Traveller Declaration TD-01

The mandatory online declaration every traveller must submit when entering or leaving South Africa — covering personal details, travel information, and confirmation of what you are carrying.

Every time you enter or leave SA by air, land, sea or rail. Mandatory from 1 July 2026. Submit no more than 24 hours before departure. Transit passengers who remain within the designated international area without leaving it are exempt. Online via the SARS Traveller Management System (SATMS) at sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/, the SATMS mobile app, or scan-to-declare QR codes at ports. A paper form is available only when SARS systems fail or there is no internet access at the port.

No physical stamp — processed electronically via SATMS. If your declaration discloses goods or currency above the threshold, a TGD1 goods section is completed alongside the TD-01.

Yes. Every traveller — including children and infants — must have a declaration submitted. A parent, guardian or accompanying adult completes the TD-01 on their behalf via SATMS.

Each traveller may bring in goods worth up to R5,000 without paying duty or VAT. Goods valued between R5,001 and R25,000 attract duty and VAT at a flat rate; above R25,000 full customs duty and VAT apply. Allowances reset every 30 days and cannot be pooled across travelling companions.

The TD-01 and TGD1 replaced the TC01 Traveller Card, which SARS retired on 1 July 2026. The TC01 is no longer accepted at any border — travellers must use SATMS.