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ONVOYO

Shipping boxes to and from South Africa

South Africa charges duty and 15% VAT on almost every box. Since September 2024 even low-value parcels pay VAT, so plan for tax whatever the value. People moving to South Africa, including residents returning after 6 months or more abroad, can bring their household effects free of duty and VAT under rebate item 407.06. Give the receiver's ID or passport number, and get any permit for food, plants, or medicine before you ship.

Typical transit
3-6 business days from Europe; 4-7 from North America or Asia
Currency
ZAR
Duty-free up to
There is no duty- and VAT-free threshold
Receiver ID
South African ID number, passport number, or SARS tax reference number

Price a shipment to South Africa

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to South Africa

  • 1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$288.91delivered in 4 to 8 business days
  • 5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$1,444.56 totalabout $288.91 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by South Africa and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

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Sending to South Africa

Duties and taxes123456710

Duty-free threshold
There is no duty- and VAT-free threshold. Until August 2024, parcels worth under R500 (about $30) paid a flat 20% in place of duty and no VAT. SARS added 15% VAT from September 1, 2024 and said the flat rate would give way to appropriate duty rates from November 1, 2024. Unsolicited gifts from one private person to another, up to R1,400 (about $84) a parcel and two parcels a year, are free of duty.
Import tax
VAT at 15%, charged on the customs value plus a 10% uplift plus any duty. There is no uplift for goods originating in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, or Eswatini. Duty depends on the item: printed books pay none, while many clothes pay 45%. Goods with proof of origin from a trade partner such as the EU, UK, EFTA, or SADC can pay less.
How value is worked out
FOB: South Africa values imports at the price of the goods at the place of export, so international freight and insurance are left out. VAT then adds a 10% uplift to the customs value in place of transport and insurance costs, except for goods originating in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, or Eswatini. Foreign amounts are converted to rand at SARS's official rate of exchange for customs purposes. Gifts and other goods sent free of charge have no sale price, so customs values them with the other valuation methods in order. Declare a fair second-hand value for each item.
Who pays
Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?
Anyone changing their residence to South Africa, including immigrants and South African residents returning after 6 months or more abroad, can bring household furniture, household effects, and the tools of their trade free of duty and VAT under rebate item 407.06. The goods must belong to you and your family, be owned before the move, and be for your own use. Motor vehicles, alcohol, and tobacco are excluded. Claim with forms DA 304 and P1.160 and an inventory, and don't sell or dispose of the goods within 6 months.

Worked example

Illustrative: a gift box with a customs value of R3,000 (about $180): R1,000 of books and R2,000 of cotton T-shirts and jerseys, sent from outside the Southern African Customs Union. Assumes the clothing is classified at the 45% general rate and no trade-agreement rate is claimed. The gift rebate doesn't apply because the box is worth more than R1,400.

Duty: books free; clothing 45% x R2,000 = R900. VAT: 15% x (R3,000 + 10% uplift of R300 + R900 duty) = 15% x R4,200 = R630. Total R900 + R630 = R1,530.

About R1,530 (about $92), plus any courier fee. A R3,000 box of books alone would owe only VAT: 15% x R3,300 = R495 (about $30).

How customs clearance works in South Africa2489

Express couriers enter each shipment on SARS's electronic goods declaration and collect the duty and VAT from the receiver. Private, non-commercial receivers don't need to register with customs: they are declared under SARS's general client number with their ID, passport, or tax number. Rebate claims and restricted goods need their forms or permits with the declaration.

Formal entry
Commercial imports need the importer or declarant to be registered with SARS customs. Household effects claimed under rebate 407.06 must be supported by forms DA 304 and P1.160, and goods that need a permit or certificate are held until a valid one is produced.
How long it takes
Often 1-3 business days after arrival when the ID number, values, and any permits are in order. Items referred to SAHPRA, plant health, or state veterinary inspectors take longer; SARS says to allow up to 48 working hours for these inspections on postal items.
Inspections
Medicines in parcels can be referred to SAHPRA, plants to the Department of Agriculture, and animal products to the state veterinarian. Goods declared without a required permit are detained until a valid permit is produced.
If duties go unpaid
Imported goods must be entered within 7 days of arrival (14 days for loose air cargo), and goods not cleared in time must be moved to the SARS State Warehouse, where rent is charged. You can offer in writing to abandon goods to customs, which may decline; the owner pays storage, removal, and any destruction costs. The courier may also return unclaimed boxes to the sender at the sender's cost.

