I will be traveling through South Africa and overnighting in Johannesburg on the night of Oct 14th. I have completed my application and I was going to send it to an Gun Permit Service in Johannesburg. They recommended that I Fed Ex the application. I checked with Fed Ex and it was a 142.00 to send the application. UPS was 115.00. That puts me spending 232.00 for this permit.

As of this day, I have six weeks before I arrive in Johannesburg. The Service requires three weeks in advance. I am thinking that I could send the application by Priority Mail or the highest level of postage to get the application on time. As a back up plan, I would carry with me a completed, all original application with notaries etc. If my package did not arrive in time, I would have my application in hand. Is there a real hassle if you do not have a pre-approved permit and simply present the application upon arrival? I searched the archives and found only one entry from 2006 and the fellow states that it was about an hour to get his permit approved. If anyone has some recent experience please let me know as time is getting short.

I used DHL in 2007. Is it any cheaper than FedEx now?

Fed Ex works, the postal services are weak...both ends. Its cheap insurance.
Though I've always used a service, I once watched two German hunters cool their heels in the SAP office because they didn't have data entry/pre approval of their forms.
Bob

contact aubs458 here see if he's going to be around on your date of arrive. he will save you the dhl fees. he's a great guy and a time save for permits

Bob,

I've used UPS to snd my SAPS permits in each time to the service. As already mentioned it is cheap insurance. The RSA postal system is notoriously unreliable. You probalby have thousands invested in your safari so don't take the chance of starting it off with a hassle. Having that permit in hand when you arrive IS the way to do it.

Mark

Forget courier service. Contact the PHASA. Just google PHASA. You can scan all your documents and application permit and email it to them. It cost me $140 USD, which you can pay with your credit card.

I sent them my permit application and my hunting partners about 3 weeks ago. We got them approved today and we fly out Sept 6.

The PHASA also has a meet and greet at the SAPS office in OR Tambo included in the $140 fee. They will have your permit in hand when you get there and help expedite the process in the SAPS office.

I hope everything goes well for you in 6 weeks. My fingers are still crossed in hopes we get there with all our gear.....

I should add that, although i have not used this service, it was at least convenient to be able to scan your documents and email instead of courier costs and time. I will let you all know how PHASA did when i get back.....

Good luck.

Here's another vote for aubs458 or PHASA. I think you'll find that either can get the permits with scanned copies...... but whatever you do, don't rely on the SA postal service because it's absolutely piss poor.

What a racket. Why is everybody so afraid of the SAPS form???

It's not that big a deal to DIY. I've done it 3 times. The biggest problem I had was the assholes from those "services" cutting in the line.

Send me $ 100 and I'll fill out the form for you

I also made my own out (only been there onec, but no problems). Had it ready to go when I got there, presented the form to them and they completed the rest.
That was the least of my problems. Also, did not have to leave any tea money or Christmas Presents, as there was a supervisor standing next to the sign on the far wall that say's that they don't charge.

You will need the SAPS 520 form filled in
4457 custom form
copy of your passport
copy of your Ittinerary
Outfitter invitation letter if hunting in SA and there you have it.

All black ink take a pen along and make copies by that time of the year it should take 15 minutes.

Its very easy and not worth all that money but if you do or are going to spend money on it get Aubrey to do it for you.

Do what your permit service says, and send them the form by Fed Ex. They have their reasons for wanting it done that way. Don't sweat the $242, pony up and do it. You'll wish you had if you get stuck at the SAPS office and burn a half day or more trying to get it sorted out, or worse, miss your flight because of it.

I'm on my way this afternoon to the Fed Ex office to send my SAPS application over to Air 2000. This is my third time, and I absolutely wouldn't do it any other way. It IS Africa you know. Believe me, Murphy has plenty of reinforcements over there. Just sayin--

Our travel agent, International Journeys, recommended Africa Sky Guest House for our overnight enroute to Harare. For $100 each they processed our firearms permits. We sent the scanned copies and DHL delivered the originals for about $105. We may have spent too much for this service but it was comforting to have someone there, permits in hand, after flying for seventeen hours.

I sent SAPS paperwork via Fed EX about three weeks ago, the options they(fed ex) offered me were a) $142 for overnite service; or
b) $90.18 for 7 day service
I chose the $90 option and it got there in less than 5 days.

Jason

My thanks to all who replied. Upon the advice of my Travel Agent, Steve Turner, Travel with Guns, I sent the documents via USPS International Priority Mail. I have six weeks before I leave on safari.

I did make a complete, original copy with all the notaries etc. to carry with me in case my application somehow did not make it to South Africa. Steve Turner says that he sends many documents to South Africa and other countries using the International Priority Mail.

Again, my thanks
Hoot

take copies of everything!!!!!! just in case

The various "services" probably make it less stressful but I have always done it on my own. Five or six trips required the permit. Last time I even got thru quicker than the 15 or 20 hunters who already had their permits!
The first year they required the detailed info on the invitation letter, my Outfitter had left off some piece of meaningless info they required. They let me use their phone to call him and get the info...didn't delay me but about five minutes.
The only time it took way too long was when I brought a firearm as a gift to my friend. He had all the permits but both Customs and SAPS were very confused as to how to handle. They finally sorted it out and a nice lady at Customs stayed an hour beyond their shutdown time and stayed with us to get it done.
Takes longer to renew my Drivers Lic if I go to the testing center.

quote:

Originally posted by LRH270:
What a racket. Why is everybody so afraid of the SAPS form???

It's not that big a deal to DIY. I've done it 3 times. The biggest problem I had was the assholes from those "services" cutting in the line.

Send me $ 100 and I'll fill out the form for you

It is not a big deal. BUT WE HAVE TO GET SOME VALUE FOR THE MONEY WE SPEND AND THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF "THE ASSHOLES FROM THOSE 'SERVICES' CUTTING IN THE LINE'.

I PDF'd mine, via email, and never had a problem, and never had to pay a courier mail service!

Last time I did RSA (hunted there) a couple of years back, the Afton House had the complete form on their web site. You simply filled it in, hit send and they had it. They then took care of getting the permit. Only did this one time the other half dozen I took the forms with me, went through the line maybe 20 minutes max and was out of there.

Last year we overnighted at Afton and our luggage was checked all the way to Beira, Moz so didn't need to pick up bags or do any SAPS paperwork at all. Just took our carry on bags to Afton. We checked with SAPS on arrival to make sure our guns made it and they assured us they would be kept in a safe and delivered to our flight the next AM. They did exactly that along with our regular checked bags as well.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member



Since you already sent it, done deal. Steve Turner knows the ropes and his advise is always spot on.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member