Going Hunting Overseas? DFAIT Export Permits Required!

BigUglyMan

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I'm leaving for South Africa in a little over 2 weeks and just found out that I need to have a temporary export permit from the Department of Foreign Affair International Trade to take my rifles, scopes and ammunition out of the country. This is not a Customs thing, all they want you to have is your PAL, Certs and their "Y37" form. DFAIT requires an export permit. In their words when I asked "This has been on the books for years. People have been breaking it for years too."

The permits are actually quite easy to apply for. The fellow I spoke to sent me an email detailing everything I would need to apply. They wanted a copy of my itinerary as well as a copy of my letter of invitation from my PH. they also wanted a copy of the import permit however as best I can figure out there is no import permit in South Africa, simply a license that you apply for by filling out South African Police Service form 520. After they look your rifles over at the airport they issue a permit to possess a firearm in South Africa.

The forms are as follows. There were a few tricky points that I was unsure of what to fill so I asked.

On form 1042 they ask you for "Contact Last Name", "Contact First Name", "Contact Telephone Number" and "Contact Email" (boxes 13 - 16). Just put yourself there (I originally thought it was for an emergency contact).

On Form 1042-1 you need to list the ammunition and rifle scopes you are taking. You'll see a box titled "ECL No." For Firearms the ECL # is 2-1.a for scopes the ECL # is 2-1.d and for ammunition the ECL # is 2-3. I couldn't find it listed on the site anywhere and I spent the better part of 3 days on the net and phone trying to find all the information required for this.

On both 1042-1 and 1042-2 they ask for "unit value" for the scopes, ammo and rifles. I simply took the Wholesale Sports price off the website (thankfully my stuff is recent so the prices are still current...another good reason to keep your receipts somewhere safe) and put them in per unit. For the ammo I'm taking 40 rounds so I took the price of a box, divided by 20 and voila...$9.80 per round of 416 Rigby!

Finally, you fax the works off to a fellow at DFAIT named Paul GALVEIAS. His fax number is 613-944-9933, voice phone is 613-944-0470 and email address is paul.galveias@international.gc.ca in case you want to reach him that way. He was quite helpful though it seemed that he was rather busy. I wouldn't recommend leaving your permit until the last thing like I did.

The links to the forms are:

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/trade/eicb/forms/documents/EXT1042.pdf
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/trade/eicb/forms/documents/EXT1042-1.pdf
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/trade/eicb/forms/documents/EXT1042-2.pdf

If you're headed out hunting or to a shooting event anywhere but the US (there's apparently a whiole other rigamaroll for going there) you'll want to get on this.
 
Hey Bum

I hope you didn't over look in transit permits for any country you land in. In our case it was the US and Holland, and the permits can be applied for at the respective consulate. I was late finding out about these requirements, so chose to leave my rifle at home rather than risk loosing it by not having the required permits.
 
Close...it's certainly been made possible by the move North. That and the girlfriend makes as much as I do and believes in having "our own money". That's why I have a bank account for hunting trips (referred to as my travel slush fund by my money-man) and she has one for, well, whatever...maybe new gun for BUM?

And there will be beaucoup photos. My dad was supposed to come with me but he had a bad bout of a GI infection for about 6 weeks from the middle of December to the end of January. He decided that out in the North Cape was not the place to have the bad runs and bowed out. So my mother was right there with the money for the change fee. Best of all she's a photo-maniac so I'll be well covered.

Did I mention that she wants me to shoot her a zebra for the wall. How could a good son refuse?
 
Did I mention that she wants me to shoot her a zebra for the wall. How could a good son refuse?
Excellent! Your mother obviously has good taste in decorating. Glad to hear that her son wants to help. Sorry to hear that your Dad won't be able to make the trip. A lot of people have been getting violently sick with this new strain of flu around here also.
 
He decided that out in the North Cape was not the place to have the bad runs and bowed out.
When I was there I had a serious stomach bug. Seriously I literally took a pack of Immodium within a 24hr. period and it didn't do a damned thing! Went to a doc there, said there was a bug going around and to take these two big white pills. I have no idea what they were but within 2hrs. I was back to normal, albeit many pounds lighter.

Where abouts in SA are you going to be travelling?
 
Good post, BUM. Maybe it should be "stickied." I am hoping to go in 2008 (depending on getting the *%^&%$& house up and finished) I sent an e-mail to the ATF and got a reply from a David Dutra from the Dept. of Justice. I'll add your info to that.

Have a great trip. I'm sure this forum will swell considerably with pics when you get back.

