Entering by boat: South Africa
What to do to enter South Africa by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.
Check with the authorities before you leave (last checked on 28 October 2026).
Before you arrive
- Online procedure: Préavis d'arrivée (PAN) via OSASA + déclaration en ligne du voyageur SARS — register.osasa.org.za
The steps
- Register on the OSASA website before departure (notice sent to Port Health 3 days before arrival).
- Call Port Control on VHF (port channel) to enter, Q flag up.
- Wait aboard for Port Health, then port authority and Immigration with passports and last clearance.
- Complete Customs form DA1 (DA3 on departure) and the SARS online declaration.
Papers to have on board
- Passports for the whole crew
- Visas, if your nationality requires them
- Crew list
- Boat papers (registration certificate)
- Outward clearance from the previous country
- Maritime declaration of health
- Papers for animals on board
Good to know
- Pre-arrival notice via OSASA is mandatory before leaving your last port (about R400); entry may be refused without it. For Mossel Bay, at least one week ahead.
- Clear in within 24 h of arrival or face a fine; Q flag until Port Health has cleared you.
- Each crew member completes the SARS online traveller declaration.
- Since August 2024 Saldanha Bay and Mossel Bay are also ports of entry and departure.
- After exit clearance, leave within 24 h with no further stops.
Ports of entry
The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.
- Cape Town (Royal Cape Yacht Club / V&A Waterfront)CustomsImmigrationHealthHarbour office
- Durban Marina, ponton de quarantaine ACustomsImmigrationHealthHarbour office
- East London, Buffalo River Yacht ClubCustomsImmigrationHealthHarbour office
- Mossel BayCustomsImmigrationHealthHarbour office
- Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)CustomsImmigrationHealthHarbour office
- Richards Bay, Tuzi Gazi Small Craft HarbourCustomsImmigrationHealthHarbour office
- Saldanha Bay (YachtPortSA)CustomsImmigrationHealthHarbour office
Prepare your arrival with Hullteam
In the app, free: the map of every port of entry and its offices with their contacts, the crew list and the entry forms filled in for you, ready to print or send to an agent.
Create my free accountSources
- osasa.org.za/south-african-ports
- osasa.org.za/customs
- sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/
- noonsite.com/place/south-africa/view/clearance
This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.