New 'travel pass' distributed to all South African airports

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has stated that the new online passenger declaration system, which gives a travel permit through email, will be introduced at all of the country’s airports.

According to SARS, the new technology was successfully trialled beginning on November 29, 2022, as phase 1 of the initiative at King Shaka International Airport.

The system will be rolled out at all airports in the following phases of implementation:

• Cape Town International Airport on 28 February 2023
• O.R. Tambo International Airport on 23 March 2023
• Other airports in the second and third quarters of 2023
• Land ports, namely Beit Bridge and Skilpadshek, after that.

SARS also stated that the technology will be implemented in the Cape Town Ports in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Although it will be widely implemented, SARS stated that the new system will operate on a voluntary basis throughout the pilot phase until further notice.

The outcomes of the pilot study will be used when SARS implements the system in accordance with customs regulations.

SARS’s new system is a web-based programme that allows visitors to pre-declare their purchases and pay the necessary taxes when entering or departing the country.

It requires travellers to report a variety of items, including items purchased or obtained abroad, repaired or remodelled goods, and anything forbidden or restricted by law.

“Travellers who are travelling with children or infants will also need to complete a declaration on their behalf.”

Beyers Theron, SARS’s director of customs and border control, stated that when the first pilot programme was introduced, travel cards and declaration paperwork were becoming more common across the world.

According to the director, all travellers to South Africa are now obliged to fill out a paper-based Traveler Card (TC-01) at the airport if they have any things to disclose.

SARS intends to address this by creating an online system to speed and improve the procedure.

The transition to an online declaration process is anticipated to make travel in South Africa more convenient for visitors at any entry or exit point.