Send a parcel to South Africa from only £41.30
Delivered within 4 days*
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SHIPPING TO SOUTH AFRICA YOU CAN TRUST
Need to send a parcel to South Africa? Look no further than DHL eCommerce UK. We make posting your package simple and convenient.
With our two international services, we offer coverage of all South Africa’s cities, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Soweto, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Benoni, Thembisa and more. Choose from:
- Worldwide Air * our premium expedited delivery solution, with speedy transit times making it ideal for sending time sensitive parcels.
- International Economy the cheapest way to send your parcel to South Africa; we’ll get your package into the country before handing fulfilment to our trusted local logistics partners.
Want to discover how much shipping to South Africa from the UK might cost you? Simply get a quote and book your delivery today.
HOW DO YOU SEND A PARCEL TO SOUTH AFRICA?
- Get a Quick Quote: Simply provide your parcel’s weight and dimensions to get an immediate quote across our two services.
- Book Your Slot: Choose your preferred service, enter your recipient’s details, and complete the required customs information. You can then book a collection from your home or a convenient ServicePoint or depot drop-off
- Prepare Your Parcel: Pack your items securely and attach your shipping label. You can find more detailed advice on packaging in the How to Package Parcels to South Africa section.
HOW LONG WILL SHIPPING TO SOUTH AFRICA TAKE?
It depends on the service you choose, whether you select drop-off or door-to-door delivery, as well as where and when you’re sending. Your parcel could be with its recipient within as little as four days.
If your parcel’s destination is in a more remote location, please note, delivery may take longer. We’ve summarised the key features of our two international delivery services, International Economy and Worldwide Air, in the table below:
|
|
International Economy | Worldwide Air |
| What is it? | Our cheapest way to send a parcel to South Africa from the UK; partly fulfilled by South Africa's postal services. | Our premium expedited delivery service. With packages and postage delivered to South Africa by our extensive air network. |
| Ideal for | Customers sending non-urgent parcels, delivered reliably and on a budget. | Customers with time-sensitive parcels that require the quickest delivery. |
| Delivery Time | 6-16 days | From 4 days |
| Max weight/dimensions | 25kg 90cm x 90cm x 50cm |
25kg 120cm x 80cm x 80cm |
| Is South Africa covered by the service? | Yes | Yes |
South African national holidays may also impact delivery times. You can refer to these dates below:
2025 South Africa National Holidays
|
Date |
|
|
1st January |
New Year's Day |
|
21st March |
Human Rights Day |
|
18th April |
Good Friday |
|
21st April |
Family Day |
|
27th April |
Freedom Day |
|
1st May |
Workers' Day |
|
16th June |
Youth Day |
|
9th August |
National Women's Day |
|
24th September |
Heritage Day |
|
16th December |
Day of Reconciliation |
|
25th December |
Christmas Day |
|
26th December |
Boxing Day |
*Public holidays in South Africa may affect our estimated transit times.
HOW MUCH IS POSTAGE FROM UK TO SOUTH AFRICA?
How much you’ll pay for your shipping will depend on the following factors:
- how big your parcel is (length, width and height in cm)
- how much your parcel weighs (in kg)
- the service you choose – International Economy or Worldwide Air
- whether you drop your parcel off (at a depot or ServicePoint) or opt for door-to-door collection and delivery
- any additional contents coverage you purchase – you’ll get £50’s worth of cover for free, with an opportunity to buy extra coverage for items worth up to £5,000.
The best way to get to get an accurate price is by getting a quote via our quick tool. It’s quick, simple and free.
WHY CHOOSE DHL ECOMMERCE UK TO SEND A PARCEL TO SOUTH AFRICA?
- We’re the leader in global logistics, with worldwide shipping networks and vast expertise
- Enjoy the convenience of collection from your home or work address
- Drop off and save at one of our thousands of UK ServicePoints or depots
- Track your parcel online, with delivery notifications for you and your recipient
- Get £50 free contents cover as standard; option to buy additional cover for packages with contents worth up to £5,000
- Our smooth ecommerce platform integration makes shipping to South Africa even easier – for side hustlers, microbusinesses and SMEs
- Offer your customers easy returns with our ‘reverse order’ functionality
- Access to 'My DHL rewards' - exclusive to our customers
- Cashback into your pre-pay account when you add funds (Terms apply)
SOUTH AFRICAN CUSTOMS INFORMATION – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
When you send a parcel to South Africa from the UK, it has to go through customs clearance to be processed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
We’ll automatically generate the required customs forms for you, but it’s your responsibility, as the sender, to provide complete and accurate information.
