Gold Allowance for Travellers to South Africa (2026)
South Africa lets each traveller bring in R5,000 of goods, including gold jewellery, free of duty and VAT once every 30 days after at least 48 hours abroad, plus up to R20,000 more at a flat 20% duty with no VAT (R25,000 in total); above that, normal customs duty and 15% VAT apply. Gold coins, including Krugerrands, are restricted goods, unwrought gold needs a permit from the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator, and visitors may take out up to 15 Krugerrands bought with foreign currency they brought in. All currency must be declared, and South African banknotes are limited to R100,000 per person (raised from R25,000 on 8 April 2026).
Reviewed October 2026 from official sources (listed below). Rules change — check with customs before you travel.
Estimate
Estimate only: SARS values goods at the price paid. The flat 20% applies to the first R20,000 above the allowance; beyond R25,000, each item pays its own tariff rate plus 15% VAT. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
Duty-Free Gold Allowance in South Africa
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Traveller away 48 hours or more | R5,000 of goods free of duty and VAT | Once per person in each 30-day cycle. Allowances cannot be pooled; children get it for goods for their own use. |
| Flat-rate goods | Next R20,000 at a flat 20%, no VAT | Can be used several times in 30 days up to R20,000 in total. You may ask the officer to assess at normal rates instead. Not for travellers from SACU countries. |
| Crew | R700 duty-free; R2,000 at the flat rate | No duty-free consumables. |
| Jewellery you already own (residents) | Free on return | Declare valuables such as jewellery with serial numbers or descriptions to Customs (form TGD1) before you leave, and show the declaration when you come back. |
| Gold coins, including Krugerrands | Restricted | May be imported or exported only under South African Reserve Bank conditions administered by SARS. |
| Unwrought gold | Permit required | Importing unwrought or semi-fabricated gold needs a permit under the Precious Metals Act; exporting gold needs exchange control approval. |
Duty on gold above the allowance
Each traveller gets a duty-free allowance of R5,000 for new or used goods, once per person in a 30-day cycle after an absence of 48 hours or more. On top of it, up to R20,000 of goods can be charged a flat 20% with no VAT, so R25,000 in total is covered by the simplified rates. You can ask the officer, before assessment, to use the normal tariff instead. Above that, each item pays its normal customs duty and 15% VAT. Crew members get R700 duty-free and R2,000 at the flat rate. Allowances cannot be pooled, and travellers from SACU countries do not get the flat rate.
Residents taking jewellery abroad should declare it to Customs before departure on form TGD1, with descriptions or serial numbers, so it is not taxed as new when they return.
Declaring gold and currency
All travellers must declare goods acquired abroad. In July 2026 SARS introduced an online traveller declaration, submitted on its website or app within 24 hours before travel; you can also declare at the Red Channel or on the TD-01 form. Use the Red Channel if you carry restricted goods, goods above your allowance, or anything you are unsure about. Not declaring can mean forfeiture of the goods, penalties and prosecution under the Customs and Excise Act.
Gold coins, including Krugerrands, are restricted goods: they may enter or leave only under conditions set by the South African Reserve Bank. Importing unwrought or semi-fabricated gold needs a permit under the Precious Metals Act, administered by the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator. Travellers must declare currency. From 8 April 2026 the SARB raised the limit on South African banknotes from R25,000 to R100,000 per person, and Customs may seize amounts above it unless you are travelling within the Common Monetary Area.
Taking gold out of South Africa
Exporting gold needs exchange control approval. Visitors may take out up to 15 Krugerrand coins, or the equivalent in fractional coins, with a SARS customs declaration, if they can prove the coins were bought with foreign currency brought into South Africa. Residents may send Krugerrands worth up to R30,000 as gifts to non-residents, through an authorised dealer and with a SARS customs declaration. For anything else, ask your bank, which acts for the SARB.
Tourists can claim back VAT on goods, including jewellery, that they take out of the country, if the total is more than R250 and the goods leave within 90 days of the invoice. Show the goods and tax invoices to Customs at the port of departure. The VAT Refund Administrator has desks only at OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka airports, and the claim must reach it within 90 days of export.
South Africa to Dubai, India and the UK
Gold bought in Dubai counts towards your R5,000 allowance and the R20,000 flat-rate band when you return; keep the invoice showing weight, karat and price. Gold bars from Dubai are unwrought or semi-fabricated gold that needs a permit, and gold coins are restricted. If you are flying to India, the UK or Australia, the destination's own allowances apply, and Krugerrands you take out must meet SARB's export rules.
Practical tips
Register jewellery with SARS before leaving, keep invoices for gold bought abroad, and carry it in your hand baggage. Do not bring gold coins or bars without checking the SARB conditions first. These rules change, so check SARS and your bank before you travel.
Gold price in South Africa today
Live rates →| 24K (999) | R 2,075.96 / gram | R 20,760 / 10 g |
|---|---|---|
| 22K (916) | R 1,903.48 / gram | R 19,035 / 10 g |
| 18K (750) | R 1,558.53 / gram | R 15,585 / 10 g |
Bringing Gold to South Africa: FAQ
How much is 10 grams of 22K gold worth in South Africa today?
About R 19,035 at the international price converted to ZAR (Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC). Customs use their own notified or assessed value, and shops charge more, so treat this as an estimate.
How much gold jewellery can I bring into South Africa duty-free?
R5,000 of goods in total, once every 30 days after at least 48 hours abroad. The next R20,000 is charged a flat 20% with no VAT; above R25,000, normal duty and 15% VAT apply.
Can I bring Krugerrands into South Africa?
Gold coins, including Krugerrands, are restricted goods. They may be imported only under South African Reserve Bank conditions, so check with an authorised dealer and declare them at the Red Channel.
How many Krugerrands can I take out of South Africa?
Visitors may take up to 15 Krugerrands, with a SARS customs declaration, if they bought them with foreign currency brought into South Africa. Residents may export Krugerrands worth up to R30,000 as gifts to non-residents through an authorised dealer.
How much cash can I carry into or out of South Africa?
You must declare currency. Since 8 April 2026 South African banknotes are limited to R100,000 per person when travelling outside the Common Monetary Area; the limit was R25,000.
Can tourists claim VAT back on jewellery in South Africa?
Yes. Tourists can claim the VAT on goods they export if the total is more than R250, the goods leave within 90 days of the invoice, and they are shown to Customs on departure.
Do I pay duty on jewellery I took with me from South Africa?
No, if you can show it left with you. Declare it on form TGD1 before you travel and keep the declaration for your return.
Gold Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: SARS: Guide to duty-free allowances for travellers (July 2026) · SARS: SC-PA-01-03 Duty Free Allowances for Travellers external guide · SARS: SC-PA-01-06 Excess Currency external policy (Krugerrands, banknotes) · SARB Exchange Control Circular 8/2026: banknote limit raised to R100,000 · SARB: Financial Surveillance FAQs (Krugerrand exports) · Precious Metals Act 2005 · SARS: VAT refunds for tourists. Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: gold price in South Africa · gold price by weight.