Individuals & Travellers SARS Customs & Excise form

Traveller Goods Declaration TGD1

The companion declaration for goods you are carrying that exceed the duty-free allowance, are prohibited or restricted, or are for temporary import or export — completed alongside your TD-01 in the same SATMS session.

Last updated: 21 August 2026

Quick answer

TGD1 — The companion declaration for goods you are carrying that exceed the duty-free allowance, are prohibited or restricted, or are for temporary import or export — completed alongside your TD-01 in the same SATMS session.

Submitted online — no downloadable PDF

TGD1 is completed as part of the SATMS session triggered by your TD-01 declaration — there is no separate submission portal or downloadable PDF. Access via sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/, the SATMS mobile app, or QR codes at ports. Required only when goods or currency above the thresholds are disclosed.

Open the SARS submission portal ↗

No internet at the border, or SATMS unavailable? Paper forms are issued by SARS customs officers in genuine system-failure or no-connectivity cases only — not as a general alternative. When paper fallback applies ↗

Key facts

When you need itWhen your TD-01 discloses something to declare: goods above the R5,000 duty-free allowance, currency or bearer instruments over R100,000, commercial goods, restricted or prohibited items, or goods for temporary import or export.
Where to submitCompleted as part of the same SATMS session as your TD-01 — online at sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/, via the SATMS mobile app, or via QR code at the port. Not a separate submission — it is triggered within the TD-01 flow.
Does customs stamp it?NO PHYSICAL STAMPNo physical stamp — SARS processes it electronically. Duty and VAT assessed through SATMS may be payable at the port before goods are released.
Commonly confused withYou always complete the TD-01 first; TGD1 is only required when you have something to declare. TGD1 is not the same as the DA304 (household effects on relocation) or SAD502 (commercial temporary import) — those are for different purposes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the TGD1?

The companion declaration for goods you are carrying that exceed the duty-free allowance, are prohibited or restricted, or are for temporary import or export — completed alongside your TD-01 in the same SATMS session.

When and where do I lodge the TGD1?

When your TD-01 discloses something to declare: goods above the R5,000 duty-free allowance, currency or bearer instruments over R100,000, commercial goods, restricted or prohibited items, or goods for temporary import or export. Completed as part of the same SATMS session as your TD-01 — online at sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/, via the SATMS mobile app, or via QR code at the port. Not a separate submission — it is triggered within the TD-01 flow.

Does customs stamp the TGD1?

No physical stamp — SARS processes it electronically. Duty and VAT assessed through SATMS may be payable at the port before goods are released.

Do I always need to complete a TGD1?

No — only when your TD-01 discloses something to declare. If you are travelling with normal personal luggage under the R5,000 per-person allowance, carry no currency over R100,000, and have no restricted or commercial goods, the TD-01 alone is sufficient.

What information does the TGD1 require?

Item descriptions, quantities, serial numbers (for electronics and valuables), and values. For currency and bearer instruments: the source and purpose of the funds. SATMS guides you through the required fields.

What happens if I do not declare goods and get caught?

Non-declaration or a false declaration can lead to detention or forfeiture of the goods, penalties, and other enforcement actions under the Customs and Excise Act. There is no minimum value below which SARS will not act.

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This page is a plain-English guide, not legal or customs advice. Form names and procedures are verified against the official SARS "Find a Form" index at the time of publication, but requirements change — always confirm on sars.gov.za or with a registered customs broker before lodging.