ENTERING THE REPUBLIC: DUTY FREE ALLOWANCES

Returning SA citizens or residents who have been on holiday abroad and foreign visitors to SA are entitled to bring goods including gifts and souvenirs into the country duty-free. The following may also be brought into the country duty-free.

• 1 litre spirits and other alcoholic beverages
• 2 litres wine
• 200 cigarettes
• 250g cigarettes or pipe tobacco
• 50 cigars
• 50 ml perfumery
• 250 ml toilet water
• Children under the age of 18 do not qualify for the alcohol or cigarette/tobacco allowances.
• Duty for additional goods, new or used, (excluding firearms) up to the value R12 000,00 will be charged at a flat rate of 20%.
• 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.
  
  
• Commodities and quantities specified as duty free allowances can change without prior notice.

The above concessions are also subject to the following conditions:

• 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.