IMPORTANT: Firearms Export Alert – Use of Form 4457 for Temporary Firearms Export

[ActionBob]

You are at the mercy of the South African Police if hunting in South Africa. The require one to be dated and signed in the same year as you are hunting I believe.

That could be. This year we used the undated form but it was signed in 2024. We needed a new form because we took different rifles.

We also hired The Famous Mr. X to do our rifle permits

 

[Hyde Hunter]

just do what my CBP officer told me last week. print the form out then white out any date you might find on the form then make a copy of it and now you have a form with no SAPS office question. just make sure you travel in the same year that CBP dated the form when they signed it

 

[flying sailor]

I will have to check. Last year I was told to laminate my forms as they were good forever. Henry at Rifle permits would know.

 

[JimP]

I will have to check. Last year I was told to laminate my forms as they were good forever. Henry at Rifle permits would know.

For US Customs the forums are good forever.

However the South African Police treat them as a Firearm License that needs to be renewed before you enter South Africa. Also if you get a form that says that it is good to 20xx they believe that the form is no longer good after that date.

These are two of the reasons that you need a new form dated in the same year that you are going to be hunting in SA, along with the reason people are asking for a form with no expiration date on them.

 

[Russ16]

For US Customs the forums are good forever.

However the South African Police treat them as a Firearm License that needs to be renewed before you enter South Africa. Also if you get a form that says that it is good to 20xx they believe that the form is no longer good after that date.

These are two of the reasons that you need a new form dated in the same year that you are going to be hunting in SA, along with the reason people are asking for a form with no expiration date on them.

Any experience in other countries besides South Africa?

 

[JimP]

I have no idea on other countries besides Canada.

 

[Surgeon1]

No issues on Namibia 6 mo ago or Zimbabwe 17 mo ago
I have more issues with Denver than anywhere! 20y ago Colorado was the most friendly gun state in US now it’s as bad as California or NY and way worse than Namibia! Thousands of hunters pour millions and millions of dollars into Colorado economy and they do what ever they can to be anti hunter and anti gun! I was a Colorado resident most of my life and still have significant farm land invested there but what the leftist crazies have done to that state has led me to start the process of selling the land my grandfather homesteaded and farmed 80y and I have cared for 54y.
Sorry for the rant but fight these crazies who are hell bent on taking your rights and freedoms away!

 

[rookhawk]

Here's ole Rookhawk's interpretation of the laws of RSA as pertains to an American.

Follow these rules:

1.) Your 4457 must be drafted in the YEAR of your travel.

AND

2.) Your 4457 must be drafted within < 6 months of your safari.


What I've concluded through complex fractal equations and advanced trigonometry is that your four second old 4457 is invalid and you need a new one. God help you if you deal with a US customs agent that insists they are good for life that falls in direct contravention of the SAPS in Africa that believe 1 + 2 are gospel.

The great news about my opinions as they have worked for me since my first safari debacle where I learned the experts are wrong. The great news for anyone that disagrees with me is that I may be incorrect in that time and moment where you face a SAPS or customs agent that invents different rules and likes you.

 

[PARA45]

No issues on Namibia 6 mo ago or Zimbabwe 17 mo ago
I have more issues with Denver than anywhere! 20y ago Colorado was the most friendly gun state in US now it’s as bad as California or NY and way worse than Namibia! Thousands of hunters pour millions and millions of dollars into Colorado economy and they do what ever they can to be anti hunter and anti gun! I was a Colorado resident most of my life and still have significant farm land invested there but what the leftist crazies have done to that state has led me to start the process of selling the land my grandfather homesteaded and farmed 80y and I have cared for 54y.
Sorry for the rant but fight these crazies who are hell bent on taking your rights and freedoms away!

If you sell and leave, then the left & anti's have won. Don't give them that satisfaction, Colorado is still a beautiful state.

 

[ActionBob]

Any experience in other countries besides South Africa?

Back in 2014 Zimbabwe used the form as a US firearms license. I had unwittingly printed it out on a full sized sheet of paper and the Customs officer signed and stamped it without saying anything. That was back when they used an actual impression stamp.

The police officer in Zimbabwe asked for my firearms license from my home country to which I stupidly responded that the US did not require a license as it was our God given right to own firearms! He could not comprehend such a thing. He wanted the small 4457 form but all I had was my full sheet which he was determined had to be fake! I insisted it was real and pointed out the stamp which he ran his fingers over but still held us up with no decision to let us proceed. I think k he finally just relented or got sick of me and determined there was no bribe forthcoming and finally did his part to let us through. This was crossing by road. Much easier in the airport. They simply tell you who to bribe with $5 and who not to

 

[flying sailor]

Going back to RSA in '25 and thinking of other countries to hunt other species. I was encouraged not to offer "gifts" It just exacerbates the problems, even if it is their way of life. The PH I booked with had this anecdote- He was driving on a paved road and was stopped by a Sargeant in the SAPS. He was told his papers were not in order ( no idea what papers). The cop said what are we going to do about this. The PH stared at the sky for a moment or two, and realized he was standing next to a billboard that said- " Bribery and corruption are being wiped out in RSA". He knew he was not winning so a gift of 500 Rand ( about $25 US) was given. The Sargeant said if anyone gave him trouble to contact him personally.

 

[dersark]

This paragraph is from SCI website, Hunters information servicess.

Special Note for Hunters Going to South Africa​

South Africa has two specific requirements regarding the Customs Form 4457.

1. The form must be stamped and dated for the same year of travel. South Africa will not accept forms dated from previous years.
2. The form cannot display an expiration date that has passed. The newer Form 4457 displays an “expiration” date in the top right-hand corner. This date is not associated with a period of approved use for travelers. It is strictly for internal use by CBP indicating when the form is due for review by the Office of Management and Budget. This is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. But South African authorities treat it as an expiration date, nonetheless, and will not accept it.
   Download and use the undated version of the form here. Do not use the dated form posted on the CBP website if it has a date that will expire before or during your travel dates.

 

[Sketchy1973]

I too had a lot a questions about the CBP 4457. I hired the good people at riflepermits.com. They made the process really simple.

Keep in mind. Emirates airline will also require a copy of your CBP 4457 to fly with them along with a letter of invitation from your PH, 30 days out, no less than 3. They must approve it before you fly.

I flew last month for a hunt.