South Africa duty-free allowance

What arriving travelers can bring into South Africa without paying duty — from official customs guidance.

Alcohol

3 L

2 L wine + 1 L other · 18+

Full rule

2 litres wine + 1 litre total other alcoholic beverages per person, age 18+

Tobacco

200 cigarettes

+ 20 cigars + 250 g

Full rule

200 cigarettes + 20 cigars + 250g cigarette/pipe tobacco per person, age 18+

Goods & gifts

ZAR 5,000

then 20% flat rate

Full rule

R 5,000 new/used goods in accompanied baggage; PLUS optional flat-rate band: next R 20,000 assessed at 20% duty (total not exceeding R 25,000 incl consumables)

Cash · declare from

ZAR 25,000+

commonly cited · USD 10,000 foreign

Full rule

declaration required on arrival; exact thresholds live in a separate SARB/SARS policy doc (commonly cited: ZAR 25,000 SA notes / USD 10,000 foreign) - not on the opened page

Depends on: allowance available once per 30 days and only after 48+ hours absence; under-18s get no alcohol/tobacco allowance

Good to know

the 20% flat-rate band above the free allowance is a useful middle tier most countries lack; 30-day/48-hour double condition matters for frequent regional travelers

From South Africa's official customs guidance, checked 2026-07-31 ·verify at the source · Guidance, not law — allowances change and the customs officer has the final say. Verify before you fly.

Sending something to South Africa?

Travelers on Airlo carry parcels on routes they're already flying — declared, inspected, and within allowances. No platform fees.

Find a traveler