Gun Transit Through Joberg

I have a question about guns in transit through Johannesburg. I will be flying from San Francisco-JFK-Joberg-Maun. My bags will be checked all the way through to Maun, Botswana. What is the process for the guns once I have landed in Joberg and am tranfering to an international flight? I will not be leaving the airport but will be transferring terminals. Arriving on a SA flight leaving on a SA Airlink flight?
I'm getting mixed between my travel agent and my PH. travel agent says no paperwork, PH said "in -transit-Permit"

Has anyone done this recently?

I am not aware of any "in-transit-permit" for South Africa and don't believe there is such permit. Please ask your outfitter again about that and let us know.

If your luggage/firearm is checked all the way through to Maun, you won't need to present the SAPS 520 Form and if for some reason you have to declare on the way in or out you will always be able to do that at the airport.

However no matter what you should have a Letter of Invitation from the outfitter(s) that you will be hunting with. While transiting through South Africa if an unscheduled layover occurs, due to a changed or canceled flight, some hunters might encounter problems at customs if they do not have the appropriate papers from their hunting outfitter(s). Firearms and ammunition have been impounded due to this exact situation. South African Customs requires a Letter of Invitation from hunting outfitter(s) to handle gun permits. In order to prevent such an occurrence, as a precaution always request from your hunting outfitter(s) in the country where you are going to be hunting to provide you with Letter of Invitation. We recommend that you print a couple of copies and carry them with you while traveling to your destination as it needs to be on your person.

Go to Importation or Transiting Procedures Through Countries with Weapons & Ammunition and scroll down to the section called South Africa Weapon / Ammunition Transiting Procedures.

Jerome,
Thank you for the information. I do have a Letter of Invitation from the outfitter. I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks again

Hi Fuelman Like Jerome I don't know of any intransit permit required in RSA the only thing I know is the paperwork that is done by the SAPS office for bringing your rifle into RSA has to remain with you while you have the gun in your Possession this may be the permit that your PH is referring to. Bob

What airline are you flying that allows you to check your bags all the way thru to Maun?

Hi Fuelman,
On page 2 under section D of the SAP 520 application you can choose 5 different flavors . Number 4 is for an in transit permit.
For more info see below.


SAPS 520 how to fill out the SAPS 520

In this section we discuss how you must fill out the SAPS 520 (SAP 520) application form when traveling to South Africa with firearms for hunting purposes. The SAP 520 form is available in pdf format and can be downloaded from slightly further down on this page. Please follow the instructions diligently and do not sign the form unless requested to do so in the presence of a South African police official. (If you need an example of how to fill out the SAPS 520, ask us and we will email you a copy if you are booking a hunt through us, or if you are booking a photo safari with us on your way to hunt in Zimbabwe?with Georgia Safaris).

This is your checklist for the paperwork you need to bring along on your safari:

Importation procedures: South Africa -?SAPS 520
Please only use the following instructions: (Downloads available further down the text)
1. SAPS 520 form must be completed in black ink only (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 (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?Safaris and Tours?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 home 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 SAPS 520 from here??and you are welcome to download the?? US Customs 4470 from here

Then, follow the steps listed below:

USA Citizens
For temporary firearm importation permits you need to complete the following on the SAPS 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. A 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 Safaris and Tours 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 home for assistance as this is a tricky process.
6.5 Handguns for hunting purposes: please visit home for assistance as this is a tricky process.

Hope this help you out , regards B.N.




Hunting in Zimbabwe and Hunting in Mozambique in transit permits

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 in South Africa.

2. List the species of animals that you are intending on hunting and also which province (State) you will be hunting in.

3. Add your intended date of departure
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

I am flying United from San Francisco- JFK, South African from JFK-Joberg, SA Link from Joberg-Maun. Im being told that United and SA have an interline baggage transfer agreement that includes firearms. It shows that SA is the only airline in which this type of transfer agreement exists.

Thanks so much for this info.

I've transitted Jo'burg on my way to Zimbabwe a few times. I think the confusion arises because of the overnight in some cases. I have never over-nighted, and my guns were always checked through to Vic Falls or Bulawayo. I never needed a permit in South Africa, because I never saw my luggage. The information proficed by Bwana Ndege deals with people who overnight in SA while on their way somewhere else. In that case, you are actually entering South Africa, and again - my understanding - you get your luggage. So a permit is needed, since you are in South Africa with a gun.

Not sure what would be needed if the airline kept your luggage, and you slept in the international terminal - say in a lounge - and then left the next day for a foreign destination without ever having legally entered South Africa.

I flew heathrow to Windhoek via joberg checked baggage alway through and never saw them untill Windhoek SA airlines was fantastic

In 2007 on our way to Namibia, we missed our connector flight and had to stay overnight in Joberg with NO paperwork for our guns, letters of invitation or anything else. Of course we nearly panicked, but the very nicest of ladies assured us we would not need to do anything and that our guns would be held in bond until they knew what flight we would be on the next day, and guns placed on that plane for Windhoek. We were put up in a hotel courtesy of SAA, brought back to the airport, got on standby and were soon on a plane. Everything arrived in Windhoek but all could not be found, our guns were found but some luggage got swept into one of the dark recesses of the airport, but found the next day and driven to our camp 6 hours north. I plan to go to RSA next year so will be brushing up on this stuff myself.

Its my understanding that as long as you dont have a scheduled layover in Joberg, nothing is required and guns are checked thru with your luggage. I do think as Jerome points out that having some paperwork is better than having none, like the invitation letter. I didnt do SAPS when I went to Zim in 2011, just checked it all thru, no overnight in Jo.

I have checked my luggage and guns thru to Zim. even when it required overnighting in Jo'burg. We never touched anything other than our carryons and had no problems. I did however have all of the SAP 520, letter of invitation etc. with me in case something went wrong and it was needed.
On another trip I used one of the best know gun permit providers and they failed to show up at the airport, luckily I had coipies of everything with me just in case and took care of it myself.
When I head to Namibia this year I will check everything straight thru, but I will be prepared with all documentation because the rules seem to vary according to which person checks you in.

I am Planning a Hunt to South Africa in May. I attempted to fill out the SAP 520 does anyone nhave an example of one that passed muster they could send me?
Thanks
Sam

POCONO GUY said:

I am Planning a Hunt to South Africa in May. I attempted to fill out the SAP 520 does anyone nhave an example of one that passed muster they could send me?
Thanks
Sam

Click to expand...

SAPS 520 sample…: http://www.africahunting.com/threads/saps-520-sample.8677/

Spend about $100 and enlist the services of one of the several "meet and greet" places that do all of this for you. Afton Guest House is my favorite. Check them out on line.

POCONO GUY said:

I am Planning a Hunt to South Africa in May. I attempted to fill out the SAP 520 does anyone nhave an example of one that passed muster they could send me?
Thanks
Sam

Click to expand...

Hi Sam, Please feel free to reach out to us! Have a look at our website for the services that we provide and feel free to email me should you require any further information.