Fellow Canucks,

Did you know that the Canadian Export and Import Control Bureau requires anyone traveling to another country (other than the US) to hunt or shoot competitively, to get a Temporary Export Permit?

I heard about it from a Customs Officer in Toronto on my way back from RSA in May 2005. He said he could refuse re-entry of my firearms since I didn't have the permit. He didn't though.

Anyway, I finally found the internet site that explains what he was talking about. I never would have looked here otherwise, and it doesn't seem anyone else has ever heard of this.

For those of you interested, here it is...

Link to FAQs on Export and Import Controls Website

Answer to question #10...

quote:

Q10. I want to take my firearm hunting or to a shooting competition to a country other than the US.

A10. The temporary export of firearms requires an Export Permit from International Trade Canada (ITCan). Blank applications are available by calling (613) 996-2387 or by faxing your request to (613) 996-9933. The need for an import authorisation from the destination country is waived. Conditions attached to the temporary Export Permit require that the firearm be returned to Canada and that proof of such return is reported to ITCan. Canadian exporters wishing to take their firearms into another country should ensure that their plans are in keeping with the firearms law of the destination country.

Who knew??

I'll let you know what its like to actually get one (I hope).

Cheers,
Canuck

I didn't know...

Frans

i knew the office is clive law. i went throught that for my elephant trip in 04 and if everything gose as planned ill be doing it again soon.

Yah, I tried to comply with this last year when I went to Tz. I started 3 months before my trip and sent away the paperwork etc. Got a call 2 days after I arrived back in Canada that my application was approved and they wanted to confirm my mailing address.(Note: I took with me a copy of my completed copy of form just in case) Told them I was already gone and back and no longer needed it. Ok thanks was the reply and never heard another thing about it. Customs in Vancover only wanted to see my Registration certs and customs form ( I think its called SP-91) Just a little green card listing items s/n, that was filled out on items I took out of country. Customs could have cared less about ITCan form as it has nothing to do with them.

On an up note I picked up all my trophies from Tz in Vancouver on Monday. Crate arrived with no extra holes and all horns etc intact. Took all of 10 mins for customs to clear them. Shipping was pretty good too at $1356 USD for 300 lb crate. My taxidermist is now peeved at me for his increased workload.

Lonny

To my surprise a couple of approved Temporary Export permits were faxed to my office this afternoon! So it looks like I'll be totally legal taking my firearms out of the country this time.

I didn't update everyone here on another small twist in this story. After faxing in my application for a Temporary Export Permit for my firearms, I followed up with a phone call to make sure they had everything they would need. Turns out they wanted some add'l info, like a letter of invitation (safari contract), etc, etc. Now here's the unexpected twist....the fellow on the line asks, "Will you be using telescopic sights on these rifles and will you be taking ammunition with you?". I replied "yes" on both counts and he then informs me that I will require temporary export permits for both of those items as well! This one makes no sense at all to me (heck the ammo is a consumable!), particularly since the scopes would be on my Custom's form. Oh well, says I, what the heck...I sent in my forms for those as well and temporary export permits for those are also in my hot little hands.

Canuck32....that is a good price for shipping! I have a box of trophies sitting in LUX on CargoLux right now. Its costing $2000 from Johanesburg to Calgary. Should be there in a few days (I hope....would like to run in and grab them before I go to Tanz!).

Any reason why you went through Vancouver instead of Calgary?

Cheers,
Canuck

Some info on this issue in Safari Times, the latest issue, page 42. Thanks to Peter Wolf for telling me. I got drawn for antelope in MT! I'm going to ask Keith Atcheson if I can use one of his rifles. What a pain in the neck this paper work.

Frans

Canuck,
A couple of reasons for using Vancouver instead of Calgary
1) Calgary customs/CFIA are ultra sensitive (re:arsholes, pinhead burecrats who know just enough to be dangerous but not enough to be competient in the actual regulations) since BSE to bovine/swine imports (ie. Buffalo and bushpig and warthog). YVR not so bad, they are more interested with asia pacific trade although they do see a lot of trophy shipments to europe, USA from Yukon/BC.
2) Shipment was orginally to be KLM (Vancouver or Toronto) but when Swiss Worldcargo came in so much cheaper, it was too difficult to change destination (ie requote)
3) See 1) above. I, for some unusual reason have had, a problem every time I have cleared or shipped anything through Calgary with customs in Calgary, and now avoid at all costs. It just isn't worth the bother to me.
4)It gives me a reason to get away from work for a couple of days
5) YVR is more of a major international hub for airlines than YYC thus more choices/competition for Cargo shipments.

Lonny

Frans,
Going to MT is OK. You need to jump through all the US hoops (BATF permit), but you don't need a temporary export permit from Canada. It only applies to countries other than the US.

Lonny,
Good info. I have cleared trophies in Calgary once before, and friends have done it a couple times, all with no problems. Since I can drive there and back in a day I went with it again. Plus, none of it is "raw" this time...all mounted specimens in one way, shape or form...couple shoulder mounts, mostly european mounts.
Do you drive all the way to YVR to pick up your trophies, or do you pay someone else to clear customs and ship it the rest of the way?

Cheers,
Chris

Chris,
No I drove to YVR and got them, I checked first and got the dimesions of the crate that was sent over. I had and inch in width and 2 inches clearance for my Excursion to fit the crate in the back. It was great excuse to get away from work for a few days. And believe it or not I burned 150 L to get there and 175 L to get back. Not too bad for gas guzzeling SUV

I refuse to pay someone $500.00 minumimum to walk over to customs and get a piece of paper stamped. Last time I payed for a customs broker was when we were importing buffalo from Wyoming. It cost 750.00 to find out that the scientific name for plains bison is "bison, bison, bison" and wood buffalo are "bison, bison, athabaska". The process is realy easy as long as the Safari company has sent the proper paperwork with the trophies. ( vet certificate, disinfection cert, Hunting register, cities doc's for animals as required). The only extra thing I had to have with me was the Candian CITIES import permit for the leopard which they wanted to see the orginal of at customs.

My advise is to make sure that you talk with your safari company and get them to avoid at all costs shipping through US to Canada and get them to scan documents and email them to you prior to shipping ( i'm sure PVT was getting a little annoyed with all the emails I sent to them reconfiming all this). That way if the documents get lost or damaged you have a copy. I have heard of a couple of people that lost all their trophies to US customs when they were being shipped to Canada. Seems US side decided to sieze them and there was no recourse. One guy was told that if he did not drop the issue that he would be barred from travel to US permenatly. I'm sure you all have read the problems the some of the US guys are having with the wrong type of plywood being used for crates and shipment being returned to africa by US customs etc.

Lonny

Not to hijack your thread Chris, but it is kind of interesting to read about the hassel and bueracracy you guys have with customs regarding guns, ammo and last but not least .....scopes .

It never stops to amaze me that the rules and regulations can differ so much from country to country.

In my dear socialist homecountry with gun regulation and registration, one only have to check the firearms out with the customs at the airport the day you leave.
Only document needed is the gun registration card. Usually they dont even want to see the guns. Usually big smile...good hunting and off you go.

Same coming home, present the copy of the temporarly export permit, gossip a little about the hunting adventures, a quick look at the rifle to check the serial #, and you are home safe.

I have the impression ( fairly subjective though ) that both the US and Canada have a more rigid gun bureacracy when travelling, that we have ??

Anyway....wish you a splendid hunt in Africa Chris and a safe journey