UK football fans unaware of cash limit of entry to South Africa

More than 460,000 Britons visit South Africa every year and thousands more will be going this year for the Football World Cup next month.  Yet, new research from Sainsbury's Travel Money reveals that around three quarters (74%) of people considering travelling to South Africa this year are unaware that you can only take a maximum of 5,000 South African Rand (approximately £445) in or out of South Africa, potentially running the risk of having money confiscated on entry to the country.

Indeed, when asked how much cash they were planning on taking with them, around a third (36%) of people planning to travel to South Africa this year said they intend to take over £450 worth of Rand with them. On average, people expected to take around £665 in local currency, well over the permitted limit. Worryingly, about a fifth (20%) of people admit that they plan to take more than £1,000 worth of Rand with them and 6% say they will take more than £2,000 in local currency.

Scott Gorman, Head of Sainsbury's Travel Money, said: "Our research shows that thousands of people may be taken by surprise at the currency import restrictions in place when entering South Africa. One way to get around this is to use a pre-paid card currency, like the Cash Passport, which allows you to load it with up to 85,000 South African Rand, approximately £7,000." 

The Cash Passport, available at Sainsbury's Travel Money bureaux nationally, can be used to make withdrawals or purchase transactions anywhere that accepts Visa.

Cardholders also benefit from safe and secure spending abroad as the card is not attached to the user's bank accounts, comes with a free second card and has a 24-hour Global Emergency Assistance service.

Sainsbury's Travel Money offers a range of benefits including very competitive exchange rates, commission free foreign currency and travellers' cheques, in addition to free next-day delivery to your billing address, if ordered by 12pm.

To find out more about Sainsbury's Travel Money log onto sainsburys.co.uk.