| Section 73 of the
South African Firearms Control Act ,
2000 (Act No 60/2000) determine that
no person may import into or take
in-transit through South Africa any
firearms or ammunition without a
temporary import or in-transit
permit issued in terms of the said
Act.
Firearms entering
South Africa not for the purpose of licensing in South Africa can be
divided in the following categories:
-
Firearms entering
South Africa for a period not
exceeding six (6) months for the
purpose of hunting, sport,
self-defence, repair, law
enforcement, exhibition where after
it will return to country of origin,
wherefore a temporary import permit
may be issued.
-
Firearms entering South Africa to be transported over
SA ground to another country in
Africa for personal use wherefore an
in-transit permit may be issued.
- Firearms entering
South Africa for a period not
exceeding six (6) months for the
purpose of hunting, sport,
self-defence, repair, law
enforcement or exhibition and then
taken to another country other than
the country of origin wherefore a
temporary import permit and
additional export permit may be
issued.
How to obtain a
Temporary Import, In-Transit, or
Export Permit:
An
application by a person that is a
non SA citizen and not the holder of
a permanent residence permit for a
temporary, in-transit or export
import permit in respect of a
firearm or ammunition not licensed under the
Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No
60 of 2000), must in terms of the
Act, submitted on a SAPS 520
“Application for a multiple import
or export permit / temporary import
or export permit / permanent import
or export permit / in-transit permit
for personal use” form either to the
Central Firearms Control Register,
Pretoria, South Africa , directly or
to the Designated Firearms Officer
at the place designated as a port of
entry in terms of the Immigration
Act 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002) where
the applicant will enter into the
Republic of South Africa.
The application form
submitted must be an original
completed and signed document.
Supporting
documents to accompany the
application:
The following
supplementary documentation must
accompany the application :
-
A certified copy of
Passport documents.
-
A certified copy of
a license, permit, authorization or
any other documentary proof
confirming the lawful possession of
the firearm.
-
A written mandate
(appointment letter) as proof if a
person was nominated to apply on
behalf of the applicant. (Mandate
received must be an original
document signed by the importer
where after the appointed can apply
on behalf of the importer).
-
A written
authorization which permits export
from country of origin. (If not
supplied by country of origin -
written confirmation is required).
-
If applying at the
port of entry - airline ticket to be
produced.
-
With regard to
in-transit and export permits an
import permit from the recipient
country. (If not supplied by
country- writes confirmation is
required)
-
Documentary proof
with regard to the purpose of the
visit issued by any one of the
following persons or institutions,
in South Africa confirming that, to
the best of their knowledge and
belief, the applicant will be using
the firearm for the purpose set out
in the application:
-
A professional
hunter, or the hunting outfitter
licensed to conduct business in
hunting, who will provide hunting to
the foreign visitor.
-
The accredited
hunting association or
sport-shooting organization that is
hosting the event or sport-shooting
competition that the applicant will
participate in,
-
A person or
organization hosting a public event
or historical re-enactment or
display that requires the foreign
visitor’s participation and use of
the specific firearm.
Issuing of a
permit:An application
submitted directly to the Central
Firearms Control Register must be
lodged at least 21 days in advance
to enable the South African Police
Service sufficient time to process
the application and to submit the
permit to the applicant to an
address outside the borders of the
Republic of South Africa or the
nominated person.
The importer must
be in possession of the original
import permit when importing the
firearms or ammunition:
The permit in
respect of an application submitted
to the Designated Firearms Officer
(Police official) at the port of
entry will be issued by the specific
Designated Firearms Officer who
received the application.
A temporary import
permit will only be issued at the
port of entry to the following
persons:
-
To a foreign visitor
for the purpose of hunting.
-
To a foreign visitor
to display the firearm and
ammunition at a trade show or
collections show or to display
firearms and ammunition at a sports
or hunting trade show.
-
To an official of a
foreign government or a
distinguished foreign visitor so
designated by the SA Department of
Foreign Affairs.
