Standing A permit is required
  
  arriving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Perfume allowance
- 50 ml
  
  arriving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Self-declaration ceiling
- R20,000
  
  arriving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Spirits
- Alcohol allowance 1 liter
  
  arriving · age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Splitting one item
- One item may not be split
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
What counts as cash
- South African bank notes, Foreign currency, Securities, Gold
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
When allowances combine
- A husband and wife (or any two people) traveling together may not add their individual duty-free allowances together to cover one item priced above the per-person limit; the guide's own example is a couple that may not jointly claim a combined R10,000 allowance against a single television worth R9,000.
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
When cash is declared
- Arriving and leaving
  
  Source · verified Sep 5
Wine
- Alcohol allowance 2 liters
  
  arriving · age 18+
  
  Source · verified Sep 5

South Africa publishes these

Who publishes these rules

Customs South African Revenue Service (SARS) - Customs and Excise
Immigration Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
Health National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)
Civil aviation South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

Official portals

SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Electronic customs and currency declaration for arriving/departing travelers (SATMS)
DHA eHome - eVisa Applications Online visa and e-visa applications

Sites that charge extra to “handle” a South Africa application are not official. The government issues these directly.

Airports in South Africa