Customs Clearance

Customs Clearance in Durban — SARS-Accredited Clearing Agents

Import and export customs clearance through Durban port, King Shaka and OR Tambo. Entries submitted directly via the SARS EDI gateway, tariff classification done properly, and every quote itemised with the actual landed cost — the same working day.

Customs clearance at Durban port — forklift moving cleared import cargo

Customs paperwork that’s correct the first time.

Every shipment entering or leaving South Africa has to clear SARS Customs. Get the declaration wrong — wrong tariff heading, wrong valuation, a missing permit — and your cargo sits at the port accruing storage while the query works its way through. We’re a SARS-accredited customs clearing agent with direct EDI access, based 25 minutes from Durban port, and getting the entry right before the vessel docks is most of what we do.

What our customs clearance service covers

Import and export declarations (SAD 500) — prepared and lodged electronically via the SARS EDI gateway, aiming for pre-clearance before arrival
Tariff classification and duty calculation — correct HS codes so you pay the right duty, not more, not less; rebates and trade-agreement rates applied where they apply
Customs valuation — declared values that stand up to SARS scrutiny, with supporting documentation ready
Permits and restricted commodities — ITAC import permits, NRCS letters of authority, SAHPRA, DAFF/agricultural and other regulatory clearances arranged before the goods ship
SARS queries, stops and inspections — we handle classification queries, valuation queries, documentary stops and physical inspections directly with SARS, so they don’t land on your desk
Post-entry adjustments — vouchers of correction, refund and drawback applications, provisional payments
Sea, air and road — Durban port, King Shaka International, OR Tambo, and any SARS customs office in the country

Documents you’ll need

At minimum: the commercial invoice, packing list, and either the bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air). Depending on the commodity you may also need a certificate of origin, an import permit, or technical documentation. Send us what your supplier gave you and we’ll tell you what’s missing before it becomes a problem at the port.

Why importers use us for clearing

Same-day itemised quotes — customs duty, VAT, port handling, transport and our clearing fee, with the actual landed cost figure. No “TBC” line items.
25 minutes from Durban port — on the ground for inspections and unpacks when it matters
Small accounts welcome — one pallet or fifty containers, first shipment or five hundredth
Someone answers — you speak to the person handling your entry, not a call centre

Common questions about customs clearance in Durban

For a clean entry with correct paperwork and no inspection, sea freight typically clears in 24–48 hours from when we have your documents — and where we can pre-clear before the vessel arrives, release can be same-day on discharge. Air freight is usually same-day or next morning. A SARS inspection or documentary stop adds 3–7 working days depending on the intervention.

Our clearing fee depends on the type of entry and its complexity, and it’s shown as its own line on your quote alongside the duty, VAT and handling charges — so you can see exactly what you’re paying for and what the goods will actually cost landed. Send us your invoice and packing list for a firm quote the same working day.

For commercial imports, yes — you need a SARS customs client number (importer code). If you don’t have one yet, tell us and we’ll walk you through the registration before your first shipment ships. Once-off personal imports below the threshold can sometimes clear without one; ask us and we’ll advise for your specific case.

Yes. If a shipment has arrived and your existing agent hasn’t cleared it, or you tried to do it yourself and hit a query, we can take over the entry. Send us the documents and whatever correspondence you have with SARS — the faster we start, the less storage you pay.

Got cargo to move?

Send us your shipment details — we’ll come back same-day with a real quote.

Get a Quote Call +27 31 332 5052

Fully Accredited

Established 2019

Durban, KZN

Family-Run