Moving to South Africa: claiming duty relief348

  1. 01

    Check you qualify

    You're changing your residence to South Africa: as an immigrant, or as a South African resident returning after 6 months or more abroad. If your residence permit isn't issued yet, customs may accept a provisional payment covering the duty until it is.

  2. 02

    List everything

    Make a full inventory with values. Household furniture, household effects, and tools of your trade that belong to you and your family qualify. Motor vehicles, alcohol, and tobacco don't; a vehicle needs its own form, DA 304A.

  3. 03

    Complete the forms

    Fill in DA 304, the declaration for household effects under rebate item 407.06, and P1.160, the declaration for unaccompanied household effects.

  4. 04

    Ship in your name and hand over the paperwork

    Consign the boxes to yourself. Give the courier or clearing agent the forms, the inventory, and your passport details so the goods can be declared under rebate 407.06, free of duty and VAT.

  5. 05

    Keep the goods for 6 months

    Don't sell or dispose of rebated goods within 6 months of entry. If you do, the duty becomes payable.

Documents to have ready348913141516

  • Receiver's South African ID number (citizens and permanent residents), passport number (everyone else), or SARS tax reference number
  • Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or gift
  • For household effects under rebate 407.06: forms DA 304 and P1.160 plus a full inventory, and the residence permit for immigrants
  • SAHPRA section 21 authorization for any unregistered medicine
  • Veterinary or plant import permit from the Department of Agriculture for animal or plant products, issued before shipping
  • ITAC import permit (form IE 463) for used goods that need one

South African ID number, passport number, or SARS tax reference number: Private receivers who aren't registered with customs are declared under SARS's general client number, with their South African ID number (citizens and permanent residents), passport number (anyone else), or SARS taxpayer reference number. This route is only for private, non-commercial imports. Businesses need their own customs registration. We ask for it during booking.

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms3414151617

What you can pack, category by category2451113141516

What you can pack, by category
CategoryStatusWhat to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothesConditionsYour own clothes are free of duty and VAT when you move under rebate 407.06. Otherwise many garments pay 45% duty plus VAT, and used clothing may need an ITAC permit.
Books and papersMore on booksAllowedPrinted books pay no duty, but 15% VAT applies unless a rebate covers them.
ElectronicsMore on electronicsConditionsPersonal devices are fine with batteries installed. Duty and VAT apply outside a rebate, and used electronics may need an ITAC permit.
MedicationMore on medicineConditionsLeave medicines out unless SAHPRA has approved them. Unregistered medicines need section 21 authorization before you order them from abroad. Carry your own supply with a prescription instead.
FoodMore on foodConditionsAnimal and plant products, such as dairy, honey, and fruit, need a Department of Agriculture permit issued before shipping. No perishables.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmeticsConditionsPersonal amounts are fine but pay duty and VAT outside a rebate. Perfume may not qualify for the gift rebate. No aerosols or nail polish.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobaccoNot allowedExcluded from the household-effects and gift rebates, and couriers generally refuse them. Travelers' allowances don't apply to shipments.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gearConditionsClean gear is fine. Clean off soil and plant matter first, and leave out fuel canisters, flares, and weapons.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gearConditionsAllowed. Duty and VAT apply outside a rebate or the gift allowance, and used goods may need an ITAC permit. Remove loose batteries.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photosAllowedPersonal papers and photos are fine.
OtherConditionsGold coins, unprocessed minerals, and herbal products need approval. Counterfeit and prison-made goods are banned. Declare anything made from plants or animals.

Quantity limits234111213

Quantity limits for South Africa
ItemLimit
GiftsUnsolicited gifts from one private person to another: up to R1,400 (about $84) a parcel and two parcels per receiver per calendar year, free of duty. Wine, spirits, and tobacco don't qualify. Above R1,400, customs charges apply to the full value.
Household effects when movingFree of duty and VAT under rebate 407.06 when you change your residence to South Africa, if you owned them before the move and keep them for 6 months. Excludes vehicles, alcohol, and tobacco.
Your own goods coming backSouth African residents can bring back personal effects they took abroad free of duty under rebate 407.01, if the goods can be identified and unaccompanied baggage arrives between 30 days before and 90 days after they do.
Alcohol (travelers only)2 liters of wine and 1 liter of other alcoholic drinks per traveler 18 or older. Does not apply to shipments.
Tobacco (travelers only)200 cigarettes, 20 cigars, and 250 g of cigarette or pipe tobacco per traveler 18 or older. Does not apply to shipments.
Medicines (travelers)SARS allows up to 3 months' supply with a doctor's letter or prescription, but SAHPRA's rules allow one month of prescription (Schedule 3-6) medicines with a prescription and prescriber's certificate. Plan on one month. Shipped medicines aren't covered.
Cash (travelers)Declare South African banknotes when you arrive or leave. Banknotes over R100,000 (about $6,000) carried without permission count as excess currency and can be seized. Never pack cash.

