You must be physically in South Africa when your shipment arrives and must prove residency. Cargo dues (Ad Valorem Wharfage) are mandatory government charges payable at destination. Full descriptive inventory and passport copy required.
✈ Air freight to South Africa: 4-9 working days, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers from UK door collection • ⚓ Sea freight: 6-10 weeks door-to-door (subject to your destination) • Price confirmed before we collect • Freephone 0800 096 38 39
These items are not automatically refused but face restrictions, duties, inspections or require specific documentation. Check before you pack.
Require phytosanitary certificate from DALRRD. Many plant items restricted.
Require veterinary certificates. Meat, dairy and animal-derived products face restrictions.
Controlled substances require SAHPRA documentation.
South African Rand: import and export restricted. Foreign currency declared above R25,000.
Require specific SAPS permits. Not accepted on personal effects services.
Subject to duties. Limited personal quantities permitted.
Removal of South African cultural property is restricted.
Strictly prohibited. SARS has strong enforcement on IP violations.
The following items are prohibited on all services — air freight, sea freight and door-to-door (subject to your destination). Do not pack them. Items found during inspection will be confiscated, and you may face penalties.
Customs clearance at destination is your responsibility as sender — who must also be the receiver for personal effects classification. Have these documents ready before we collect.
If customs or inspection issues arise at the destination — including holds, queries or inspections — you must respond promptly. Failure to respond, or submission of incorrect documentation, will result in storage charges accumulating at the destination warehouse at your cost.
You are liable for storage, inspection fees and any duties that arise where:
If you are unsure about any item, its declared value, or the documentation required for your destination — call us before you pack. We would rather spend ten minutes on the phone with you than have your shipment held at customs for two weeks while fees accumulate.
After more than two decades on this route, we know exactly what causes shipments to be held, delayed or refused at South Africa customs. These are the practical tips that make the difference.
The must-be-present rule is absolute — be in South Africa before your shipment arrives.
Have your residency proof ready: utility bill, bank statement or rental agreement with your SA address.
Cargo dues are calculated on the declared value of your shipment — mandatory and not in your UK quote.
Cape Town and Durban are our main sea freight ports for door-to-door (subject to your destination) service.
Sea transit is 6-10 weeks — door-to-door (subject to your destination) by sea takes 6-10 weeks.
“We collect your luggage ourselves. We check it is properly packed, wrapped and secured before it leaves your door. After 28 years we know what arrives safely and what doesn’t. That happens before the bag is in the air — not after.”
Your UK shipping quote does not include the following destination charges. These are levied by governing bodies and government agencies at the arrival country and are payable by you directly at destination:
These charges are mandatory, set by the destination country’s governing bodies, and outside our control. We will advise you of known destination charges for your route at the time of booking so you can budget accordingly. If you have questions about what to expect at your destination, call us on 0800 096 38 39 before you book.