Clearing South African Customs
Used household furniture and personal effects can normally be imported into South Africa free of customs duty and VAT under rebate item 407.06 when you are changing your residence to South Africa and the relevant conditions are met.
Returning South African residents must generally have been outside South Africa for six months or longer to qualify. You should also plan to be in South Africa before your household goods are cleared through Customs.
We’ll guide you through the required paperwork and work with our appointed South African destination agent to coordinate customs clearance and final delivery.
What Documents Are Required?
For most household goods and personal effects shipments to South Africa, the customs documentation includes:
- DA 304 household-effects form pack, including P1.160
- SAD 500 Customs Declaration
- Detailed inventory of the household goods and personal effects being shipped
- Passport showing your South African arrival details
- Relevant visa, immigration permit or residency documentation, where applicable
- Bill of Lading and other shipping documentation relating to your removal shipment
SARS identifies the inventory, P1.160, DA 304 and SAD 500 as key documents for importing personal effects and household goods.
Our South African destination agent will coordinate the clearance documentation with you and advise if original documents or any additional information are required.
For more detailed information, see our South Africa customs guide.
Can I Import My Household Goods Duty and VAT Free?
Qualifying household furniture, personal effects and other household belongings can normally be imported free of customs duty and VAT under rebate item 407.06 when you are genuinely changing your residence to South Africa.
The goods must be your bona fide household belongings, owned by you before your departure for South Africa and imported for your own use.
For returning South African residents, SARS requires an absence from South Africa of six months or longer for the household-effects rebate to apply.
Goods imported under rebate item 407.06 must not be sold or otherwise disposed of within six months of the date of customs entry without the relevant customs consequences.
Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are excluded from the normal household-effects rebate and are dealt with separately
What Happens When My Shipment Arrives?
Our appointed South African destination agent will coordinate customs clearance and present the required shipment documentation to Customs.
If SARS requires further information, original documentation or additional clearance formalities, our agent will advise you. Once Customs releases your household goods, we can arrange onward delivery to your new home in South Africa.
