MBABANE – The Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has urged Emaswati travelling to and from South Africa to familiarise themselves with new customs declaration requirements introduced by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which will become compulsory from June 1, 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday, ERS spokesperson and Director of Communications and Marketing, Ntobeko Manana, said all travellers entering or leaving South Africa would now be required to declare personal goods, including motor vehicles used for travelling, at all points of entry.
According to ERS, the requirement forms part of South Africa’s customs processes and applies to all travellers using road, rail, sea or air transport. The revenue authority explained that SARS was enforcing the measure in line with South African customs legislation, which requires all goods entering or leaving the Republic to be declared.
ERS further encouraged travellers to complete the declaration online before travelling in order to avoid delays and ease congestion at border posts and other entry points.
Manana said SARS had developed an online platform known as the Traveller Management System, through which declarations could be submitted electronically before departure or arrival.
He stated that travellers who complete the declaration process in advance would experience smoother movement at ports of entry, as the system was designed to speed up customs clearance procedures.
“On submission of the declaration, a traveller should report to the point of entry within 24 hours,” said Manana.
She explained that once the declaration had been successfully submitted, SARS would send a notification containing the traveller’s passport number, which would serve as a reference number for authentication purposes at the border.
The ERS also clarified that all motor vehicles entering South Africa for travel purposes would need to be declared as temporary importations upon entry and declared again as re-exports when leaving the country.
Travellers will further be expected to provide a range of information during the declaration process, including passport details, travel information, contact details and companion information where applicable.
Business travellers will also be required to disclose business-related details, while travellers carrying cash or bearer negotiable instruments equivalent to or exceeding E25 000 will have to declare those amounts as part of the process.
ERS said declarations could be completed through the official SARS Traveller Declaration webpage.
SARS traveller declaration portal:
[SARS Traveller Declaration](https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Travellers may also use the South African Traveller Management System mobile application to register and lodge declarations electronically.
The revenue service emphasised that the requirements were imposed by SARS and would apply to all persons entering or exiting South Africa, regardless of nationality.
ERS has since urged travellers to prepare adequately before departure by ensuring that declarations are completed online and all travel documentation is in order ahead of the implementation date.
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