Hello from Alberta Canada

My wife and I are headed to South Africa for our first safari in July and i have a question that i hope someone can help me out on. The SAP 520 form does it have top be filled out completely by you or do the South African Police fill some out when you check thru customs? Any info would be appreciated.Thank you.

Welcome to another fellow Albertan.

Jerome has a great guide for all these arrangements undere the "more" tab at the top of the screen. The following is cut and pasted from the Air 2000 Hunters Support (a gun permit service in SA) instructions. Notarized docs are important as well as all capital letters in black ink, anything else will not be accepted. Dont forget your Canadian export permits as well as any in transit permits for any countries you will be passing through as well. Good luck on your hunt.

For temporary firearm importation permits you need to complete and send to us:
A copy of the South African Police Service SAPS 520 form attached. You must complete sections
E 1 to E 25.4, G, I and J (please don稚 forget to sign both sections I and J and submit the full
application of 8 pages);
Please complete the SAPS 520 in black ink, no other colour will be accepted.
An authorization to Air 2000 to obtain a permit on your behalf in the form of the attached
Hunters Support Form to be completed and signed, giving hunters support permission to obtain
your permit in advance;
An original notarized copy of your passport,( photo and signature page ) and the passport must
have a minimum of two free pages including the visa endorsement page in a US passport and a
minimum of four months validity after the termination of the hunt.
An original notarized copy of Proof of ownership of your firearms in one of the following forms:
o The US Customs form 4457 OR
o A letter from your local sheriff in the form of an affidavit confirming ownership OR
o An invoice from the gun shop where you purchased the firearms OR
o A copy of your firearms license. Whichever is applicable
An original notarized copy of Documentary proof of export of the firearms in the form of
o For all US citizens, US Customs form 4457 (one copy is sufficient)
o An original notarized copy of the Proof of Ownership (4457) and passport must be
signed and stamped as true copies of the original document by a Public Notary.
o A letter of invitation from your outfitter confirming the dates of your safari, where
you are hunting, what species you are hunting and what firearms the outfitter
suggests you bring that is applicable to you hunt.

I should mention that as a Canadian your Canadian export permit replaces the US customs 4457 form.

Diamondhitch is dead on I would personally recommend using a service Anne at Air 2000 is great but there is a number of others gracy travel, PHASA, ect they run about 100 to 180 us dollars but you will be in and out of the saps office witch help greatly if you have connecting flights

Originally Posted by Uintaelkhunter

Diamondhitch is dead on I would personally recommend using a service Anne at Air 2000 is great but there is a number of others gracy travel, PHASA, ect they run about 100 to 180 us dollars but you will be in and out of the saps office witch help greatly if you have connecting flights

ditto, and welcome to the forum. How about some pics posted when you return... Good luck and have fun.

Originally Posted by Uintaelkhunter

Diamondhitch is dead on I would personally recommend using a service Anne at Air 2000 is great but there is a number of others gracy travel, PHASA, ect they run about 100 to 180 us dollars but you will be in and out of the saps office witch help greatly if you have connecting flights

Too late for this service given this timeline. (Canada)

Oh, yeah. Don't sign it until you are in front of an SAP officer, just in case they want to be particular.


Welcome to AH.
Drop a post into the intro section if you have a moment.
Where are you going and what are you hunting??

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Too late for this service given this timeline. (Canada)

Oh, yeah. Don't sign it until you are in front of an SAP officer, just in case they want to be particular.


Welcome to AH.
Drop a post into the intro section if you have a moment.
Where are you going and what are you hunting??

There should be time. Everything needs to arrive 30 days before arrival + 10 days in th email + 10 days for Canadian permits to be approved and issued gives you 2 weeks to spare. Now depending on the countries he is travelling through there may or may not be time for in-transit permits. I pray he is going through France or the US.

Welcome to AH Abhunter! Looks like you got all the right advice.

Welcome to the forum Abhunter!
The forum members has offered you some fine advice. Just like always...
Don't forget to come and share some photos upon your return.


Best Regards
Marius Goosen

Welcome to the forum, Abhunter !

Welcome to AH, Abhunter!

Thanks for the tips.I should have looked on that more... tab first! The SAP 520 form is the last bit of paperwork we need and i don't see a problem there (let's hope) We will be hunting in the Limpopo province for numerous animals from cape buffalo (my number 1) kudu,gemsbok,sable and others.I will be happy to share some photos upon our return.

He didn't join Very Happy. He joined AfricaHunting.com

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

He didn't join Very Happy. He joined AfricaHunting.com

Did you really go there Phil? LOL

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

Did you really go there Phil? LOL

I did, discretion gave way to annoyance. Only thing worse than a troll is a stoopid troll. It seems Jerome agreed and deleted his post.

Did I miss something? Damn!

Originally Posted by sestoppelman

Did I miss something? Damn!

I mocked a troll last night and Diamondhitch caught it, but you missed it as Jerome must have deleted the troll's post.

always missing the good stuff!

Welcome to AH!! looking forward to the pics!!

Originally Posted by Abhunter

My wife and I are headed to South Africa for our first safari in July and i have a question that i hope someone can help me out on. The SAP 520 form does it have top be filled out completely by you or do the South African Police fill some out when you check thru customs? Any info would be appreciated.Thank you.

Keep us informed of your safari...perhaps NAMIBIA could be next on your "bucket list".

Well i have an update to my trip planning ( getting all the paper work sorted out) I just received the final Canadian government export permit papers and i will be enlisting PHASA's help in applying for a SA permit and PHASA tells me there is time so for now i believe everything is in order.I am starting to count the days now...............