Money & duty free for South Africa
Exchange rates:
RandC$1 = R10.54
€1 = R14.71
£1 = R17.55
US$1 = R14.14
Currency & Money
South African Rand (ZAR; symbol R) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of R200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of R5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in South Africa, particularly in cities, shopping centres, hotels and restaurants, with Visa and Mastercard the most commonly used. Contactless payments and digital payment methods are increasingly common, especially in urban areas, though cash may still be preferred in smaller establishments and rural locations.
ATMs are widely available throughout the country, including in towns, cities and shopping centres, making it easy to withdraw local currency.
Travellers may carry and declare a maximum of R25,000 in South African banknotes when entering or leaving the country, while foreign currency is unlimited, though amounts of more than US$10,000 must be declared. South African banknotes are unlimited only when travelling to or from a Common Monetary Area country (Namibia, Lesotho or Eswatini).
Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and major airports, with better rates usually found in cities than at airports or hotels.
US dollars (USD), euros (EUR) and British pounds (GBP) are the easiest to exchange and generally receive the most competitive rates. It is advisable to bring clean, undamaged banknotes, as worn or marked notes may be refused or exchanged at less favourable rates.
South Africa duty free
Travellers entering South Africa are permitted to bring in the following goods free of customs duties and value-added tax (VAT), provided these items are for personal use, not intended for resale, and are declared upon arrival.
• Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 20 cigars, and 250g of tobacco (18 years and older).
• Alcohol: 2L of wine and 1L of spirits or other alcoholic beverages (18 years and older).
• 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
• New or used goods up to a total value of R5,000 per person. An additional allowance of R20,000 may be applied once per person in a specified period, subject to conditions.
All travellers entering or leaving South Africa are required to complete and submit a Traveller Declaration, providing details of goods carried, currency and other relevant information, as required by the South African Revenue Service.
Banned imports include narcotics and their derivatives, fully automatic firearms and unlicensed weapons, explosives and fireworks without permits, counterfeit goods and pirated products, indecent or obscene material, and goods that may pose a risk to public health or safety.
This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult the official customs website or contact the embassy or consulate near you for the most up-to-date information.
Banned exports include narcotics, uncut or unpolished diamonds without proper authorisation, protected wildlife and products derived from endangered species, and certain cultural artefacts or heritage items without permits.
This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult the official customs website or contact the embassy or consulate near you for the most up-to-date information.
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