Updated Temporary Import Declaration for Vehicles: What You Need To Know
SARS recently released a notice to say that a temporary import declaration is now required for all vehicles entering South Africa, including Southern African Customs Union (SACU)-registered vehicles, and will be enforced from the 1st June 2026. SACU stands for the Southern African Customs Union and consists of the countries South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland. This is in line with Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Act which states that all goods entering South Africa are required to be declared at the border; however, SACU-registered vehicles were temporarily exempted from this specific border process due to operational challenges. This requirement will apply to all border crossings.
In this article we will clarify what a temporary import is and how it differs from a permanent import, and then answer some common questions around this temporary import declaration.
Temporary Import vs. Permanent Import: Questions And Answers
At its basic definition, a temporary import is one in which a vehicle that is registered outside of South Africa is coming into the country with the intention of taking it out of the country again. A permanent import is when a vehicle is being brought in with the intention of keeping it in the country – either for the purpose of selling the vehicle in South Africa, or for personal or commercial purposes.
Permanent vehicle imports are very heavily regulated in order to protect the local manufacturing industry which supports a large part of the South African economy and employs thousands of people and in order to keep control on safety and environmental impacts. Because of this there is a lot of paperwork that is required to bring a vehicle into the country permanently.
If you are bringing a vehicle in permanently, then this new update does not apply to you. There is a different process required for bringing the vehicle into the country to the temporary import of a vehicle. We will be focussing on the temporary importation declaration that is being enforced.
Who Does This Update Apply To?
Temporary imports are applicable to foreign-owned vehicles that are brought into the country for a short period of time with the intention of taking it out again. This is usually for foreign nationals with a foreign-registered vehicle that is brought into South Africa for the purpose of tourism or short-term work, and intends to bring the car out of the country unchanged from the way in which it came in. This new update with SARS is applicable to everyone who falls within this category. This also applies to anyone bringing a car into the country on someone else’s behalf.
This is in contrast to who the permanent importation of a vehicle is applicable to. Permanent importation is mainly applicable to returning South African nationals and immigrants with permanent residence in South Africa who are permitted to bring vehicles registered in their names into the country.
How Can You Apply For This Temporary Importation Declaration?
This declaration process that is being put in place will be done electronically, however there is an option to do it manually. The purpose of this is to simplify customs processes and to reduce congestion at the border by giving an option for people coming into the country to do their declarations beforehand. There are several different ways in which you can go about doing the declaration:
- Electronically via one of the following channels:
- SATMS on the SARS website
- SARS MobiApp
- QR codes displayed at Customs ports of entry or exit
- Manually at Customs with TC-01 and TRD 1 forms if the SATMS system is unavailable
If you are bringing a vehicle in with a trailer, then that will need to be registered separately on the same TRD 1, or if it is being re-exported by another vehicle, travellers must retain a copy of the original TRD 1.
In contrast, doing an application for a permanent import is much more lengthy. It involves getting a Letter of Authority from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), permission from the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), and getting an import license from SARS. The documentation required for the application differs slightly between South African citizens and foreign nationals with permanent residency in South Africa. We can help you with your permanent import permit, to start the process you can fill in your details here.
What Information and Documents Are Needed To Do A Temporary Importation Declaration?
Generally, the only documents you will need in order to do this application are:
- Valid passport
- Valid driver’s license (an International Driver’s License is preferred)
- Original vehicle registration papers
- Proof of ownership
- An authorization letter if the vehicle is not yours
As well as the above documentation, you will need to provide this information:
- Travel details, where necessary
- Travelling companion details
- Contact details
- Addresses of where you plan to stay in South Africa
- Any other relevant declaration information, eg. goods or currency to declare
How Long Is the Temporary Importation Declaration Valid for?
The temporary import permit (TIP) issued by SARS is usually valid for up to 6 months. If you are planning on travelling or staying in South Africa with a vehicle on a temporary import for longer than this period then you are able to apply for an extension only if you have a valid visa – like a work or study visa – that allows you to be in the country longer than 6 months. This can be done by going in person to your local SARS branch and applying for the extension. You should apply for this at least 30 days before the permit expires. You will need to provide a valid work or study permit in order to receive an extension of your temporary import permit.
An alternative way of entering the country for a longer period is through a Carnet de Passage en Douane (CPD) which is an internationally recognised customs declaration that allows you to cross several borders and last for up to 12 months. This has a different process from applying through SARS as it is issued by a different organisation entirely. This is only relevant to tourists who are planning on travelling overland for up to 12 months across different countries in the same vehicle.
How Long Does the Application Take To Process?
If all your documentation is correct and you did the application electronically, then you can expect your temporary importation permit to be issued in minutes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, do not be caught off guard! This process has been in place for all foreigners except those from SACU countries already, and will now be applicable to everyone entering the country temporarily as of the 1st June 2026, including those with SACU-registered vehicles. If you are intending to import a vehicle into South Africa temporarily make sure you are prepared with all the documentation you need before doing the declaration, and in order to simplify and speed up your border crossing with your car you will need to do the declaration electronically before crossing the border into South Africa.
For those needing assistance with permanent vehicle importations, contact our team here.
