Travelling to South Africa

Entry requirements by nationality

Find your passport — tap it for documents, conditions and the source.

What you can bring

Tap an item for the limits, conditions and official source.

• Alcoholallowed, within limits2 litres of wine plus 1 litre of other alcoholic beverages (including beer), duty-free per person, once per 30-day cycle after an absence of 48 hours or more
• CannabisprohibitedSARS's traveller guide lists narcotics and habit-forming drugs among prohibited goods, which may not be imported.
• Cashallowed, declaration may be requiredSouth African bank notes must be declared on arrival.
• Controlled medicationdepends on specificsPersonal medicine for up to 3 months is allowed with a prescription, but habit-forming drugs are prohibited; the guide doesn't say which applies.
• Dronesdepends on specificsYou can bring a drone, but you can't fly it until it has a South African Civil Aviation Authority registration certificate.
• E-cigarettesallowedSouth Africa has no dedicated vaping law yet — the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022), which would introduce vape-specific regulation, is still in committee and hasn't passed the National Assembly or NCOP or been signed into law.
• Fresh produceallowed, declaration may be requiredPlants and plant products are restricted goods and may only be imported under permit or quota.
• Meat & dairyallowed, declaration may be requiredAnimal products, including meat and dairy, are restricted goods and may only be imported under permit or quota.
• Prescription medicationallowed, within limitsPersonal medicines for up to three months' use are allowed, accompanied by a prescription issued by a medical doctor.
• Tobaccoallowed, within limits200 cigarettes, or 20 cigars, or 250g combined pipe/cigarette tobacco, duty-free per person, once per 30-day cycle after an absence of 48 hours or more
• Weaponsdepends on specificsFirearms are restricted goods: they may only be imported under certain circumstances, such as under permit, and cannot be claimed under any traveller allowance.

From the blog

• Visa-free doesn't mean form-free any more

Recent changes to South Africa's rules

• 2026-10-19Re-read August customs sources; correct and re-date 46 rows
• 2026-10-19Re-check August entry-requirement rows; re-date 128 confirmed against current sources
• 2026-10-18Re-check August customs rows; correct nine against their sources
• 2026-10-18Re-check September medication rows against their sources
• 2026-10-17Turkey controlled-medicine row; re-verify August medication rows

Follow changes for South Africa (RSS) →