What you can't send to South Africa241113141516

Not allowed

  • Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
  • Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
  • Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
  • Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
  • Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
  • Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
  • Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
  • Narcotic and habit-forming drugs in any form
  • Fully automatic, military, and unnumbered weapons, explosives, and fireworks
  • Poisons and other toxic substances
  • Counterfeit goods and unlawful copies of copyrighted works
  • Goods made in prisons
  • Cigarettes weighing more than 2 kg per 1,000

Allowed with conditions

Used or second-hand goods (outside a rebate)
ITAC controls imports of used and second-hand goods, with minor exceptions. For personal goods, apply on form IE 463 in advance. Permits are free and take about 5 days on average.
Medicines
Unregistered medicines ordered from abroad need SAHPRA authorization under section 21 first. Medicines in parcels can be referred to SAHPRA for inspection. Travelers' personal-supply rules don't cover boxes.
Herbal products
Need a Department of Health permit.
Animals and animal products
Need a veterinary import permit from the Department of Agriculture's Director: Animal Health, issued before the goods are shipped. This covers products such as dairy, honey, animal skins, and trophies.
Plants and plant products
Need a plant import permit issued before shipping, plus a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country. The permit is valid for a year, and processing can take up to 30 days.
Gold coins and unprocessed minerals
Restricted, including gold and diamonds in unprocessed form. They need approval from the relevant authority.
Alcohol and tobacco
Excluded from the household-effects and gift rebates, so full duty and VAT apply. Couriers often refuse them.

Sending from South Africa

Shipping boxes out of South Africa4911121718

Sending your own belongings out of South Africa by express courier is straightforward. The courier files the export declaration, which for a private sender carries your South African ID number, passport number, or SARS tax number. Heritage objects need a SAHRA export permit before they leave, and cash can't go in the boxes.

Documents

  • Itemized packing list with fair values, marked as used personal effects or gift
  • Sender's South African ID number, passport number, or SARS tax reference number
  • SAHRA export permit, applied for online through SAHRIS, for any heritage object
  • Receiver's full address and phone number

Can't leave the country

  • Heritage objects need a SAHRA export permit, shown to customs before they leave. Controlled types can include archaeological and paleontological objects, meteorites, visual art, military and numismatic objects, and historic books, documents, and photographs
  • Gold, gold coins, and unprocessed minerals are controlled. Travelers must declare gold when they leave, so don't pack these without checking the permit rules
  • Couriers won't carry cash. Travelers must declare South African banknotes when they leave, and large amounts need permission
  • Protected wildlife products, such as ivory, rhino horn, and some skins, may need CITES or conservation permits. Check with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Before pickup

  • Apply for a SAHRA permit early. A heritage object can't leave without one.
  • Taking valuables abroad to bring back later? Keep receipts or photos. To reimport them duty-free, you need to show they're the same goods that left.
  • Check the destination's rules before packing biltong, other food, or wooden crafts.
  • Describe contents clearly. Vague lists slow checks at both ends.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the unit and complex name if there is one, then the street number and name, the suburb, the city or town, and the 4-digit postal code. Put the receiver's phone number and ID number on the paperwork.

Thandi ExampleUnit 5, Example Gardens14 Example StreetRondeboschCape Town7700South Africa

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, East London, Polokwane, Mbombela.

Remote areas: Rural parts of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal can add days and surcharges.

Estates and apartment complexes often need a unit number and gate access details. Give the receiver's phone number so the courier can arrange payment and delivery.

When things slow down

The festive season from mid-December to mid-January slows customs and couriers. Easter, Freedom Day (April 27), Heritage Day (September 24), and Black Friday in late November also add delays.

Advice for your situation

Students

Foreign students should expect duty and 15% VAT on shipped belongings; check with SARS before shipping whether rebate 407.06 applies to you. South African students coming home can bring back belongings they took abroad free of duty under rebate 407.01, if the goods can be identified and arrive between 30 days before and 90 days after they do.

Returning home

South Africans back after 6 months or more abroad can bring household effects free of duty and VAT under rebate 407.06 with forms DA 304 and P1.160 and an inventory. Keep the goods for at least 6 months.

Expats and relocations

Immigrants can use rebate 407.06 for household effects. If your residence permit isn't issued yet, customs may accept a provisional payment covering the duty until it is. Leaving? Check SAHRA permits for heritage objects and the cash rules first.

