Everything you need to ship to South Africa in one place. We collect from your door anywhere in the UK, prepare the DA304 customs paperwork, and deliver to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and beyond. Air freight in 4–8 working days, or economical sea freight in roughly 4–7 weeks, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers. These sea transit times are approximate — the actual time depends on when your LCL container finishes loading and consolidating, the vessel’s sailing date and route, any transhipment hub before the final destination, and customs clearance, so please allow a week or two either side. Shipping to South Africa since 1998.
After shipping personal effects to South Africa since 1998, we’ve learned that a smooth SARS clearance comes down to two things: the right forms attested with your passport in-country, and timing your arrival so you land before your goods. Get those right and returning residents and immigrants bring their belongings in duty-free; get them wrong and the shipment sits in storage at your cost. This guide brings together everything that actually matters for a UK–South Africa move.
Not sure which service you need? Start here — each links to full details, transit times and what’s included.
A few boxes or bags, shipped door-to-door without airline excess fees. Popular with students and individuals.
Furniture, appliances and a whole home’s contents by sea freight, with the DA304 paperwork handled for you.
Moving more than a bag or two? See why shipping usually beats airline excess-baggage charges.
The fast option — your consignment flies from Heathrow to Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban.
The economical option for volume — shared (LCL) or full-container (FCL) to Durban and Cape Town.
On a budget? Compare the most economical routes and consolidation options to South Africa.
Sending a few suitcases or boxes ahead? The simple, door-to-door way to get them there.
Tell us what you’re sending and where. We’ll give you a clear quote up front.
We collect from your address anywhere in the UK. No need to get anything to a depot or the airport.
Goods are export-packed and we prepare your itemised inventory and the DA304 and P1.160 customs forms.
Air freight from Heathrow, or consolidated sea freight to Durban or Cape Town.
You attest the forms in-country with your stamped passport; SARS clears your duty-free import against your inventory.
Your goods are delivered to the South African address, or ready to collect from the arrival depot.
South Africa lets you bring your used household and personal effects in free of duty under a rebate — but the paperwork must be attested with you in the country.
Alongside the duty rules, SARS and other agencies restrict certain goods and inspect shipments. All consignments are subject to random customs stops, so declaring honestly keeps clearance quick.
Most UK–South Africa shipments clear without drama. The ones that don’t nearly always come down to the same short list of things:
An illustrative example of a common scenario — your quote is always to your exact shipment.
We ship to every province. Here are our most popular destinations — each with local delivery detail, arrival ports and transit times:
Air to OR Tambo (JNB) and sea via Durban — our busiest SA lane.
Air to Cape Town (CPT) and sea to the Port of Cape Town.
Air to King Shaka (DUR) and sea to the Port of Durban — the main entry port.
Air to Johannesburg with onward delivery to Pretoria and Tshwane.
Air freight suits a few boxes, urgent items or anything you need within a week or two — 4–8 working days, priced on weight and size. Sea freight suits volume — a room, a family’s contents or a whole home — at a fraction of the per-kilo cost, over roughly 4–7 weeks door-to-door. Many customers split the two: air for the essentials, sea for the rest.