Paper customs forms are officially gone, and showing up at South African border control without completing the South African Revenue Service's (SARS) new digital pass could mean being stuck in long queues or facing security bottlenecks.
The mandatory online SATMS declaration must be submitted within 24 hours of departure by all travellers, including citizens and parents flying with children. Leaving it until you reach the airport introduces unnecessary friction, potential delays, and compliance issues before your flight even takes off.
If packing your passport, charging your phone and checking in online were already part of your pre-flight routine, there is now one more task to tick off before heading to the airport.
The move is designed to speed up customs processing while ensuring that travellers declare goods and currency before arriving at a port of entry or departure.
"The system makes it easier for travellers to comply with Customs formalities before arriving at a port of entry or exit," SARS said.
What is changing?
The SATMS was first introduced as a pilot programme at airports in 2022 before expanding to land and sea ports. Since July 1, the digital declaration has become mandatory for all travellers entering or leaving South Africa.
Instead of filling in a paper form during your journey, you now complete the declaration online using the SATMS portal or mobile app.
The declaration forms part of the customs process and allows travellers to declare goods, cash and other items that may be subject to customs rules before they travel.
When should you complete it?
Timing is everything. Travellers must submit the declaration no more than 24 hours before departing from the country where their journey begins.
If your trip includes connecting flights, the declaration should be completed within 24 hours before the final flight that takes you directly to South Africa.
Who needs to complete the declaration?
The rule applies to South African citizens, permanent residents and foreign visitors travelling through airports, land borders, sea ports and rail crossings.
Parents or legal guardians must also submit a separate declaration for every child travelling with them.
The only people exempt are international transit passengers who remain inside the airport transit area without passing through South African immigration.
What should you declare?
Most personal belongings, such as clothing, a laptop, or a mobile phone, do not need to be declared.
However, travellers must declare commercial goods, product samples and items intended for repair.
Goods that exceed the duty-free allowance of R5 000 or total goods valued above R25 000 may also need to be declared for customs duties and VAT.
Cash, foreign currency or bearer negotiable instruments worth more than R100 000 must also be declared.
How to complete the declaration
The process is designed to take only a few minutes.
Visit the SARS Traveller Declaration portal or download the SATMS mobile app.
Enter your passport details, travel information and contact details before listing any goods or currency that require declaration.
Once completed, you will receive confirmation by email or SMS. Saving a screenshot or printing the confirmation could make your journey through customs easier.
The system will then direct you to either the Green Channel if you have nothing to declare or the Red Channel if customs need to inspect declared items.
What happens if you forget?
Missing the online declaration does not automatically stop you from travelling.
SARS says travellers who arrive without completing the form can still do so at the airport, harbour or border post using self-service kiosks, QR codes or with assistance from customs officials carrying handheld devices.
However, leaving it until the last minute could mean longer queues and unnecessary delays.
SARS also warns that failing to accurately declare goods or withholding information is an offence under the Customs and Excise Act. Travellers who fail to comply could face administrative penalties, delays or the seizure of undeclared goods.
One more thing before you board
For travellers, the new declaration is quickly becoming as important as an airline boarding pass. Completing it before leaving for the airport could save valuable time at customs and help avoid unnecessary stress once your journey begins.
As SARS puts it, "The system makes it easier for travellers to comply with Customs formalities before arriving at a port of entry or exit."
Whether you are heading off on holiday or returning home, adding the SATMS declaration to your pre-flight checklist is now part of the journey.
lutho.pasiya@nationalmg.co.za