:) Stuart
 
"...a zebra for the wall..." She offer to pay the trophy fee? A quick net search shows it'll cost you $1150US plus about $90US shipping for a Burchell's zebra. And for the taxidermy? Just curious.
 
Yup, she's springing for it. $1050 according to my guy's site. We're getting the taxidermy done over there and shipping them back here. Last trip shipping worked out to about $1500 per person. It all came in last month in 2 big crates. I'm still waiting to see whast the stuff looked like in the crate when it arrived. Not sure what the total for taxidermy will work out to, but I've budgeted plenty for it. I'm figureing to get a Kudu, Gemsbok, Impala, Springbok, Blesbok, Blue Wildebeeste and of course, the gratis Zebra.
 
I have dropped a line to the contact you mention asking what I need to do in my personal situation.

I am a dual citizen; the CFC immediately issued me an ATT good for border crossings without further bother and advised me that was all that I needed as far as they were concerned and that they did not believe that the USA required anything further from me when returning.

I am a big believer that as far as government is concerned (and big business) it is better to have more paperwork than too little.

Can you or anyone on here who is a "dual citizen" perhaps give me a headsup on what I will need to have with me when I cross the border into the USA and also on returning?

I will, of course, have my RPAL, Canadian registrations, ATT for border points (which the CFC issued without any further bother once they had a copy of my US passport), and my various U.S. state CFP/CCW permits (Utah, NH, CT, ME, VA, PA, etc.).

Question is do I need import or export documentation? And are my registration certificates sufficient proof that my guns are 'Canadian'?

Any help would be appreciated... preferably based on actual experience.

To the fellows who mentioned the new signs at the border crossings regarding firearms; yes, we took the Fort Erie, Niagara Falls and Queenston crossings this past month and THERE ARE SIGNS DEMANDING THAT YOU DECLARE ANY FIREARMS. Personally, I will declare. But I want to make sure that I have all the correct paperwork in my binder before I stick my foot in my mouth.

Thanks in advance guys.



I'm leaving for South Africa in a little over 2 weeks and just found out that I need to have a temporary export permit from the Department of Foreign Affair International Trade to take my rifles, scopes and ammunition out of the country. This is not a Customs thing, all they want you to have is your PAL, Certs and their "Y37" form. DFAIT requires an export permit. In their words when I asked "This has been on the books for years. People have been breaking it for years too."

The permits are actually quite easy to apply for. The fellow I spoke to sent me an email detailing everything I would need to apply. They wanted a copy of my itinerary as well as a copy of my letter of invitation from my PH. they also wanted a copy of the import permit however as best I can figure out there is no import permit in South Africa, simply a license that you apply for by filling out South African Police Service form 520. After they look your rifles over at the airport they issue a permit to possess a firearm in South Africa.

The forms are as follows. There were a few tricky points that I was unsure of what to fill so I asked.

On form 1042 they ask you for "Contact Last Name", "Contact First Name", "Contact Telephone Number" and "Contact Email" (boxes 13 - 16). Just put yourself there (I originally thought it was for an emergency contact).

On Form 1042-1 you need to list the ammunition and rifle scopes you are taking. You'll see a box titled "ECL No." For Firearms the ECL # is 2-1.a for scopes the ECL # is 2-1.d and for ammunition the ECL # is 2-3. I couldn't find it listed on the site anywhere and I spent the better part of 3 days on the net and phone trying to find all the information required for this.

On both 1042-1 and 1042-2 they ask for "unit value" for the scopes, ammo and rifles. I simply took the Wholesale Sports price off the website (thankfully my stuff is recent so the prices are still current...another good reason to keep your receipts somewhere safe) and put them in per unit. For the ammo I'm taking 40 rounds so I took the price of a box, divided by 20 and voila...$9.80 per round of 416 Rigby!

Finally, you fax the works off to a fellow at DFAIT named Paul GALVEIAS. His fax number is 613-944-9933, voice phone is 613-944-0470 and email address is paul.galveias@international.gc.ca in case you want to reach him that way. He was quite helpful though it seemed that he was rather busy. I wouldn't recommend leaving your permit until the last thing like I did.

The links to the forms are:

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/trade/eicb/forms/documents/EXT1042.pdf
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/trade/eicb/forms/documents/EXT1042-1.pdf
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/trade/eicb/forms/documents/EXT1042-2.pdf

If you're headed out hunting or to a shooting event anywhere but the US (there's apparently a whiole other rigamaroll for going there) you'll want to get on this.
 
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