Invitation to Stakeholder Webinar: South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) and Traveller Declaration Requirements

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) invites you to participate in a stakeholder webinar on the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) and the traveller declaration requirements.

Since 1 July 2026, travellers entering or leaving South Africa through air, land, sea, and rail ports of entry have been required to submit an electronic traveller declaration through the SATMS platform. The traveller declaration requirement forms part of the SARS Customs Modernisation Programme and supports the broader vision of a digitally enabled border environment that enhances traveller facilitation, strengthens compliance and risk management capabilities, and promotes efficient border management.

The webinar will provide stakeholders with practical guidance on the traveller declaration requirements, recent developments, and the functionality of the SATMS platform. Participants will also gain insight into how the initiative supports Customs modernisation, improves traveller facilitation, and contributes to a more seamless, secure, and predictable travel experience. Furthermore, the initiative promotes a whole-of-government approach by enabling greater collaboration, coordination, and information sharing among border management authorities. This contributes to improved service delivery, enhanced border security, more effective risk management, and the efficient movement of travellers, goods, and currency across South Africa's borders.

The traveller declaration requirement forms part of SARS's commitment to modernising Customs processes, improving traveller facilitation, and strengthening the management of goods and currency moving across South Africa's borders. The initiative enables travellers to submit declarations before entering or departing the country through a range of convenient digital channels, including the SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration portal, the SATMS mobile application, and Scan-to-Declare QR codes.

Since the introduction of the traveller declaration requirement, SARS has actively engaged stakeholders across the tourism, travel, aviation, transport, logistics, and border management sectors. 

These engagements have provided valuable opportunities to clarify requirements, address practical implementation considerations, and gather stakeholder feedback and experiences.

The upcoming webinar builds on these engagements by providing further guidance on the declaration process, sharing recent developments, and creating an opportunity for stakeholders to raise questions, share experiences, and contribute to the continued success of the initiative.

• SARS values its partnership with stakeholders and recognises their important
  contribution to the successful implementation of the traveller declaration programme.
  Through their direct engagement with travellers, passengers, tourists, customers,
  clients, employees, and industry operators, stakeholders play a critical role in:
  Assisting travellers to understand and comply with their declaration obligations

• Communicating accurate, timely, and consistent information through their
  respective communication channels and platforms

• Identifying and raising practical challenges and opportunities affecting travellers
  and industry operators.

• Supporting travellers to complete declarations prior entering or leaving South
  African ports of entry.

• Promoting voluntary compliance while contributing to a more efficient, seamless,
  and predictable traveller experience.

This webinar forms part of SARS's ongoing commitment to stakeholder engagement and collaboration. It provides an opportunity to address matters raised by stakeholders, share implementation updates, and provide the information and guidance necessary to support compliance with the traveller declaration requirements.

What the webinar will cover
The webinar will provide practical guidance and information on:
 

• The purpose and objectives of the South African Customs Online Traveller
  Declaration requirement

• Who is required to submit a traveller declaration

• When a traveller declaration must be submitted

• The goods and currency that travellers are required to declare

• Declaration requirements for travellers entering and leaving South Africa

• The available digital channels for completing and submitting a traveller
  declaration

• Information and documentation travellers should prepare before arriving at or
  departing through a port of entry.

• Guidance and support channels available to assist travellers with completing
  and submitting their declarations.

• Frequently asked questions received from stakeholders since implementation

• The role of tourism, travel, transport, logistics, and other stakeholders in
  promoting traveller awareness, preparedness, and compliance.

The session will also include a practical overview of the declaration process and an
opportunity for stakeholders to engage with SARS officials and submit questions.
 

Why you should attend
 

The webinar will provide stakeholders with a clear and consistent understanding of the traveller declaration requirements and their practical application. It will also support organisations that communicate directly with travellers, passengers, tourists, employees, clients and members of the public.
 

Participants will gain information and insights that will enable them to:
 

• Respond confidently to common traveller enquiries

• Direct travellers to the appropriate SARS information and declaration channels

• Support customers, passengers, members, and employees in preparing for
  travel and meeting their declaration obligations.

• Share accurate information through their websites, newsletters and other digital
  communications platforms

• Reduce uncertainty and help travellers avoid preventable delays at ports of
  entry

• Promote voluntary compliance with South Africa's Customs requirements and
  contribute to a more seamless traveller experience.

Webinar details
Theme: Plan. Declare. Travel. Understanding the required online traveller
declaration
Date: 14 October 2026
Time: 17:00 – 19:00
Platform: Virtual via Zoom and YouTube

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://sars-gov-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_acLXMr-fR2-k0NHE651RFQ
Meeting ID: 993 7893 6188
Passcode: 603014

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Questions may be submitted during registration to help SARS address the matters that are most relevant to stakeholders and travellers. Please email question to TravellerManagementSysQuestions@sars.gov.za.

Please share this invitation with relevant colleagues, members and partners within your organisation or stakeholder network.

SARS values the ongoing partnership and support of stakeholders in raising awareness of the traveller declaration requirements and identifying practical matters requiring further clarity. We look forward to strengthening this collaboration to help travellers understand, prepare for, and comply with their declaration obligations.

Issued by:
The South African Revenue Service
30 September 2026