Departure from SA

Residents of South Africa

Please register your valuables before you leave the country. In order to prove that you took valuable items, such as jewellery, watches, cameras, video cameras, laptops, with you out of South Africa,  you need to register them for re-importation before departure. Registration can be done at the Customs office in the international departures hall before handing in your baggage to the airline/shipping line.   Please note that if your valuables are not identifiable by a serial number or identification mark, the matter must be discussed with customs well before, to make arrangements for suitable identification, by photographs, seals, etc. before your departure from South Africa.   In cases where you board a connecting flight to a designated international airport from where you will depart for your international or regional flight, please make sure that your goods are registered for re-importation before handing in your baggage for the first flight.  

Tourists / foreign visitors

If you’re a tourist / foreign visitor you can reclaim Value-Added Tax (VAT) on the goods bought during your visit in South Africa; to read more click here.  

What is the limit in South African bank notes I’m allowed to carry with me when leaving or entering the Republic?

1. A traveller is allowed to declare and carry a maximum of R25 000/unlimited foreign currency, whether leaving or entering. The South African bank notes is unlimited if the traveller is going to / coming from a country within the Common Monetary Area (CMA).
2. It might happen that a South African resident has a certain Rand amount more than R25 000 when leaving South Africa, which the traveller intends to use in paying import duties on their return. This is allowed where the traveller has made use of the Red Channel and can give a copy of the prior approval of the Exchange Control Department of (SARB).

Top tip: Customs Officers may search and seize currency in terms of Regulation 3(3) and 3(6) of the Exchange Control Regulations. For more information, you can refer to the SC-PA-01-06 – Excess Currency – External Policy.

How much foreign currency can South African residents have in their possession when leaving the Republic?

To the value of R1 million per adult and R200 000 per child under the age of 18, per calendar year out of South Africa. Prior clearance from an authorised dealer (on an official letterhead) must be produced to Customs as proof. Without such clearance only an amount equalling R25 000 is allowed per person.  

What are the restrictions on Kruger Rand coins?

1. South African residents may not export any Kruger Rand coins from South Africa without the prior approval of SARB.
2. Foreign visitors / travellers may take up to fifteen Kruger Rand coins with them out of South Africa given they can prove that the coins were acquired with foreign currency brought with them into South Africa.

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