Country Information

The following goods may be imported into South Africa by passengers over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes and 20 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
• 1L of spirits or liqueurs and 2L of wine.
• 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
• Other goods up to a value of R5,000 (R25,000 if arriving from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia or Swaziland); this allowance is valid once per person in a 30-day period and only if you have been out of the country for at least 48 hours.

Prohibited goods include narcotics, firearms, weapons and ammunition, poison, cigarettes with a mass of more than 2kg per 1,000, counterfeit goods, unlawful reproductions of any works subject to copyright, and prison-made goods. Restricted goods requiring an import permit include South African bank notes in excess of R25,000, gold coins, coin and stamp collections, unprocessed gold, endangered species, food, plants, animals, biological goods, and medicines (excluding sufficient for three months for own personal treatment accompanied by a letter or certified prescription from a registered doctor).

Goods that require an export licence include acacia trees, mineral ores, Tigers Eye gemstones, and a variety of industrial chemicals and metals.