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 GENERAL INFO : DUTY FREE ALLOWANCES - CONSUMABLES

Duty-free allowances 

  Tourists, Returning SA citizens or residents who have been on holiday abroad are permitted to import goods including clothing as gifts without the payment of customs duties and VAT providing the value thereof does not exceed R 3000 per person. In addition to the duty-free allowance, tourists may also import additional goods   up to a value not exceeding R 12000 but such goods will be subject to the payment of a   flat-rate customs duty charged at 20% of the value thereof. It should be noted that tourists wishing to make us of the concessions must ensure that the goods accompany them, however, goods including gifts being carried on behalf of others and consumables, in excess of the quantities mentioned under Consumables below, are excluded from these concessions and are therefore subject to the normal rates of customs duties and VAT and any other import requirements on entry into South Africa. 

 Consumables

 Tourists may, in addition to the allowances mentioned under Duty-free allowances, import the following quantities of consumables without the payment of customs duties and VAT:

 200 cigarettes

50 cigars

250 grams of cigarettes or pipe tobacco

2 litres of wine

1 litre of spirits and other alcoholic beverages

250ml of toilet water

50ml of perfumery

It should be noted that children under 18 years of age are excluded from claiming the duty-free allowance for tobacco and alcoholic beverages. 

Commodities and quantities specified as duty free allowances can change without prior notice 

PLEASE NOTE :

  • Personal effects, sporting and recreational equipment belonging to tourists, whether used or new, will be allowed into South Africa, free of customs duty and VAT, if imported as accompanied or unaccompanied passenger's baggage for own use during their stay. Tourists are advised to check before departure to South Africa, if the items they wish to take with them fall within this category.
  • The goods imported must, with the exception of personal effects, sporting or recreational equipment which may also be imported as unaccompanied baggage, actually accompany the passenger on the same ship or aircraft or vehicle.
  • Goods carried on behalf of third parties are subject to full duty and production of an import permit at the time of importation.
  • The rebate of duty specified above shall not apply to firearms acquired abroad or at any duty-free shop and imported by residents of the Republic returning after an absence of less than 6 months.
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Last modified: Thursday November 19, 2009