If you're relocating to South Africa, your international move will require much more than packing your goods, booking a flight and saying goodbye to your loved ones. There will be a lot of meticulous planning and proper documentation to ensure a stress-free experience.
The last thing you want is to end up arriving in South Africa only to have your goods held or confiscated. Read on for information on required documents, custom regulations and shipping requirements to have you ready for your South Africanrelocation in no time!
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
For your move to South Africa, you will need proper immigration and shipping documentation when clearing customs. These documents should be received a minimum of 20 to 30 days in advance of the arrival of your shipment to avoid any additional charges of demurrage.
Be sure to contact your international moving company and/or Destination Agent if you have any questions about the process.
When moving South Africa, you will need the following:
- Valid passport (original, including page with entry stamp)
- Customs Form DA 302 and P.1.160 (in triplicate)
- Detailed inventory for attestation
- Permanent residence documents or Temporary Residence Permit and Work Permit
- Affidavit stating the reason for your arrival in South Africa
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- Complete inventory list in English (PBO or Misc. are not acceptable)
- Weights and measurements must be on all shipping documents
- Keys for locked items
- Settler's Declaration Forms to be completed upon arrival (in triplicate)
SHIPPING REGULATIONS
When moving to South Africa, there are specific rules you'll need to abide by when shipping your household goods to the country.
Things to keep in mind:
- South African customs rules are subject to change at any time and without prior notice
- You (the shipper) must be present in South Africa for customs clearance
- All documents must be forwarded to destination agent prior to import
- The household goods below may be imported duty free provided that:
- Works of art that are part of a bona fide household shipment are over 100 years old
- Your items/goods have been in use for more than 12 months and are not for resale
- Returning residents must have been abroad for no less than six months consecutively
- Diplomats are eligible for duty free importation
- As of 2005, shipments containing wood packing materials will need a wood fumigation mark ISPM 15
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Most countries have a list of items that are not allowed in the country whatsoever. When moving to South Africa, err on the side of caution, and leave these items out of your shipment:
- Fully automatic, military and unnumbered weapons
- Explosives and fireworks
- Narcotics
- Cigarettes over 2kg per 1000 units
- Counterfeit goods
- Unlawful reproductions of works subject to copyright
- Prison and/or penitentiary-made goods
- Pornography
RESTRICTED ITEMS
Each country has specific items that are subject to duties and taxes, have limitations on weight and/or quantity, or require special permission. When importing goods to South Africa, some of these items include, but may not be limited to:
- Arms and ammunition (must be packed separately and locked in a firearm case)
- Endangered plants and animals
- All plants and plant products (seed, flowers, fruit, honey, margarine, vegetable oils)
- Animals and animal products (dairy, butter, eggs)
- Medications (must have prescription and doctor's note)
- Alcohol (subject to duty – you will need a complete list of liquor, alcohol percentage of each, label names and values)
- New furniture, presents and souvenirs (subject to duties)
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
Your vehicle may be something you want to consider bringing to South Africa, but before you do, get to know the proper procedure, what documents you'll need and what duties and taxes are involved.
If you plan on shipping your vehicle to South Africa, you will need:
- Customs Form DA 304/A
- Vehicle registration
- Proof the vehicle has been in your possession abroad for more than one year prior to importation (e.g. purchase invoice, insurance certificate)
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- Letter of Authority issued by South African Bureau of Standards in Pretoria (this letter must be submitted at the time of customs clearance)
Additionally, you will need to keep the following in mind when importing your vehicle:
- Left-hand drive vehicles can be imported only if they were purchased after Jan. 1, 2000
- You must have the Import Permit and LOA prior to the arrival of your vehicle (including motor bikes, scooters, motorcycles, etc.)
- You must be in South Africa at least 10 days prior to the arrival of an ocean vessel
- A fee of R1800.00 per vehicle is applicable (made payable to the South African Bureau of Standards)
- Temporary residents must pay cash
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Have a family pet you plan on taking with you to your new home in South Africa? In order for your little companion to make it through customs safely, be sure to adhere to the following:
- An Import Permit may be granted after you (the owner) make arrangements for quarantine – this applies to pets travelling from most countries
- Speak to your Destination Agent for specifics on restrictions for importing live animals
- Documents required for all pets:
- Import Permit
- Rabies Vaccination Certificate
- Veterinary Health certificate
INTERNATIONAL MOVES
International moves are much more complex than a local or long distance move, as they come with numerous expenses and strict custom regulations. The most important part of your move to South Africa will be finding full-service international movers or freight forwarders that have proper licensure and insurance.
Need help finding international moving companies to help you with your move to South Africa? You can get startedhere atMovers.com by submitting our free quote form, which will connect you with up to seven qualified movers in your area.
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