CUSTOMS DUTIES AND TAXES
Parcels sent to South Africa are subject to import duties and Value-Added Tax (VAT). These charges are determined by SARS based on the declared value and type of goods. They’re not included in your postage price.
- Payment: The recipient in South Africa is responsible for paying any duties, VAT, and administrative fees before the parcel can be delivered.
- Gifts and Personal Goods: There is no universal duty-free threshold for gifts, and many items will be taxed. For customs purposes, it's best to assume that all parcels will be subject to duties and taxes.
DOCUMENTATION AND REQUIREMENTS
To make the customs process as smooth as possible, all shipments must be accompanied by accurate and complete documentation.
- Commercial Invoice: This is a mandatory document for all parcels. It must clearly state the sender's and recipient's details, a detailed description of the contents, and the declared value.
- Personal Effects: If you are sending personal effects, you must provide a full, itemised inventory of the contents.
- Permits: Certain goods may require import permits, which are issued by the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
KEY POINTS FOR PERSONAL SHIPMENTS
If you are sending a parcel to a friend or family member, it’s vital to ensure they are aware of the shipment. Parcels can face significant delays if the recipient is not responsive to requests for payment or additional information.
For more detailed information, please visit the official South African Revenue Service (SARS) website.
WHAT ITEMS CAN'T I SEND TO SOUTH AFRICA?
When sending parcels to South Africa, it’s important to know about the prohibitions and restrictions. It’s vital to ensure that your parcel’s contents will be accepted into the country. If not, your parcel may be seized, destroyed, or returned at your cost.
Certain goods are forbidden from importation into South Africa. For further information, or further clarification please refer to the South African Post Office.
Some examples of items you can’t send to South Africa include:
RESTRICTED AND PROHIBITED GOODS
|
Food |
Illegal and dangerous |
Other |
|
Dairy products |
Poison and other toxic substances |
Endangered species of plants or wildlife |
|
Eggs and poultry |
Narcotic, psychotropic substances and habit forming drigs |
South African bank notes in excess of R5000 |
|
Meat |
Fully automatic weapons, weapons of mass destruction |
Gold coins, unprocessed gold, coin and stamp collection |
| Honey | Explosives and fireworks | Cigarettes with a mass of more than kilogram per 1000 |
*Please be aware that we also have our own prohibited items list, in addition to country-specific restrictions.
South Africa has an average flight time of 11 and a half hours from London – around 5,843 miles. Your parcel has a long journey ahead of it. So, it’s important to make sure it’s securely packed before sending to South Africa – to avoid any damage.
We’ve prepared a few easy to follow tips to help you get it right:
- Invest in a Strong Box: Always use a new, robust, double-walled cardboard box. Reused or compromised boxes significantly increase the risk of damage.
- Prevent Movement: Fill all empty spaces inside the box with packing peanuts, shredded cardboard, or other void fillers to provide crucial stability and prevent shifting during transit.
- Seal for the Journey: Use durable, pressure-sensitive packing tape (at least 48mm wide) to seal all openings and seams securely. The ‘H-tape’ method offers superior security.
- Individual Protection: Give each item its own layer of defence. Wrap everything separately with generous cushioning like bubble wrap or foam to absorb shocks.
Want more advice on how you should package your parcel for delivery to South Africa? Give our handy guides a read:
- How to Weigh & Measure a Parcel
- A Guide to Sending Large Parcels
- How to Package Parcels for International Delivery
- Sending Fragile Items by Courier
HOW TO ADDRESS A PARCEL TO SOUTH AFRICA
Avoid any delays when you ship to South Africa – make sure you get the address format on your label correct. It’s really easy – just follow the format in English characters below:
Recipient's Full Name
House/Building Number and Street Name
Suburb (if applicable) City - 4-Digit Postal Code
Country Name (in all capital letters)
Need more help? Visit our Help Centre for further information.
Posting a parcel to South Africa with DHL eCommerce UK is simple and convenient. Get a quote and book today.