Importing into South Africa with TUNL (Beta)

Importing into South Africa with TUNL (Beta)

TUNL now supports import shipments into South Africa directly on the platform.

This allows you to book inbound shipments from international suppliers to a South African address, using the same booking flow you’re familiar with.

How to Book an Import

1. Expand the “Ship From” section and enter your overseas supplier’s details.
2. Add your South African receiving address in the “Ship To” section.
3. Select the available FedEx import service.
4. Complete the booking as usual.

Important Requirements & Notes

1️⃣ Commercial Invoice (Physical Copy Required)

South Africa does not accept electronic commercial invoices for imports.

The sender must:

• Print the commercial invoice
• Place it in a waybill sleeve behind the waybill

Missing physical documentation may cause customs delays.

2️⃣ Collection Best Practice

While TUNL books a collection automatically:

For smoother handling, we recommend that the sender:

• Confirms collection directly with FedEx

OR

• Drops the shipment at a FedEx depot

This reduces missed collections and clearance delays.

3️⃣ Importer / Exporter Code Required

You must have a registered Importer Code to clear goods into South Africa.

Important:

• An importer code is the same number as your exporter code
• But it must be registered with SARS for both importing and exporting

Please confirm your status with SARS or your clearing agent before shipping.

4️⃣ VAT-Registered vs Non-VAT Registered

Your VAT status determines how you should book:

If VAT-registered:

• Book as DAP
• FedEx will bill you directly for VAT
• You can reclaim VAT from SARS

If not VAT-registered:

• Book as DDP
• Duties and taxes are paid upfront via TUNL

Is This Right for You?

Imports are ideal if you:

• Source products internationally
• Import samples or bulk goods
• Require express inbound shipments

As this is a beta release, we welcome feedback.

🦸‍♀️ Have more questions? We're here to help!

If you run into any issues or have questions, reach out to our support team via Whatsapp here or on chat here.

Please help us help you by rating this article below. Was it useful? Your feedback means a lot to us!

Updated on: 02/03/2026