Travel to South Africa with a gifted rifle?

[JDMonson]

On an upcoming trip I would like to take a rifle that was gifted to myself from my father. Since the gun was not originally bought and registered in my name is this going to be a problem with my saps forms?

Thanks,
JD

 

[wipartimer]

No, issue whatsoever, so long as you fill out the paperwork properly. Use a company such as Riflepermits.com to ensure a smooth process. You are the owner of the gun , it doesn't matter how you came to own it. Where do you live that you have to register guns? thank

 

[sgt_zim]

Even the BATFE isn't ordinarily privy to the details of a 4473. Rifles bought in the US are not "registered" with the federal government. Perhaps in Commiefornia or the Socialist Worker's Paradise of NY you may have to register, but that's still not at the federal level.

 

[ActionBob]

Looks like you are from WI. As far as I know, it is illegal for any government in the USA to register guns. So not sure where you got that from? But you do need to take your rifle to a Customs port and get a form 4457 filled out to bring the rifle back. May also want to include any optics, expensive camera, etc.

 

[sgt_zim]

Looks like you are from WI. As far as I know, it is illegal for any government in the USA to register guns. So not sure where you got that from? But you do need to take your rifle to a Customs port and get a form 4457 filled out to bring the rifle back. May also want to include any optics, expensive camera, etc.

Perhaps. But I am inclined to believe that such "minutiae" would not be a disincentive to Cuomo and his ilk, nor Newsome and his.

In any case, SAPS and 4457 are functions of sovereign nation state governments, not internal state governments.

 

[Divernhunter]

No problem at all. Get the 4457 form in the USA and just do the normal paperwork for the SAP form for SA. I also suggest a rifle service for SA. We did not the 1st time and almost missed a connecting flight. I ended up getting one of the rifle service guys to help us and it cost as much(more) than if I had just used them from start to finish. My 2nd trip I used the rifle service and went thru so fast and with less picky things than I could believe. We also took "gifted" rifles.

 

[Shootist43]

In 2016 both of my sons traveled to South Africa with 2 gifted rifles apiece. As stated above with 4457(s) in place and a properly completed SAFS 520 with the assistance of Rifle Permits (as insurance) all of the rifles made it there and back home without incident. BTW scopes, cameras, binos & rangefinders were listed as well just to be sure.

 

[JimP]

Unless Wisconsin has some strange firearm laws your rifle was not registered. The ATF-E forum 4453 is just a legal form that the BATF here in the US has the purchaser fill out claiming that he or she is legal to purchase a firearm. That form is then stored with the store where the firearm was purchased at and that is as far as it goes.

But as others have said go to a US Customs office and get a 4457 filled out listing your firearm and the scope that is on it. That along with the proper SAPS 520 form filled out and not signed will get your firearm into South Africa.

I used a preapproved service to do mine on my trip and will do again. That along with a meet and greet is some of the best money that can be spent on a South African safari.

It is also suggested that you have your camera, binoculars, range finder if taken, and computer on a different form just encase you go elsewhere where you are not going to take the rifle.

 

[JDMonson]

Thank you all for the input. sorry it was my error as I should have not used the word registered instead just have said not purchased by myself. As this is the first trip out of the USA and flying with firearms I just wanted to be sure of what I had to get done.

again thank you,
JD

 

[Red Leg]

No one will ask you "prove" ownership with a sales receipt.

Interestingly, once went to the customs office at Washington Dulles with a rifle for a 4457, and a little fellow who was clearly very full of himself and proud of his new uniform demanded proof of ownership. I demanded he get his supervisor immediately. I soon left with my 4457 in hand.

 

[sestoppelman]

Folks in SA don't care how you got the rifle, just that you have a current 4457. I too recommend using a rifle service, it just makes it so much easier, and faster.

 

[JimP]

One other thing, before you pop into your local US Customs office with a rifle in hand give them a call and see how they want to handle the inspection.

Some will want you to set up a appointment with them and if you have a local office they might come out to escort you into the building after they have verified the serial number on your rifle out in the parking lot.

 

[sestoppelman]

Good advice. My local CBP likes an appt. You can download the form off the net, fill it out, then take it in for confirmation and their signature.

