Registered, licensed and accredited
Cleared before it lands. We lodge every entry on the SARS EDI system, so most SARS queries are resolved within the carrier’s free time.
Rapple Logistics is a licensed and accredited customs clearing agent with its own compliance team. Documents are checked in full, and the paperwork is transparent, so there are no unnecessary delays.
What clearing actually involves
Stops and inspections
A stop is not a disaster, it is a delay with a process. When SARS or port health stops your container, one of our people attends the examination in person. We push for the release and you see the status on your client portal as it moves. Most stops clear in two to five working days; port health referrals on foodstuffs run longer.
You need an importer code
SARS requires every importer to be registered. If you do not have a code we walk you through the application. It takes a few weeks, so start before the goods ship, not after. More answers on the import FAQ.
Quick answers
What does a customs clearing agent do?
We classify your goods under the SARS tariff, work out the customs value, check permits, lodge the SAD 500 entry on SARS EDI, pay the duty and VAT on your behalf and get the release, so the goods can leave the port, airport or border.
How long does customs clearing take in South Africa?
We lodge the entry before or on the day the vessel discharges or the flight lands, so when the papers are right most cargo is released within the carrier’s free time. If SARS or port health stops the goods, most stops clear in two to five working days. Port health referrals on foodstuffs take longer.
What documents does SARS need to clear my goods?
The commercial invoice, the packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, your customs client (importer) code and a letter of authority for us. Add any permit the goods need (ITAC, NRCS, SAHPRA, port health or agriculture) and a certificate of origin to claim a trade agreement duty rate.
Do you clear goods in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg?
Yes. We are a licensed clearing agent with our customs desk in Cape Town and a branch in Johannesburg. We lodge entries electronically on SARS EDI, so we clear sea cargo in Cape Town and Durban, air cargo at Johannesburg and Cape Town, and road cargo at the border posts.
How is import duty worked out?
Duty is a percentage of the customs value, which SARS bases on the FOB value of the goods, at the rate for the tariff heading. Import VAT is 15% of the customs value plus 10%, plus the duty. Try our import duty calculator for an estimate. The final figure is per the SARS assessment.