Residents of South Africa who are going abroad are advised to register the goods they are taking with them before leaving the country.
This is advisable especially for valuable items such as jewellery, watches, cameras, video cameras, laptops, etc. to ensure that there are no problems re-importing these goods upon return to South Africa .
To register these goods, you will need to complete a Traveller Card (DA 65 form) and make a verbal declaration to a Customs officer prior to handing in your baggage to the airline/shipping line.
Note that the signing of the Traveller Declaration must not be interpreted as a confirmation that duties and taxes have been paid on the goods listed thereon. This will merely indicate that the goods have been taken with you out of the country. Proof of payment of the duties and taxes on such goods may nevertheless be called for on your arrival back into the country.
Please note that if the items are not identifiable by means of a serial number or identification mark, you are required to make arrangements for suitable identification, by means of photographs, seals, etc. with Customs well in advance of your departure from South Africa.
Note also that if the total value of your baggage exceeds R50 000, you are, for the purposes of exchange control, required to obtain a No Exchange Provide form (NEP) at any commercial bank before your departure from South Africa.
Your baggage and the completed NEP form must be produced to the Customs officer on duty prior to check-in. The officer will certify that the goods listed on the form were inspected by Customs for the purpose of exportation.
In cases where you board a connecting flight to a designated international airport from where you intend to depart for your international or domestic flight, please ensure that your goods are registered for re-importation prior to handing in your baggage for the first flight.
The Traveller Card and NEP forms must be retained by you for presentation to Customs on your return to South Africa.
