I will be returning to Africa in August and plan on leaving a pair of rifles with the PH. Research indicates I will need to go through the AES process for an export permit since the weapons will not be returning to the States. Has anyone gone through this process and are there any common errors or pitfalls to be avoided?

All suggestions are welcome.

Please do not attempt to try this. This will end badly for both of you. The South African Police are not issuing any permanent import permits for private individuals. The transaction would have to go through a registered importer in South Africa and an Exporter in the USA.

Sorry I jumped the gun, I am referring to South Africa only.

Your friend would have to provide you with a copy of his Permanent import permit in order to apply for the US export.

I believe you will be asking for a pile of trouble if you do this. CBP is very much aware of this practice and is closely checking returning hunters (at DFW, anyway). There are mentions of this in other earlier posts.

If it helps to clarify, the two rifles will be delivered to a South African Firearms dealer who then will transfer them to the PH. They are already working on the paperwork at that end.

But, if it's prohibited, I can stop it now.

Basically you need to go through an export house.

And preferably ship the rifles instead of you taking them.

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:
If it helps to clarify, the two rifles will be delivered to a South African Firearms dealer who then will transfer them to the PH. They are already working on the paperwork at that end.

But, if it's prohibited, I can stop it now.

As long as the SA dealer issues you with the permanent import permit, you good to go. The trouble will then come when you land in OR Tambo. How do you explain to SAPS that the firearm you have brought in belongs to you when their system will show it as being registered to a South African Dealer?

Thanks for your thoughts and guidance gentlemen. I've sent a long message to my friend/PH including your thoughts and am now looking for an exporter. Hopefully someone not too far from Baltimore.

You are correct that AES has a process for doing this. If memory serves, a US citizen has a one time personal right to do it.

I have actually done it, for a PH in Namibia. But I did not carry it there personally.

Given your timing, you almost certainly don’t have enough time on the US end to jump through all of the hoops. I wouldn’t know about the RSA side of things.

Hiring an exporter in the business of doing this on the US side would be more efficient.

Probably the same thing for importation on the RSA side.

It is not inexpensive. IIRC, shipping alone by air freight cost over $1,000.

On the USA end how would the government know the gun was left somewhere?
When I have gone traveled the serial numbers were never checked or recorded. Just the ticket agent asking "Is it unloaded? Put this in case." They didn’t even look at it.
Not suggesting to avoid procedure.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Clark:
On the USA end how would the government know the gun was left somewhere?
When I have gone traveled the serial numbers were never checked or recorded. Just the ticket agent asking "Is it unloaded? Put this in case." They didn’t even look at it.
Not suggesting to avoid procedure.

If you fly Qatar or Emirates, you are required to get permission to carry the firearm, including a copy of your 4457, plus your photo is captured at check in and given to CBP…leaving the US and on return. Haven’t flown with firearms on other airlines for a few years so don’t know their current procedure, but I bet CBP is notified when you check a firearm.

Almost all information and references on the Internet are geared toward companies and large scale exports. In all cases, the State Department is the first step and then Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF.) I've written to the State Department today asking about the requirements and steps for an individual to transfer a small number (1 or 2) of non National Firearms Act (NFA) sporting rifles to be gifted and not sold. I will share their response when received.

I've done it. Used a licensed exporter here in the US to handle it, and the rifle was shipped. Not carried by me. It was pretty expensive on both ends.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
I've done it. Used a licensed exporter here in the US to handle it, and the rifle was shipped. Not carried by me. It was pretty expensive on both ends.

You have done the right thing.

Much better than trying to carry it yourself.