Import Export Services
Set yourself or your business up for success in international trade
with our comprehensive range of import export services and registrations.
Click on any of our import export services to get started.
- Import and Export LicenseR1,980
- Amend existing import export licenseR1,700
- Amend existing export license to add trade agreement(s)From R1,700
- Cross border permitsFrom R3,370
- Permits for regulated goodsFrom R1,750
- Remover of goods in bond, transporter and renewalsR4,600
- Rebate or Drawback User RegistrationR4,600
- Clearing agent (Customs broker) registrationsR4,600
- Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) RegistrationR4,600
- Deferment account applicationR4,600
- Certificate of ConformityPOA
- Import export license and approved exporterR2,500
- Producers for International Trade AgreementsR4,600
- Carbon tax registrationR4,600
- Carrier RegistrationR4,600
- Storage warehouse / Bond store / Rebate store licenseR4,600
- Excise manufacturing warehouseR4,600
- EDI RegistrationR4,600
- Product Compliance and RegistrationPOA
- Consultation on your personal situationFREE
- Online resources and information guidesFREE
Import and Export License
Price: Was R1,980* Delivery: 1-5 working days*
*Trade agreement registrations added at R350 per agreement
What is it?
A unique import and export code (number) issued by Customs.
Why do I need it?
You cannot import or export goods over the value of R150 000 or more than three times a year, or make and receive payments through the bank for international import and export transactions without an import/export code.
Migrate to RLA, add import or export, update address or contact number
Price: R1,700 Delivery: 1-5 working days*
What is it?
- RLA stands for registration licensing accreditation. It is customs new online platform where all traders are to be registered.
- If you only have an import license OR an export license, amend your existing license registration to include both importing AND exporting.
- If your contact details have changed those need to be updated at customs.
Why do I need it?
- All importers and exporters who got their license before April 2020 will be registered on customs old softer and MUST reregister on RLA in order to continue trading.
- If your contact details have changed customs requires you to update your contact details within 7 days.
Amend existing export license to add a Trade Agreement – SADC, SADC-EU-EPA, SACU-EFTA, SACUM-UK-EPA, SACU-MERCOSUR, GSP, AGOA and/or AfCFTA
Price: R1,350 + R350 per trade agreement
Delivery: 1-5 working days*
What is it?
Registration to export goods under the SADC (Southern African), AfCFTA (African), SADC-EPA and SACU/EFTA (European), SACU-MERCOSUR (South American), GSP (General System of Preferences) or AGOA (North American) trade agreements. Adding a trade agreement to your export license means you are an registered exporter under one or more of these trade agreements and may obtain the relevant certificates of origin. More information on trade agreements is available here.
Why do I need it?
To benefit from the tariff reductions and/or removals under these agreements. This means that buyers pay little or no import duty tax, giving the exporter a competitive advantage against countries that do not form part of the trade agreement. Speak to our knowledgeable trade consultants regarding advice about which trade agreement you can benefit from as part of our comprehensive import export services.
Cross border permits
Price: Permit-dependent (From R3,370).
Delivery: 2-14 working days*
What is it?
A permit that allows the cross-border road transportation of goods for business purposes.
Why do I need it?
In accordance with the Cross-Border Road Transport Act 4 of 1998, cross-border road transport needs to be regulated when undertaken for business purposes. These permits allow cross-border operators to conduct cross-border road transport business in South Africa and neighbouring countries.
Permits for regulated goods (ITAC permit)
Price: Starting from R1,750 Delivery: Starting from 6 working days*
What is it?
A goods-specific permit to allow imports and exports of certain regulated goods. These permits are required in addition to an import export code when importing or exporting regulated goods.
Why do I need it?
Certain goods (for example agricultural products, second hand/used goods, pharmaceuticals, and waste or scrap) are regulated in order to ensure quality and safety, to prevent illegal activities from taking place, and to protect the local economy. Ask us more about the permit registrations that fall under our import export services to see which apply to your product offering.
Remover of goods in bond, transporter, consignor bond and renewals
Price: R4,600 (R3,800 for renewals)
Delivery: 60 working days* (10 days for renewals)
What is it?
Both remover of goods in bond and transporter registrations authorises the registered individual or entity to transit goods between customs controlled areas (bonds). A remover of goods user is required to submit a security for the total VAT and duty of the goods, while a transporter makes use of another entity’s security. A consignor bond is a security submitted by a South African agent on behalf of a foreign remover in bond.
Why do I need it?
These registrations can be used to:
- Transport imported goods from a border post to an internal customs controlled storage area or rebate store.
- Tranship goods through South Africa (for example goods land in Durban harbour and are exported to Zimbabwe).
