The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is rolling out a new digital declaration system for foreign-registered vehicles entering or leaving South Africa from June 1, which is expected to ease border congestion for commercial operators.
Shipping and logistics legal expert Erasmus Theron, a partner at Shepstone & Wylie, told Freight News the move could reduce border congestion if it was properly communicated. “The initiative is aimed at simplifying compliance and improving efficiencies at the border. As such, it is expected to ease congestion.”
From June 1, Sars will require all foreign-registered vehicles to be declared on the Sars Traveller Management System (TMS) prior to them entering or leaving South Africa.
The measure aligned South Africa with established international customs practice and formed part of Sars’ ongoing programme to modernise customs operations at ports of entry, strengthen compliance and protect the integrity of the country’s ports of entry, said Sars Commissioner, Johnstone Makhubu.
He said it delivered clear benefits, including “enabling better risk-based screening, strengthening coordination with other authorities and improving the overall traveller experience”.
“It also supports South Africa’s financial transparency obligations and enhances national security by ensuring goods, currency and vehicles are properly declared and assessed before entry or exit,” Makhubu said.
The new regime introduces a more structured declaration process for cross-border operators and foreign motorists. For commercial operators, it could reduce delays at key border posts, where congestion remains a costly friction point for regional trade and tourism.
Under the new system, where foreign vehicles are temporarily imported, temporary import permits with a validity period of six months may be issued. These permits may be used for multiple crossings during that period without the need to reapply at each entry.
Makhubu said Sars would continue to support travellers who were unable to complete the declaration online and would deploy dedicated officials at ports of entry to guide travellers through the process.
He further noted that while online declarations improved processing times, they did not replace physical border controls, and all travellers were still required to present themselves to Customs for verification, processing and inspection, where required.
Frequent cross-border travel for work, business, medical care or other lawful reasons would not affect the validity of the permit, provided it remained in force and was renewed before expiry, Sars said.
For logistics operators running regular cross-border routes, this means routine crossings should not automatically affect permit validity, provided compliance requirements are met.
Sars said the process was designed to make compliance straightforward while improving oversight, consistency and fairness at the border.
Theron said the new system was consistent with digital border management systems in other jurisdictions, where risk-based screening allowed low-risk travellers and cargo to move faster while maintaining security and revenue safeguards.
“This is in line with World Customs Organisation guidance. Sars indicated that the TMS aligns with international standard customs practices advocated by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to modernise customs operations, streamline risk-based screening, and speed up overall border movements,” he said.
However, Sars has warned that compliance is not optional.
“Vehicle owners who do not declare foreign-registered vehicles or who provide false or incomplete information expose themselves to enforcement consequences and prolonged processing at the border,” Makhubu said.
“I also wish to reaffirm that where vehicle owners comply with all the legal requirements, the process will be seamless. However, where compliance is low, this may lead to delays in border crossings.”
