Firearms: importing, SAP 520 download
Hunting in Africa – where your SAP 520 is explained in English!
Rifles – Traveling between countries with your own firearms can be cumbersome when having to clear a number of international boundaries. For your benefit we have a number of Hunting in Africa company rifles that you are welcome to make use of at a nominal charge. We ask that you replace the ammunition you used at our cost price. But before arriving on your dream Africa hunting safari, please follow our instructions on filling out the SAP 520 carefully. Just as important: read the section about which firearms may NOT be imported to South Africa.
This is your checklist for the paperwork you need to bring along on your safari:
Importation procedures: South Africa - SAP 520
Please only use the following instructions: (even if you are hunting with another company) Downloads available further down the text
1. SAPS 520 form completed in black ink (unsigned until told by a South African official to sign it)
2. Notarised copy of your passport (photo and signature page only) Please make sure you have a minimum of two free pages in your passport and a validity of six months after returning home (please read more in the Gear Guide section about your passport)
3. Notarised copy of your proof of ownership of the firearms you intend bringing along on your safari hunt (US Customs form 4457 or License)
4. Copy of your flight schedule / itinerary
5. Copy of your letter of invitation from your outfitter: Hunting in Africa will forward you an invitation upon acceptance of a hunt with us.
For precise assistance with the importation process, we highly recommend you have your firearms pre-cleared ahead of your arrival. This will save you at least 2 – 3 hours at the South African Police Service clearing office at the airport in Johannesburg, depending on how many other hunters there are on the flight with you. For this service we recommend the services of Hunters Support at www.hunterssupport.com They have someone in the customs area who will assist you from there right up to receiving your firearms.
If you are bringing a rifle into South Africa for the purpose of hunting, you must fill out an SAP 520 form and the US Customs 4470 form. You are welcome to download the SAP 520 from here and you are welcome to download the US Customs 4470 from here
Then, follow the steps listed below:
US Citizens
For temporary firearm importation permits you need to complete the following on the SAP 520:
1. You must complete sections E 1 to E 25.4, G, I and J (only sign the document in the presence of a police official when requested to do so)
2. Please complete the SAPS 520 in black ink only, no other color will be accepted by the authorities.
3. An original notarized copy of your passport (photo and signature page). The passport must have a minimum of two free pages and a minimum of six months validity after the termination of the hunt.
4. An original notarized copy of Proof of ownership of your firearms in the form of:
4.1 The US Customs form 4457 OR
4.2 A letter from your local sheriff in the form of an affidavit confirming ownership OR
4.3 An invoice from the gun shop where you purchased the firearms OR
4.4 A copy of your firearms license. (whichever one is applicable).
5. The Proof of Ownership 4457 (or any of the other forms of proof of ownership) and the copy of your passport must be signed and stamped as true copies of the original documents by a Public Notary.
6. A letter of invitation from Hunting in Africa will be sent to you prior to your departure. You must have this invitation handy with your other documentation upon arrival.
You need to ensure that:
6.1 You have a maximum of four firearms, depending on how many firearms the airline you are traveling with will allow per passenger.
6.2 You may NOT bring in to the country more than one rifle of the same caliber
6.3 The frame, barrel or action of all your firearms are marked with the same serial number
6.4 For semi-auto shotguns, we will refer you directly to www.hunterssupport.com for assistance as this is a tricky process.
6.5 Handguns for hunting purposes: please visit www.hunterssupport.com for assistance as this is a tricky process.
In transit Permits are required to be obtained by any passenger spending the night in South Africa while in transit to a third country. The same prerequisites apply as to obtaining the normal Temporary Import permit. A fee is no longer payable to the authorities as from 28th November 2005 for this permit.
There are other prerequisites for nationals from other countries.
Hunting in Africa will ensure that you receive the correct procedures to make your entering into the country as smooth as possible.
Additional information required:
1. A letter of motivation by yourself stating the following:
That you are temporarily importing the firearms (list serial numbers and calibers) for the sole purpose of hunting, list the species of animals that you are intending on hunting and also which province (State) you will be hunting in. Your intended date of departure will be good to add
Please bear in mind that all firearms will be physically inspected by a police official upon entry into South Africa, and again on departure.
The following firearms may not be imported into South Africa.
· Any fully automatic firearm.
· Weapons which can be classified as military firearms.
· You are not allowed to bring into the country two firearms of the same caliber
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Hunting area: Limpopo Province
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