- Transport goods from a bonded warehouse to a border post (for example from an Excise store to an airport or seaport).
Rebate or Drawback User Registration
Price: R4,600
What is it?
A rebate is a full remission or part reduction of import duties, subject to the importer’s compliance to specific conditions set out in the Customs and Excise Act No. 91 of 1964, at the time of import. Every rebate item has its own extent of rebate.
- Schedule 3 (industrial rebates),
- Schedule 4 (general rebates), and
- Schedule 6 (excise duties, fuel levy, and environmental levy).
To qualify for a rebate, importers must have a dedicated rebate store located within the Republic of South Africa and registered with Customs, wherein the rebate items are safeguarded.
A drawback is a reimbursement of duties that have already been paid if the importer can prove the goods have been exported, or used in the manufacturing of exports. The Act lists goods that qualify for rebate under Schedule 5 (specific drawbacks and refunds).
Why do I need it?
Rebates and drawbacks allow importers to acquire qualifying goods at a lower total cost.
Clearing agent (Customs broker) registrations and renewals
Price: R4,600 (R3,800 for renewals)
Delivery: 60 working days* (10 days for renewals)
What is it?
Registration to act in the capacity of a clearing agent, i.e. to submit declarations to Customs on behalf of other importers and exporters.
Why do I need it?
All individuals or entities that submit declarations to Customs on behalf of other importers or exporters have to be licensed to do so. If you are not licensed as a clearing agent, you cannot clear and take delivery of goods at Customs on someone else’s behalf.
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Registration*
Price: R4,600
Delivery: 7 working days to enroll on accreditation process*
What is it?
The AEO programme is a Customs-Private Business partnership. It aims to increase voluntary compliance with global trade standards through the provision of incentives. South African customs shares some of its security and compliance duties with the trusted business partner in the private sector; this partner is then rewarded with various benefits which are aimed at facilitating trade. More on the AEO program and its benefits are listed here.
Why do I need it?
These benefits aim to facilitate cross-border trade, and therefore essentially relate to lower trade costs (e.g. lowered from security payments; expedited drawbacks and refunds) and quicker turn-around times (reduced inspections; priority treatments).
Deferment account application**
Price: R4,600
Delivery: 60 working days*
What is it?
A deferment account provides an easy solution for managing your Customs duties and VAT. When goods are imported into South Africa, it may be subject to these taxes before it can be cleared. Import duties and VAT must generally be paid in full to the Customs authorities at the time of import. A deferment account allows import duties and VAT to be paid on an account basis with SARS Customs, and the account to be settled monthly via e-filing.
Why do I need it?
Having a deferment account for your business can help to ensure shipments are cleared quicker as there is no delay while Customs waits for payment. It also reduces administration as Customs payments are made monthly and not per shipment.
**Applications are subject to SARS vetting and consent. This service does not include guaranteed approval.
Certificate of Conformity
Price: Quoted based on commercial invoice and destination
Delivery: 4-10 days
What is it?
Verification of Conformity involves checking conformity of goods according to national standards or an international equivalent. Qualifying goods are issued with a certificate of conformity. A Certificate of Conformity is required by these countries before exports leave the country of origin.
Why do I need it?
Many developing counties require a Certificate of Conformity to accompany goods entering into their market in order to ensure that it is of the appropriate standard. This protects these markets from dangerous, sub-standard or counterfeit products and protects domestic industry from unfair competition of poor quality imports.
Approved exporter (APE) for SADC, SADC-EU EPA, SACU-EFTA FTA or SACU-MERCOSUR PTA
Price: R2,500 Delivery: 15-20 working days*
What is it?
SARS registration as an approved exporter under the SADC, SADC-EU EPA, SACU-EFTA FTA or SACU-MERCOSUR PTA trade agreement to benefit from reduced rates of import duty at destination import customs. More information on trade agreements is available here.
Why do I need it?
Preferential rates of import duty allowed by trade agreements make your exports more competitive in the international market.
An approved exporter may export goods under a trade agreement without including a certificate of origin with each shipment. When the goods arrive at destination import customs, preferential rates of duty are granted based on a declaration an approved exporter may add to their commercial invoice.
Producers for international trade agreements
Price: R4,600 Delivery: 1-5 working days*
What is it?
Any producer of goods of South African origin that wants to export under any of the international trade agreements needs to register as a producer and an exporter. The products need to meet the rules of origin of each trade agreement. More information on trade agreements is available here.
Why do I need it?
Exporting under an international trade agreement allows the exporter to benefit from tariff reductions and/or removals from these agreements. This means that buyers pay little or no import duty tax, giving the exporter a competitive advantage against countries that do not form part of the trade agreement.