 

[CAustin]

As others have mentioned you are good. Just go to the Homeland security office present the rifle and your ID and they will afix their stamp to the 4457. I print them off the internet and fill them out in advance. I go in the office first and ask if they can complete the 4457 for me, if yes I go back outside and get the rifles. Usually quick and easy.

 

[Eric Anderson]

Thank you all for the input. sorry it was my error as I should have not used the word registered instead just have said not purchased by myself. As this is the first trip out of the USA and flying with firearms I just wanted to be sure of what I had to get done.

again thank you,
JD

Just get your 4457 form filled out. Make sure it has the current year on it. I have taken rifles to RSA that came into my possession by quite a circuitous route. Lost by the British crown in Italy, smuggled back into the US in a duffle bag, stored in barns, passed around many family members.... you get the idea.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

One other thing, before you pop into your local US Customs office with a rifle in hand give them a call and see how they want to handle the inspection.

Some will want you to set up a appointment with them and if you have a local office they might come out to escort you into the building after they have verified the serial number on your rifle out in the parking lot.

Every time I go to the CBP office near the airport to get a 4457, I park my car and walk into the office WITHOUT my rifles. I tell them what I want to do and tell them I have my rifles out in the car. I then go out and get the rifles and bring them in. Never can tell when Barney Fife might be on duty.

 

[Sycamore59]

Haven’t looked into the paperwork yet, but will be completing it soon for my trip to SA, but some of y’all have mentioned adding cameras, laptops, range finders etc.. can you go into detail a bit?
Is there another form? Or does it get added to the 4457?

 

[One Day...]

Technically, the Form 4457 is not about firearms, it is a "Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad."

Its purpose is to document the fact that the goods you will be bringing back into the US with you when you return were not purchased abroad and, therefore, are not subject to various import taxes or import restrictions that may apply. Hence its application to any item of value (photo, computer, jewelry, etc.) that could be subject to an import tax when sold in the US.

The fact that the South Africa Police Services associate the Form 4457 to a "gun permit" is a loose interpretation. They apparently simply assume that if US Custom & Border Protection are willing to certify that you own the rifle(s) in the US, then it must be legal for you to do so.

Interestingly, this, in itself, is an erroneous assumption, because as amply stated by numerous folks above, CBP cannot physically verify that you are the owner, and does not verify that it is legal for you to own a rifle. They will just stamp the fact that individual XYZ showed up at their office with rifle of brand ABC serial #1234567.

I hope this helps

PS: I am mildly surprised that CBP actually does not charge for the "service" (yet?), and I just can't wait to listen to some demagogue, ahr sorry, meant "elected leader," soon explain how mandating CBP to verify eligibility through background check, and to register firearms presented to them, will lower the crime rate among gang members happily engaged in thinning each others' ranks with full auto AKs. But I digress...

 

[Sycamore59]

Technically, the Form 4457 is not about firearms, it is a "Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad."

Its purpose is to document the fact that the goods you will be bringing back into the US with you when you return were not purchased abroad and, therefore, are not subject to various import taxes or import restrictions that may apply. Hence its application to any item of value (photo, computer, jewelry, etc.) that could be subject to an import tax when sold in the US.

The fact that the South Africa Police Services associate the Form 4457 to a "gun permit" is a loose interpretation. They apparently simply assume that if US Custom & Border Protection are willing to certify that you own the rifle(s) in the US, then it must be legal for you to do so.

Interestingly, this, in itself, is an erroneous assumption, because as amply stated by numerous folks above, CBP cannot physically verify that you are the owner, and does not verify that it is legal for you to own a rifle. They will just stamp the fact that individual XYZ showed up at their office with rifle of brand ABC serial #1234567.

I hope this helps

Thanks!

 

[Rick Cox]

Looks like you are from WI. As far as I know, it is illegal for any government in the USA to register guns. So not sure where you got that from? But you do need to take your rifle to a Customs port and get a form 4457 filled out to bring the rifle back. May also want to include any optics, expensive camera, etc.

There are times when I just wish Canada would become a US state. We are not currently registering rifles, but it is coming (back).