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The Firearms Control Act
South Africa’s Firearms Control Act, 2000 has been in force now for two years. It has had its teething problems but now the Police staff in SAPS Permit Office has got their act together and now things seem to be going far smoother. The "In line" waiting period for a permit to be issued has been cut down but if you decide to get a company like ourselves to arrange your pre-issued permit in advance many clients will tell you that the waiting time is minimal in compared to what it was like before.
Delta Air Lines Inc has started to fly out of Atlanta to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport and many hunters will be using their service this season.
Please remember if you are one of them:
Traveling coach Class:
You are only allowed two checked in bags of 23 kg’s (5O lbs) each.
One of these bags must be your firearm/s and it works out that two rifles in a
steel case come out just under this weight.
You are also allowed one handpiece of 7 kg’s and one personal piece
like a handbag , computer bag or camera bag.
Traveling Business Class:
You can have three pieces of 23 kg’s (5O lbs) each and two personal pieces
as specified above.
Any bags weighing in over and above these specifications will be charged for overweight at the following costs:
23 – 34 kg’s (5O – 75 lbs) = US $ 25.00
34 – 45 kg’s (75 - 100 lbs) = US $ 50.00
and so it goes up.
If you have any important queries for Delta please email Milke Ababiya at milke.ababiya@delta.com in Atlanta. Milke is the Performance Leader - Airport Services for this route.
Here are a few suggestions for hunters coming through London and Amsterdam.
London:
If you are spending more than a day in London or traveling from Gatwick to Heathrow
you must obtain the services of a Firearm Courier. We have found that without
the services of a Courier your firearms can go astray.
We can suggest:
Bunduki Travel and Firearms Courier Service
Bunduki will need the following information from you when applying for arrival
and departure assistance:
•Name and address.
•Make, caliber, serial number of all firearms plus the value of each firearm.
•The same for the ammunition (caliber and value).
The airline must be informed that you are traveling with firearms when making your reservation.
The restrictions are in force from Heathrow airport as follows:
*One carry-on bag no bigger than 56cm x 45x25cm.
*Baggage restrictions for First and Business class passengers to 3 bags of 23 kg's
each and Coach class to 2 bags of 23 kg's each.
*Excess bags charged at 120 UK pounds for longhaul.
*No oversized bags allowed.
Amsterdam:
If you are travelling through Amsterdam with either KLM or
North West Airlines you are required to obtain permission in advance to
transit through the city with firearms from the Douane Noord office in Groningen.
• Application form
• Sample of the Returned Consent Form
Contact numbers:
Don't forget to apply for permission for your flight over and the flight home.
Send the form as attached above, a copy of your passport and the US Customs form 4457 by fax to the above number.
The consent form will be faxed back to you after a few days so don't forget to give them a return fax number too.We have had many hunters that have not applied and waited for 6 - 10 months for their firearms to be returned to them after their safari.
Please take time to read the Firearms Control Act, 2000 as you will be asked if you are aware of the legal requirements pertaining to the safe handling, storage, transportation and use of firearms in terms of this act and sign your name accordingly.
If you have any questions about the importation of your firearms just send us an e-mail and we will gladly help in any way possible.
The Firearms Import Application Form is here - all eight pages of it!!
Officially known as an APPLICATION FOR MULTIPLE IMPORT OR EXPORT PERMIT / PERMANENT IMPORT OR EXPORT PERMIT / TEMPORARY IMPORT OR EXPORT PERMIT / IN-TRANSIT PERMIT FOR PERSONAL USE (Individuals and companies)
the new SAPS520 form allows you to apply to import your firearms into South Africa. Click here to download a copy of the form.
FIREARMS CONTROL ACT, 2000
The latest South African Firearms Control Regulations have just been published, and you can download a PDF copy by clicking here. You'll need a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view the file. If you would like the Regulations in Word format, click here.
Call us on +27 11 659 2649 or fax us on +27 11 659 2931
Last modified:
February 2007