Flights

After reporting to Immigration, collect your baggage and then proceed to the Customs red or green channel.

The following Customs channels must be followed, depending on your circumstances:

• If you have in your possession any prohibited/restricted goods and/or goods which fall outside your duty-free allowance, or if you are unsure whether any goods in your possession fall within these categories, please proceed to the Red Channel.
• If you have something to declare, your passport is scanned and you make a verbal declaration, which is captured on the system by a Customs officer. This information forms the basis of a Traveller Declaration form (TRD1). The TRD1 will also be used as a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) and Temporary Export Permit (TXP). If you are happy with the information on the TRD1, you will be asked to sign on an electronic signature pad and your signature will be captured on the system. The signed TRD1 is then printed and given to you.
• If the goods in your possession fall within your duty-free allowance (i.e. R5 000), you do not have any prohibited or restricted goods in your possession, you are not in possession of any commercial goods (imported for trade purposes) and you are not in possession of gifts, carried on behalf of others, proceed to the Green Channel, unless instructed otherwise by a Customs official.

You may be stopped, questioned, or searched by a Customs officer at any time in the Red or Green channel.

Certain goods may only be imported if you are in possession of the necessary authority/permit.

• Firearms/weapons.
• Gold coins.
• Unprocessed minerals (e.g., gold, diamonds, etc.).
• Animals, plants, and their products (e.g., animal skins, dairy products, honey).
• Medicine (excluding enough for three months for own personal treatment accompanied by a letter or certified prescription from a registered physician).
• Herbal products (Department of Health permit required).

• Over and above the duty-free allowance, you may choose to pay Customs duty at a flat rate of 20% on goods which you acquired abroad or in any duty-free shop.
• The total value of these additional goods, new or used, may not exceed R20 000 per person. Flat-rate goods are also exempted from payment of VAT.
• Should the value of the additional goods in question exceed R20 000, or should you decide not to make use of this facility, the flat-rate assessment falls away and the appropriate rates of duty and VAT must be assessed and paid on each individual item. It should be kept in mind that in certain cases goods may be liable to rates of customs duty in excess of 20%; others could be subject to lower rates, while some goods may be free of duty. In addition, 15% value-added tax will be payable on goods assessed by tariff.
• It must, however, be noted that the application of this provision is subject to the total value of goods declared under the entire rebate item not exceeding R25 000. In other words, all consumables, the duty-free allowance of R5 000 and the items to be assessed on the flat rate must in value not exceed R25 000.