Carbon tax registration
Price: R4,600 Delivery: 30-45 working days*
What is it?
A registration as an excise manufacturing warehouse that generates greenhouse gasses.
Why do I need it?
All entities that generate emissions (green house gasses) equal to or above the stipulated threshold are liable to pay Carbon tax through an environmental levy that is imposed per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Goods liable for environmental levy may only be manufactured in a licensed Customs and Excise manufacturing warehouse.
Click here to learn more about carbon tax.
Carrier Registration
Price: R4,600 Delivery: 7 working days*
What is it?
All entities carrying bonded goods across a border are required to register as a carrier in order to submit manifests and required reports to customs.
Why do I need it?
Registration is necessary to submit manifests or other reports required by customs when carrying bonded goods across a border.
Storage warehouse / Rebate store / Bond store license
Price: R4,600 (R3,800 for renewal)
Delivery: 30-60 working days*
What is it?
A license that allows a facility to function as a bonded storage warehouse to store goods imported for home consumption, export and rebate purposes. The bonded warehouse is subject to Customs control.
Why do I need it?
Storage warehouses for imported goods not yet cleared through customs need to obtain a storage warehouse license. When goods are in bonded storage, duties and VAT do not have to be paid on these goods. A warehouse storage license allows the licensee to store imported goods, duty- and VAT-free, for a period of up to two years.
Click here to learn more about Customs storage warehouses.
Excise manufacturing warehouse
Price: R4,600 (R3,800 for renewal)
Delivery: 30-60 working days*
What is it?
A license that allows a facility to manufacture of dutiable Excise goods. The facility is subject to Customs control.
Why do I need it?
SARS has imposed an Excise tax on specified manufactured goods. Goods that incur excise duties and levies are generally products that are considered non-essential (luxury) items and products for which reduced consumption may have a health or environmental benefit. This includes liquor, tobacco products, cosmetics, sugary beverages, plastic bags, tyres, electric filaments and petroleum. Businesses who intend to produce these goods and incur excise tax are expected to register as a Customs and Excise manufacturing warehouse before manufacturing starts.
Click here to learn more about Excise manufacturing warehouses.
EDI Registration
Price: R4,600
Delivery: 7 working days* and display of signatory’s ID at a local customs’ branch
What is it?
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the electronic transfer of data and required reporting from customs users (such as clearing agents or carriers) to customs.
Why do I need it?
In order to improve efficiency and minimise errors, SARS is legally mandated to enforce electronic communication. It has numerous benefits for the user such as:
- full automation with little or no intervention required by either party;
- a 24 hour window for submission and acceptance of declarations;
- quicker retrieval of cargo due to a reduction in clearance times.
Product Compliance and Registration
Price: POA, 1 free consultation Delivery: Situation-dependent
What is it?
Compliance assessment and registration of the following products:
- Medicine
- Complementary Medicine
- Medical Devices
- Foodstuff and Cosmetics
- Dental Products
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Medical Devices
- Agricultural Products
- Cannabis
Why do I need it?
Ensure that you meet all Customs and regulatory body requirements before you import, export or start your business.
Consultation on your personal situation
Price: FREE Delivery: Situation-dependent
What is it?
Telephonic, in-person or email-based consultation on your personal import and export, business registration, freight or foreign exchange situation.
Why do I need it?
Your customs code is the key to international trade. If you are uncertain about the next steps to take to make your import or export venture a success, our consultants can help guide you in the right direction.
Online resources and information guides
Price: FREE Delivery: N/A
What is it? Import- and export-related information guides and helpful tools and resources. Learn more about topical issues, rules and regulations, and frequently-asked questions related to the industry as well as how to benefit most from our import export services.
Why do I need it? Knowledge is power. If you are embarking on an importing or exporting venture for the first time, or simply need to brush up your knowledge, our resources provide to-the-point information that covers the most important import- and export-related topics.
Prices include courier fees for the collection of original documents.
*TIME FRAMES ARE BASED ON STANDARD PROCESSING TIMES BY REGISTRATION AUTHORITY AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Contact us for our reduced rates for multiple service bundles.
Success in international trade is only a phone call away. Speak to our friendly, knowledgeable and professional trade consultants for assistance with customs registration, permits, trade agreements and more. You can reach us on 0861 0 TRADE (87233) or WhatsApp: 076 816 2185. Alternatively, pop us an email via our contacts page and we’ll get in touch soon.
In the meantime, use our helpful import/export tools and calculators to determine anything from your tariff code, VAT and duty payable on imported goods, or the landed costs of your imports.
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