TEMPORARY ADMISSION OF MOTOR VEHICLES & PERSONS TAKING UP TEMPORARY RESIDENCE IN THE REPUBLIC

This section relates to tourist, exhibitors, short term visitors to South Africa etc.

Motor vehicles imported by tourists will be allowed temporary entry as follows:

• Release will be granted after formal customs clearance and against security - usually in the form of a provisional payment (temporary cash deposit) - to cover the applicable duties and Value Added Tax (VAT), pending proof of re-exportation under customs supervision. Such temporary admission is normally valid for 12 months only
  
  
• Motor vehicles, trailers and caravans are allowed temporary admission under cover of a "Carnet de Passage en Douane" in lieu of a provisional payment. This document act as guarantee for the payment of duty and VAT and may be obtained from the:

  Travel Research RAC Great Park Road Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 4QN Tel. 01454 208000 Fax. 01454 208863

• Motor vehicles imported under cover of carnet may not be used by any other party nor may such vehicles be sold or disposed of in the Republic without the permission of the Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service and production of a valid import permit and payment of the duty and VAT due thereon.
  
  
• A company car may not be imported under cover of a triptique or a carnet.
  

PERSONS TAKING UP TEMPORARY RESIDENCE IN THE REPUBLIC

No provision exists for persons who take up temporary employment in the Republic to import a motor vehicle without payment of duty. Should you decide to import your vehicle, a deposit of approximately 80% will have to be lodged with Customs at the port of entry which will be refunded to you once the vehicle is re-exported under Customs supervision within a prescribed period. This period is usually decided upon between the importer and the Controller of Customs & Excise at the port of entry into the Republic. The maximum period of a temporary importation is usually two years.

The importer is not allowed to dispose of the vehicle in South Africa. Importers will require an import permit from the Directorate of Import & Export Control. It is however, not the Directorate's policy to issue permits to temporary residents of South Africa.