The 'New' Customs Traveller Declaration Explained

South African crew — we've seen a lot of posts suggesting the "new" Customs Traveller Declaration is fresh red tape from SARS. It isn't.

The Customs Traveller Declaration is simply a digital version of the same Customs declaration travellers have always completed (or verbally declared) when entering or leaving South Africa. It helps you declare goods, currency, and other items Customs requires — that's it. We've always done this; it's just digitised now.

What it is NOT:

• ❌ It is not part of the income tax process.

• ❌ It is not used to determine whether you meet the 183/60-day foreign employment exemption.

• ❌ It does not track your tax residency or days outside South Africa.

  
  

Don't let clickbait and "added red tape" panic you — this is administrative, not a tax-tracking tool.

How to use it

📲 Top tip: download the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) mobile app before you travel, so you've got quick access on your phone. Declarations can only be submitted within 24 hours of your journey.

You can also complete it directly here: sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration

So how do you track your tax days?

This declaration has nothing to do with it. For tax purposes, SARS still relies on evidence like:

• Your passport travel history

• Employment contract

• Seaman's discharge book / service record

• Flight records and other supporting travel documents

  
  

If you're trying to track your qualifying days inside and outside South Africa for the 183/60-day rule without digging through old passport stamps and flight records months later, that's exactly the kind of thing worth setting up a proper system for from day one.

Questions about the declaration or your day-count tracking? Drop us a message — happy to help.