Tips for a smooth delivery

  • Budget for duty and 15% VAT on every box. South Africa has no tax-free threshold for parcels.
  • Get the receiver's South African ID number, or passport number, before you book. The customs declaration needs it.
  • Sending a gift? Keep it to R1,400 (about $84) or less a box, two boxes a year per receiver, with no wine, spirits, or tobacco, and no duty is due.
  • Moving to South Africa? Ship in your own name and prepare DA 304, P1.160, and a full inventory before the boxes arrive.
  • Get permits before you ship. Animal and plant products need Agriculture permits, and unregistered medicines need SAHPRA approval.
  • Declare honest, fair values and list every item. Goods without a required permit are held until one is produced.

Shipping to and from South Africa: questions

Is there a tax-free limit for parcels to South Africa in 2026?

No. The old R500 flat-rate concession ended in 2024: 15% VAT has applied to low-value parcels since September 1, 2024, and SARS said the flat rate would give way to appropriate duty rates from November 2024. The main reliefs are the gift rebate, which covers duty only, and rebate 407.06 for household goods when you move.

How much will the receiver pay?

Duty at the item's tariff rate on the customs value (the goods only, without shipping), plus 15% VAT on the customs value plus 10% plus the duty. Printed books pay no duty; many clothes pay 45%.

Do I need an ID number to receive a parcel in South Africa?

Yes. The customs declaration must show the receiver's South African ID number, a passport number for people who aren't citizens or permanent residents, or a SARS tax reference number.

Can I bring my household goods to South Africa duty-free when I move?

Yes, if you're changing your residence to South Africa, as an immigrant or as a resident returning after 6 months or more abroad. Household goods you owned before the move come in free of duty and VAT under rebate 407.06, with forms DA 304 and P1.160 and an inventory. Don't sell them within 6 months.

Can I send used clothes to South Africa?

Your own clothes as part of a move are covered by rebate 407.06. Otherwise, used goods fall under ITAC import control and may need a permit, and clothing duty is high: 45% for many garments, plus VAT. A gift box worth up to R1,400 is free of duty.

Can I send medicine to South Africa?

Only with care. Unregistered medicines need SAHPRA authorization under section 21 before they're ordered from abroad, and medicines in parcels can be referred to SAHPRA. It's usually simpler to carry a personal supply with your prescription.

How do I ship boxes from South Africa to another country?

Book an express courier, list every item with a fair value, and give your ID, passport, or tax number for the export declaration. The receiver pays any import charges at the other end.

What can't I send out of South Africa?

Heritage objects can't leave without a SAHRA export permit, and gold and unprocessed minerals are restricted. Couriers also refuse cash, aerosols, flammables, loose batteries, and weapons.

Official help in South Africa

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in South Africa makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

  1. 1.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    Changes to Customs import system (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  2. 2.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    Sending or receiving goods in the post (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  3. 3.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    FAQ: I want to import my personal effects and / or household goods. What do I require? (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  4. 4.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS), Customs and Excise Act, 1964

    Schedule 4: Rebates of Customs Duties, Excise Duties, Fuel Levy, Road Accident Fund Levy, Environmental Levy and Health Promotion Levy (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 27, 2026

  5. 5.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS), Customs and Excise Act, 1964

    Schedule 1 Part 1: Customs Duty (Chapters 1 to 99) (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 27, 2026

  6. 6.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    Value-Added Tax Levied on the Importation of Goods into South Africa (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 27, 2026

  7. 7.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    Value-Added Tax (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 27, 2026

  8. 8.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    SC-CF-55 Goods Declaration External Policy (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  9. 9.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    SC-CF-55-A01 Completion of Goods Declarations External Annexure (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  10. 10.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    SC-CR-A-03 Valuation of Imports External Policy (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  11. 11.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    Arrival in SA (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  12. 12.

    South African Revenue Service (SARS)

    SC-PA-01-06 Excess Currency External Policy (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  13. 13.

    South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)

    Guideline for the Importation and Exportation of Medicines (SAHPGL-INSP-RC-02) (opens in a new tab)

    Health regulator · checked September 27, 2026

  14. 14.

    South African Government (Department of Agriculture service)

    Import animals and animal products (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 27, 2026

  15. 15.

    South African Government (Department of Agriculture service)

    Apply for a plant import permit (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 27, 2026

  16. 16.

    International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC)

    Frequently Asked Questions - Import Control (opens in a new tab)

    Trade ministry · checked September 27, 2026

  17. 17.

    South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)

    Heritage Objects (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 27, 2026

  18. 18.

    South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)

    National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999) (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 27, 2026

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