Located in the southern tip of Africa, South Africa is famous for diamond, platinum and gold exports. The country spans more than 470,000 miles and major cities include Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The Port of Cape Town, located in Table Bay, is one of South Africa’s major cargo shipping ports. In 2010, the Port of Cape Town handled nearly 720,000 TEU. Other cargo shipping ports in South Africa include Alexandria, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Port Nolloth.
If you need to ship cargo to South Africa, you may be interested in learning some of the import rules about sea shipping there. If you are a shipping a container to South Africa, household and personal effects can typically be shipped duty free. There are certain customs forms you need to fill out including the P1160 and DA304 for the South African Department of Customs. Plan to create at least three copies of these documents. You will also need to present your passport with your date of arrival in the country.
If you are a South African resident and you are returning to the country after being away for at least six month or longer, you can import household items duty free when you return. All imported goods may be subjected to standard customs examinations by officials.
If you are a temporary resident, you are only allowed to import your household goods and personal items duty free if you have a valid work permit and temporary residence permit.
Foreign diplomats can import personal items as long as they complete the appropriate paperwork. In addition, this paperwork should be signed by the Consulate and the South African Department of Foreign Affairs.
If you have inherited items that you are importing, you can import these items duty free as long as you are able to provide a certified copy of the last will and testament which details the specific items that you are importing.
There are certain specific rules about importing firearms and ammunition to South Africa. You can import these items duty free but you must have an import permit from the Import and Export Control prior to importing. A form SAP311 must also be completed in full and you must also sign it. The customs office will keep this form and issue an SAP312.
Importers are given sixty days to license their firearms and ammunition and to have these items inspected before receiving the SAP312. Make sure that you pack your firearms and ammunition in an easily identifiable package in a location that you can readily access in your cargo shipping container.
Are you interested in shipping liquor and other alcoholic beverages to South Africa? You are allowed to ship this but you will be expected to pay full duty fees and taxes. You will also need to get a special removal certificate before you import liquor of any type.
If you are using wood packaging to ship cargo, makes sure that it is ISPM 15 certified at origin. Wood packaging includes wooden pallets, crates, wooden drums and skids. This regulation covers any wood package that enters the country. Any cargo shipment going to a port in South Africa that does not have the ISPM 15 mark will not be allowed to enter the country.
The ISPM 15 certification is an International Phytosanitary Measure that was created by the International Plant Protection Convention in order to prevent transporting diseased and infected wooden materials that might cause environmental harm. The compliance marking is sometimes called the “Wheat Stamp.”
Vehicle Shipping to South Africa
If you want to ship a car or need vehicle shipping to South Africa, you can do this duty free as long as you have owned your vehicle for at least a year. You are allowed to ship one vehicle per family to South Africa. Whoever is shipping the vehicle to South Africa is required to be a permanent resident of the country.
People leaving the country on temporary work contracts or for extended holidays are not allowed to import a motor vehicle duty free to the country. It is also important to note that if you are shipping a vehicle to South Africa, you are expected to pay value added taxes (VAT) which is a percentage based on the customs value of the vehicle.
Before shipping a vehicle to South Africa, there is some required paperwork you’ll want to get in order. This includes the following:
Import Permit
Letter from the South African Bureau of Standards or SABS
Form DA304A
Registration paperwork
Purchase invoice for the vehicle
Declaration Form
If you are a temporary resident and you do not qualify for duty free vehicle shipping, you can make a provisional payment to the South African Customs office to pay for the duties and taxes required for vehicle shipping. A portion of this payment may be refundable if you ship your vehicle out of South Africa when you leave the country.
Bringing a Pet
If you have a pet that you want to bring with you to South Africa, this may be allowed, but there is some important paperwork required. You must have original documents with your pet which are required in order for your animal to clear the veterinary clearance through customs. If you do not have the original documents, your animal may be required to go into quarantine or to return to your country of origin.
Documents for importing a pet to South Africa include the following:
Import paperwork
Health certificate. This should be completed by your veterinarian within 10 days of your travel to South Africa
Valid Rabies Vaccination Certificate
If you are bringing a species that is endangered with you to South Africa, you will be required to have a C.I.T.E.S. Export Permit from your country of origin. You will also need a C.I.T.E.S. Import permit issued by the South African Nature Conservation Department. C. I. T. E. S. is abbreviated for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Sea shipping to South Africa or to anywhere in the world is made much easier with the help of a professional cargo shipping agency that can provide you with detailed guidance about country-specific customs rules and regulations.