Located at the southern tip of Africa, South Africa is famous for exports of diamonds, platinum, and gold. The country stretches for over 470,000 miles and major cities include Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The Port of Cape Town, located in Table Bay, is one of the main cargo shipping ports in South Africa. In 2010, the Port of Cape Town handled almost 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 about some of the import rules for ocean shipping there. If you are shipping a container to South Africa, household and personal effects can usually be shipped duty free. There are certain customs forms you need to fill out, including the P1160 and DA304 for the South African Customs Department. Plan to create at least three copies of these documents. You must also present your passport with your date of arrival in the country.

If you are a resident of South Africa and are returning to the country after being away for at least six months or more, you can import household items duty free when you return. All imported merchandise may be subject to standard customs examinations by officials.

If you are a temporary resident, you can only import your household goods and personal items duty free if you have a valid work permit and temporary residence permit.

Foreign diplomats may import personal items as long as they complete the appropriate documentation. In addition, this documentation must be signed by the Consulate and the South African Department of Foreign Affairs.

If you have inherited items you are importing, you may import these items tax-free as long as you can provide a certified copy of the last will and testament detailing the specific items you are importing.

There are certain specific rules regarding the importation of firearms and ammunition into South Africa. You can import these items duty free, but you must have an import permit from the Import and Export Control before importing. A SAP311 form must also be completed in its entirety and signed as well. The customs office will retain this form and issue a SAP312.

Importers have sixty days to license their firearms and ammunition and have these items inspected prior to receiving SAP312. Be sure to pack your firearms and ammunition in an easily identifiable package in an easily accessible location in your cargo shipping container.

Are you interested in shipping spirits and other alcoholic beverages to South Africa? You are allowed to ship this, but you are expected to pay full fees and taxes. You will also need to obtain a special clearance certificate before importing any type of liquor.

If you are using wood packaging to ship your cargo, make sure it is ISPM 15 certified at origin. Wood packaging includes wooden pallets, boxes, wooden drums, and pallets. This regulation covers any package of wood 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 to prevent the transport of diseased and infected wood materials that may cause environmental damage. The compliance mark is sometimes referred to as the “Seal of Wheat”.

Vehicle Shipping to South Africa

If you want to ship a car or need to ship a vehicle to South Africa, you can do so tax free as long as you have owned your vehicle for at least one year. You can send one vehicle per family to South Africa. Whoever ships the vehicle to South Africa must be a permanent resident of the country.

Persons leaving the country on temporary employment contracts or for extended vacations are not allowed to import a motor vehicle duty-free into 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 Tax (VAT), which is a percentage based on the vehicle’s customs value.

Before shipping a vehicle to South Africa, there are some necessary paperwork that you will want to have in order. This includes the following:

• Import license
• Letter from the South African Bureau of Standards or SABS
• Form DA304A
• registration paperwork
• Vehicle purchase invoice.
• declaration form

If you are a temporary resident and do not qualify for duty-free vehicle shipment, you can make an interim payment to the South African Customs office to pay the duties and taxes required for vehicle shipment. A portion of this payment may be refundable if you ship your vehicle outside of South Africa when you leave the country.

bring a pet

If you have a pet that you want to bring with you to South Africa, it may be allowed, but important documentation is required. You must have original documents with your pet that are required for your animal to pass veterinary clearance through customs. If you do not have the original documents, your animal may need to be quarantined or returned to its country of origin.

Documents to import a pet into South Africa include the following:

• Importation procedures
• Health certificate. This must be completed by your vet within 10 days of your trip to South Africa.
• Valid rabies vaccination certificate

If you are bringing an endangered species to South Africa, you will need to have a CITES export permit from your country of origin. You will also need a CITES import permit issued by the South African Department of Nature Conservation. CITES is the abbreviation for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Shipping by sea to South Africa or anywhere in the world is much easier with the help of a professional freight forwarding agency who can provide detailed guidance on country-specific customs rules and regulations.