Customs Cape Town International Airport Contact Details

Customs at Cape Town International Airport has no direct telephone number, and that is deliberate. SARS states it plainly on its own customs offices page: all telephone calls to Customs offices are routed automatically to the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277, with WhatsApp on 0800 11 7277. So any number advertised as a direct line to airport customs is not one SARS publishes.

The number that reaches Cape Town airport customs

• SARS Contact Centre: 0800 00 7277
• WhatsApp: 0800 11 7277

SARS states on its own customs offices page that all telephone calls to Customs offices are routed automatically to the SARS Contact Centre, which covers the three customs offices at Cape Town International Airport. Have your case or reference number ready if one was issued.

Three customs offices at Cape Town International Airport

SARS lists Cape Town International Airport three times, as three separate customs offices with different functions. Knowing which one your matter belongs to shortens the call.

• Cape Town International Airport, the main customs office
• Cape Town International Airport: Arrival Terminal, which handles travellers and accompanied baggage
• Cape Town International Airport: Cargo Office, which handles air freight consignments

A traveller stopped at the red channel, a parcel held on an air waybill and a commercial import entry are three different processes handled by different offices at the same airport. Say which one applies when you call.

If goods have been detained or stopped

You should have been given a notice with a case or reference number on it. That reference is what makes the call useful; without it the contact centre cannot locate the detention. Ask what the specific reason is, what documents are required and by when, and get the answer in writing. Detained goods attract storage costs while the matter is unresolved, so the clock is against you from the moment of the stop.

Bringing goods in through the airport

• Travellers have a duty-free allowance and a separate limit above which a flat rate applies; declare rather than guess, because an undeclared item found is treated differently from a declared one
• Commercial imports need a customs client number, and an individual importing occasionally may still need to register
• A courier or clearing agent acts on your behalf but the liability for the declaration remains yours

Complaints and escalation

• Raise it through the contact centre on 0800 00 7277 and insist on a case number
• SARS runs an internal complaints process, and the Office of the Tax Ombud handles unresolved service complaints against SARS
• Never pay cash to anyone at an airport to release goods; a legitimate customs charge is assessed on a document and paid to SARS, not to a person

Frequently asked questions

What is the customs contact number at Cape Town International Airport?

There is no direct number. SARS routes all calls to customs offices automatically to the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277. WhatsApp goes to 0800 11 7277.

How do I contact customs at the airport about detained goods?

Call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277 with the case or reference number from the notice you were given. Ask for the specific reason, the documents required and the deadline, and get the answer in writing.

Which customs office at the airport handles my matter?

The Arrival Terminal office handles travellers and accompanied baggage, and the Cargo Office handles air freight consignments. The main customs office covers the airport’s other customs work.