Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) is the new electronic platform for the management of Customs registration/licensing applications. The new electronic registration, licensing and accreditation process is being implemented under the provisions of the Customs and Excise Act, no 64 of 1964. Clients wishing to register as an importer/trader should capture their details on the RLA eFiling platform.

Where a client has made use of the electronic RLA process to register, there is no need to complete or submit the DA 185 form and its supporting documents. Therefore, the DA 185 forms and supporting annexures should be used for reference during the application process for Customs purposes as it provides important information that will support the Customs application process.

However, the following Customs clients must still use the manual process and complete the respective DA 185 and submit it with the supporting annexures to their nearest Customs Branch Office:

Exporter in terms of AfCFTA (local and non-local)
Approved Exporter in terms of AfCFTA (local and non-local)
Producer in terms of AfCFTA
Deferment
Consignor
Drawbacks.

Kindly note that registration and licensing of all Excise activities are also still manual. Therefore the manual DA 185 application as well as supporting annexures and documents must be completed and submitted for Excise to their nearest Branch office. The links to the manual DA185 forms to be completed are listed below.

How to apply for Registration, Licensing and Accreditation?

Go to eFiling on www.sarsefiling.co.za and register or login.

Follow these easy steps on eFiling:

If you have not done so yet, link to the organisation profile to your individual profile
Assign RLA user rights and roles
Capture the RLA client application
Submit the application:

To see the detailed steps and screens, see the SC-CF-42 – Customs Trader Portal – External Guide.

Or see our tutorial video on How to access Customs registration, Licensing and Accreditation on SARS eFiling.

To monitor the status of your application, keep an eye on your eFiling inbox.

How to upload RLA supporting documents?

In addition to the automated application process above, you can also upload supporting documents through the SARS Online Query System (SOQS), see Upload/submit Registration, Licensing and Accreditation-related supporting documentation.

The following documents as proof of address or contact details are required:

A municipal account, fixed line telephone or cellular phone account or any other monthly account or statement (for example, if appropriate in the circumstances, a co-operative statement for farmers, medical aid statement, mortgage statement, SABC television licence documents, eToll account, major retail accounts) issued to the applicant that can confirm physical address of the applicant, if the applicant is located in the Republic.
A telephone or cellular phone account issued to the applicant to confirm the applicant’s telephone or cellular phone contact details.
If the above documents are not in the name of the applicant a commissioned affidavit is required to support the supplied documents.

How to view RLA certificates and letters?

Also through the online SOQS system you can view and download Registration, Licensing and Accreditation certificates and letters; and choose to receive them via email.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions in the clearing and fowarding industry

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