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The short answer
A parcel from Nigeria is held until SARS has the information to assess duty and VAT and until any charge is paid. For postal items, SARS treats the postal label as the declaration if it is complete; otherwise it asks for a clearance declaration with supporting documents, such as an invoice or a permit. You pay before you collect, and you can ask for written reasons and dispute the assessment.
A parcel of foodstuff, fabric or documents from family or a supplier in Nigeria shows a status like "held by customs" on the tracking page. This usually means one of three things: the declaration is incomplete, the contents need a permit, or duty and VAT have been assessed and are waiting to be paid. Here is what each means and how to get the parcel released.
Post and courier are handled differently
| Postal item (via SA Post Office) | Courier or express parcel | |
|---|---|---|
| Who deals with SARS | SA Post Office presents mail to Customs | The courier clears on your behalf |
| Declaration | The postal label or form, if complete | The courier's declaration, using the sender's invoice |
| Who you pay | The Postmaster, before delivery | The courier, usually with a handling fee |
| Source | SARS SC-MT-02 | Your courier's own terms |
SARS's external policy on international mail (SC-MT-02, effective October 2020) says the postal label or form counts as the customs clearance declaration provided it has all the information needed to assess duty. If it does not, Customs can ask for a full clearance declaration with supporting documents. Goods stay under Customs control until cleared, and you cannot take delivery until the assessed duty is paid to the Postmaster.
Why a parcel gets held
- Vague description. "Gift" or "personal items" with no value gives Customs nothing to assess. Expect a request for an invoice or a description.
- Goods that need a permit. Under SC-MT-02, goods under tariff headings that need a certificate or permit must be cleared at a Customs Branch Office before collection. Food, plant material, medicines and some cosmetics are the usual triggers from Nigeria.
- Prohibited or restricted goods. SARS publishes a Consolidated List of prohibited and restricted goods on its website.
- Inspection. The Postmaster can detain an article for Customs to examine. SA Post Office tells you the outcome and any conditions.
How duty and VAT are worked out
Customs duty is charged by tariff heading on the customs value, and VAT is charged on top. Neither SC-MT-02 nor the other SARS pages we checked give a separate low-value threshold for posted goods, so check the current treatment on the SARS website or with the courier rather than relying on figures passed around online. Couriers add their own clearance or disbursement fees; their terms set these, not SARS.
Example, figures illustrative: a box of fabric declared at R3,000 on a heading with a 20% duty rate (example) would carry R600 duty, and VAT would then be charged on R3,600. If the sender declared R1,000 when the invoice shows R3,000, Customs can reassess on the invoice and delay release.
Steps to get it released
- Find the tracking number and the notice from SA Post Office or the courier.
- Ask the sender for an invoice or a written list of contents with values.
- Send the documents the notice asks for; for permitted goods, get the permit first.
- Pay the assessed duty and VAT (and any courier fee) before collection.
- Keep the assessment and payment record for at least five years, which is how long SARS's policy requires customs records to be kept.
If you think the assessment is wrong
SC-MT-02 sets out the route: you can ask for written reasons within 30 days, and Customs is to respond within 45 days. Appeals follow SARS's appeals policy (SC-CA-02), and alternative dispute resolution is available (SC-CC-26). If you overpaid, a refund claim is made on form P.P. 43 within two years of the entry date. If a parcel is never claimed and the sender cannot be found, it goes to the State Warehouse.
Sending to South Africa from the Nigerian side
Much of the delay is decided before the box leaves Nigeria. Ask the sender to list each item with a realistic value, to avoid writing only "gift", to keep food sealed and labelled, and to send a copy of the receipt or invoice to you by message so you can produce it quickly. Medicines, seeds, fresh produce and meat products are the items most likely to need a permit or to be refused, so leave them out unless you have confirmed the permit route first.
If you regularly receive stock this way, the postal route quickly becomes expensive in time. Moving to a formal entry through a clearing agent gives you a proper customs declaration, which your bank may ask for if you paid the supplier in advance; see proof of import for SARB. For goods you carry on a flight instead, see the SARS traveller allowance.
Where Pryme fits
When family in Nigeria buy and post goods for you, you can repay them in naira from a Pryme account opened from South Africa; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are provided through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
Why is my parcel from Nigeria held at customs?
Usually because the declaration lacks a value or description, the contents need a permit, or duty and VAT are waiting to be paid.
Who do I pay customs duty to for a posted parcel?
The Postmaster at SA Post Office, before the parcel is handed over. Couriers collect duty themselves and may add a fee.
Can I dispute the duty charged on my parcel?
Yes. Ask for written reasons within 30 days; SARS's policy is to reply within 45 days, and appeals follow its appeals policy.
What happens if I never collect the parcel?
It goes back to the sender if known; otherwise it is surrendered to SARS for the State Warehouse.
Sources
- SARS SC-MT-02 International Mail, external policy (Rev 2, effective 12 Oct 2020) · accessed Oct 2026
- SARS SC-PA-01-03 Duty Free Allowances for Travellers, external guide (Rev 8, effective 1 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.