-
To a foreign law
enforcement officer entering the
Republic of South Africa on an
officially approved policing
assignment. To a foreign visitor to
participate in a competitive sports
shooting event, organized by
recognized business, hunting,
sport-shooting or collectors
organization.
-
If the applicant is
twenty one (21) years of age and
older.
-
If the rifles is not
semi-automatic or fully automatic of
action or hand carbines.
-
For only one(1)
firearm per calibre.
-
Not more than two
hundred (200) rounds of ammunition
capable to be fired by the firearm
imported.
For any other
reasons the application must be
submitted to the Central Firearms
Control Register:
Private Bag X 811,
Pretoria, South Africa, 0001.
Issuing of an
temporary import permit by the
Central Firearms Control Register:
The Central Firearms Control
Register may issue an temporary
import permit where the applicant
can demonstrate:
-
The lawful
possession of the firearm.
-
Knowledge of the
safe handling and use of the firearm
in question through possession of a
license for the firearm or through
past experience, and
-
Knowledge of the SA
laws relating to firearms, including
the principles relating to the use,
safe storage and handling of
firearms and where applicable their
public display.
-
A need to possess
the firearm
-
That the applicant
can not reasonably satisfy that need
by means other than the possession
of the firearm and that he / she is
at least 21 years old provided that
the Registrar may, within his / her
discretion and in good cause shown,
exempt an applicant from this.
Period of validity:
The temporary import
and/or export permit will not be
issued for a period longer than six
(6) months.
Cost involved:The
application for an temporary import permit as well as an
in-transit permit will be processed without any cost.
Conditions to be
imposed on a temporary import permit:
The requirements of
the act regarding the carrying, safe
custody, transport and display of
the firearms and ammunition must be
compiled with.
-
The firearm may only
be used for the purpose set out in
the permit.
-
No person who holds
a temporary import permit is not
allowed to transfer the firearm to
another person in South Africa
without prior written permission
having been obtained from the
Registrar.
-
Whenever the holder
of the temporary import permit
leaves the Republic of South Africa,
the firearm in respect of which the
permit was issued must accompany the
holder of the permit.
Conditions to be
imposed on a in-transit permit:The Registrar may
for security reasons require that
the holder of an in-transit permit
make use of a transporter to
transport the firearm and
ammunition.
The firearms and
ammunition must be under the direct
supervision of the importer or
stored in a safe in accordance of
the requirements of the Act.
The firearms may not
be used in South Africa.
Firearms without
identification numbers:
A firearm which does not have a
manufacturers serial number stamped
on it or which has a manufacturers
serial number stamped on it that
duplicates with any firearm that
appears on the Registrar database,
will be allocated with a unique
firearm identification number and
such number must be affixed to the
firearm as determined by the
Registrar.
An application for
more than one firearm of the same
calibre:The Registrar may in
good cause shown, issue a permit in
respect of more than one firearm per
calibre to a person who will be
using the firearms for the under
mentioned purpose:
-
To a foreign visitor
for the purpose of hunting
-
To a foreign visitor
to display the firearm and
ammunition at a trade show or
collectors show or to display
firearms or ammunition at a sport of
hunting trade show.
-
To a foreign visitor
to participate in a competitive
sport shooting event organized by
recognized business, hunting,
sport-shooting or collectors
organization.
Extension of the
permit:An application for
extension, renewal or replacement of
a permit must be submitted to the
Central Firearms Control Register
before the expiry date lapses,
otherwise a new application will be
required.
Limits on number of
ammunition:
The holder of an
import permit may not posses more
than 200 cartridges for each firearm
mentioned on the import permit
unless approved by the Central
Firearms Control Register.
The import on
Semi-automatic and automatic rifles
or hand Carbines:All applications for
the import of semi-automatic of
automatic rifles or hand carbines
must be submitted to the Central
Firearms Control Register for
consideration.
Contact details for
the South African Central Firearms Control Register:
The Head
Central Firearms Register
Private Bag X 811
Pretoria
South Africa
0001
Facsimile: +27 (0)12
3536041
E-Mail:
cfr.imports@saps.org.za
|
Information about the Importation of Firearms into South
Africa
