Claim status guide

A status indicates who is responsible for the next action.

Use this accessible guide to understand the indicative ranges many claims may experience and the common stages. These ranges are not promised completion dates. Your actual record should also show the date entered, outstanding item and next scheduled update.

Continue to live claim tracker ↗

You are leaving this guidance website for the live tracking system. Enter your Claim Reference Number and select “Submit Reference Number”.

Estimated processing timelines

What many claims may experience

The periods below describe estimates seen in many cases. They are not deadlines, maximum processing periods, service-level commitments or guarantees. Any stage may take longer depending on the claim, documents, verification, regulatory review, banking processes and other factors outside VRA's control.

Please do not treat these estimates as a promised completion date

Your claim remains subject to its individual circumstances. Progress may occur sooner or later, and a later outcome does not by itself mean that the claim has been lost or ignored. Use your actual claim status and next-update information.

VRA processing

Often around 1 month
Many claims may progress in this period, but some take longer.

SARS processing

Often around 4-8 months
Regulatory or additional review can extend this stage.

SARS payment

Often around 1 month
After approval, payment processing may still take longer.

VRA payment

Often around 1 month
Allocation after receipt may take longer due to payment checks.

Status

Received

What it means: Claim recorded
Current owner: VRA
What can pause it: Missing reference or documents
Your action: Keep the reference; do not submit a duplicate
Timing and next update: In many cases this forms part of an indicative VRA processing period of around 1 month, but it can take longer.

Status

Action required

What it means: Information needs correction
Current owner: Claimant or vendor
What can pause it: Missing or invalid document
Your action: Submit only the exact requested item securely
Timing and next update: The timeline may be affected while VRA waits for the requested information.

Status

Under VRA review

What it means: Claim is being checked before dispatch to SARS
Current owner: VRA
What can pause it: Complexity, missing information or verification
Your action: No action unless requested
Timing and next update: Indicative experience in many cases: around 1 month. This is not a deadline or maximum and the stage can take longer.

Status

Customs verification pending

What it means: Export evidence is being confirmed
Current owner: Customs / VRA liaison
What can pause it: Inspection or endorsement issue
Your action: Follow the stated instruction
Timing and next update: No separate Customs range is published on the live timeline.

Status

SARS processing

What it means: SARS is reviewing the claim
Current owner: SARS
What can pause it: Additional regulatory review, including second-hand vehicle procedures
Your action: No action unless requested; VRA remains the update contact
Timing and next update: Indicative experience in many cases: around 4-8 months. SARS review can take longer.

Status

SARS payment

What it means: The approved refund is being processed to VRA
Current owner: SARS
What can pause it: Regulatory or payment processing
Your action: No action unless requested
Timing and next update: Indicative experience in many cases: around 1 month after review and approval. It can take longer.

Status

VRA payment

What it means: VRA has received the funds and is allocating payment
Current owner: VRA / payment provider
What can pause it: Bank, region, compliance or foreign-exchange checks
Your action: Verify masked details securely; do not repeatedly resubmit them
Timing and next update: Indicative experience in many cases: around 1 month after VRA receives the payment. It can take longer.

Status

Paid

What it means: Settlement reported
Current owner: Bank / claimant
What can pause it: Receiving-bank delay
Your action: Check the account and payment reference
Timing and next update: Bank settlement timing may vary after VRA issues the payment.

Status

Not approved

What it means: A requirement was not met
Current owner: VRA
What can pause it: Eligibility or evidence
Your action: Review the stated reason and available remedy
Timing and next update: No payment timeline applies. Follow the review or correction route shown on the claim.

My refund is delayed

Follow the claim status updates—do not resubmit duplicate claims.

Check the current claim stage.
Confirm whether action is required from you.
Check the responsible party and last update.
If the estimated timeline has passed, request an escalation linked to your claim reference.
Keep the response and next-update date.