Country Guide

Shipping Luggage to the UAE from South Africa

Shipping luggage and personal effects from South Africa to Dubai and the UAE: residence visa, customs inspection and strict prohibited items.

WhatsApp 068 058 2700

Call Johannesburg 011 972 1111

Residence visa first

Personal effects are cleared against your UAE residence visa or employment permit, so the visa must be ready before the shipment arrives. You may need to be present at clearance.

Inspection

All shipments can be inspected. Books, DVDs, CDs and other media can be checked and confiscated, so list them clearly on the inventory.

Couple unpacking boxes in their new home

Prohibited

Alcohol, pork products, weapons including decorative ones, and any material considered offensive are not allowed. Some medicines legal in South Africa are controlled; carry prescriptions.

Documents

Passport copy, residence visa, airway bill, an inventory in English and, often, a letter from your UAE employer. New items are dutiable.

Checklist

Documents for United Arab Emirates

South African citizens: a copy of your ID (customs wants the ID, not the passport)

Foreign nationals: a copy of your passport

If you ship for someone else, a copy of their ID or passport as well

A signed clearing instruction for customs, which we send you to sign

A valued inventory list of what is in each piece (complete it online)

Full addresses in South Africa and at the destination on the inventory

Contact details at the destination: telephone, mobile and email

Describe what is in every bag or box: many countries reject inventories that just say 'misc' or 'packed by owner'

Your visa or residence permit, and any customs relief form United Arab Emirates requires

Two Options

Door to Airport or Door to Door

Door to airport (CFR): recommended

Includes collection, customs clearance in South Africa, airline handling in South Africa and transport to the destination airport. You clear it and collect it at the destination.
Excludes destination clearance, depot or terminal charges at the destination, storage and examination fees if stopped, and AMS filing for sea freight to the USA.

Door to door (DAP)

Available to some countries only, and much more expensive. Includes collection, delivery to your door abroad, customs clearance in South Africa and at the destination, airline handling and all transport fees.
Excludes storage and examination fees if customs stops the shipment, and AMS filing for sea freight to the USA.

Our tip: save by clearing it yourself

Door to airport is by far the cheaper option. You pay the airline handling fee at the destination, process customs yourself with your passport and the inventory, and collect your baggage at the airport. Ask us for both prices and we will tell you what the destination's customs office will ask for.

Customs rules change. We confirm the current requirements for United Arab Emirates when we quote.

Questions

Shipping Luggage to the UAE: Questions

Tap a question to open the answer. For anything else, WhatsApp us.

Can I send wine?

No. Alcohol is prohibited in unaccompanied baggage to the UAE.

How long does clearance take?

Air shipments usually clear within a couple of working days once documents are in order.

Can I send my medicines?

Check the UAE controlled medicines list first, and carry prescription medicine with you.

Collection

We Collect Across South Africa

More Destinations

Other Country Guides

Sending Luggage to the UAE?

WhatsApp 068 058 2700 with the number of pieces and your destination city.