SA Temporary Export Letter

[Tazz]

For those taking firearms to SA I have my third trip coming up end of this month. Last time I sent Email to Border Force, they sent out a simple form to fill out asking for

Flight details
Letter of invitation from outfitter
Passport
Fac copy of
weapons and ammo details

Last time they sent out by snail mail a letter. This time they used technology and sent me it by Email as a PDF attachment, it took about 10 days but is a step in the right direction. My only frustration is that they don’t send you even an automated “Receipt notification ” so you don’t have the piece of mind that they have your stuff and are working on it, however it’s still progress

It has been posted previously but here is the current Email address and the phone number off the letter heading I received

BFLHRFirearms@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Tel +44 (0) 208 910 3756

 

[zambezi]

They responded pretty quickly to my last SA export request. Here are all the contact details they supplied on that occasion:

 

[Tazz]

By way of update having received the Temp Export letter by E mail two days ago in the regular post today was a hard copy, better twice than not at all !!

 

[smullery]

By way of update having received the Temp Export letter by E mail two days ago in the regular post today was a hard copy, better twice than not at all !!

Tazz,

I was down last month and they were looking closely at the veracity of the Letter of Invite and Border Force Temp Export Form.

As I have pointed out on here before, make sure the photocopies you hand over are obvious copies and are not duplicates of a printed original.

Still only 50 minutes from plane door opening until in the car park.

Stan

P.S. American party being held up because one of their “US$ 120 a head pre arranged permits” had two digits transposed on one rifle. The guy that I chatted with (who couldn’t believe that breakdown rifles worked) was arguing the hell out of them and couldn’t accept why they would not release his rifle. The SAPS were awaiting response from whoever they contacted in Austin, Texas, as to what was actually “exported”.

 

[Tazz]

Tazz,

I was down last month and they were looking closely at the veracity of the Letter of Invite and Border Force Temp Export Form.

As I have pointed out on here before, make sure the photocopies you hand over are obvious copies and are not duplicates of a printed original.

Still only 50 minutes from plane door opening until in the car park.

Stan

P.S. American party being held up because one of their “US$ 120 a head pre arranged permits” had two digits transposed on one rifle. The guy that I chatted with (who couldn’t believe that breakdown rifles worked) was arguing the hell out of them and couldn’t accept why they would not release his rifle. The SAPS were awaiting response from whoever they contacted in Austin, Texas, as to what was actually “exported”.

Good point Stan, this is my second DIY trip coming up in terms of doing all the paperwork myself. I will do the same as last year print off decent quality copies of everything the SA guys need FAC , Passport Letter of invitation, flight details Temp Export letter in one pack that you hand over along with the completed SAP form. It saves them having to take copies and speeds the whole thing up, plus you get to check all the serial numbers and FAC and rounds detail, not rely on someone else, measure twice cut once!

 

[smullery]

Tazz,

The point is, make sure that the “copies” are not looking as if they are originals. That was the thing I had with SAPS last month. Too many things now are online and you print off what is “original” and a second print is?

I always scan slightly offset and in Black & White. Works a treat. They were comparing originals against the package of copies I gave (02/08/2018).

Stan

 

[tusker]

All of the above posts are one the reasons I now go to Namibia.
Tusker

 

[zambezi]

All of the above posts are one the reasons I now go to Namibia.
Tusker

In January this year firearms staff at CPT made it very clear that I should be crossing their palms with silver as "they had done me a very big favour". I thanked the man profusely after each of the 6 occasions he said that as he did his job. My wallet never left my pocket.

For this slide in SA standards, plus the paperwork overhead, my next trip will also be Namibia. Tusker, do you have any feedback on engelbrechtsafaris.com? I was very impressed with Tobie's pitch at the BSS in April.

 

[tusker]

In January this year firearms staff at CPT made it very clear that I should be crossing their palms with silver as "they had done me a very big favour". I thanked the man profusely after each of the 6 occasions he said that as he did his job. My wallet never left my pocket.

For this slide in SA standards, plus the paperwork overhead, my next trip will also be Namibia. Tusker, do you have any feedback on engelbrechtsafaris.com? I was very impressed with Tobie's pitch at the BSS in April.

Hi Zambezi, I don't have any knowledge of engelbrechtsafaris.com but you could do a lot worse than hunt with Okaturua. They are only 45 minutes from Windhoek and I can not tell you how well they looked after us. The level of hospitality, rooms, food and of course the hunting was outstanding and if baboons are your thing you will have a ball and they are free, we shot 20 in 3 days. We will be going back in 2020 I wont even waste time looking elsewere. PM me if you want more details, I am not an agent for them but if I send any one from the UK I will get an animal for myself. Lots of Eland, Hartebeest, Oryx nd some of the biggest Warthogs ever.
Tusker

 

[smullery]

All of the above posts are one the reasons I now go to Namibia.
Tusker

I don’t see how difficult it is to fill out a form and “provide copies of originals” all before you leave the UK is. They choose to follow their rules. Simple administration. 50 minutes from plane door opening to get into the carpark.

Now, Heathrow arrivals, 75% of eGates closed because of time of day, but still through and seeing my rifles sat waiting with the G4S guy stood next to me before my checked baggage arrived on the carousel. Get to T5 red channel and a call on the Red phone gets the Border Force person to attend. 10 minutes. They spend 10 minutes hand writing in their notebooks ??? Call to taxi driver and only 90 minutes. Who has the better service

Stan

 

[zambezi]

I don’t see how difficult it is to fill out a form and “provide copies of originals” all before you leave the UK is. They choose to follow their rules. Simple administration. 50 minutes from plane door opening to get into the carpark.

Now, Heathrow arrivals, 75% of eGates closed because of time of day, but still through and seeing my rifles sat waiting with the G4S guy stood next to me before my checked baggage arrived on the carousel. Get to T5 red channel and a call on the Red phone gets the Border Force person to attend. 10 minutes. They spend 10 minutes hand writing in their notebooks ??? Call to taxi driver and only 90 minutes. Who has the better service��

Stan

The SA paperwork is not the biggest issue and I fully concede that the Heathrow/G4S piece took more time. [Apparently ONE G4S guy covers all LHR terminals and if he is busy at other terminal, as was my experience, you wait 40 mins for his arrival before paperwork starts]

However, in addition to the bid for baksheesh from firearms staff at CPT, I had my rifle offloaded at ELS in the general baggage area. It did not pass through any special firearms control or their firearms register. Also, earlier in the year a hunter on a party my friend was on had his rifle case jemmied at OT. It is more than one thing that makes Namibia more attractive now.

 

[tusker]

View attachment namibia_arms_ammunition_application_form (1).pdf

I don’t see how difficult it is to fill out a form and “provide copies of originals” all before you leave the UK is. They choose to follow their rules. Simple administration. 50 minutes from plane door opening to get into the carpark.

Now, Heathrow arrivals, 75% of eGates closed because of time of day, but still through and seeing my rifles sat waiting with the G4S guy stood next to me before my checked baggage arrived on the carousel. Get to T5 red channel and a call on the Red phone gets the Border Force person to attend. 10 minutes. They spend 10 minutes hand writing in their notebooks ??? Call to taxi driver and only 90 minutes. Who has the better service

Stan

As forms go it dose not get any easier than this. You just email to them and on arrival open the case, then close the case and off you go , no bribes or payment to a third party (£70) last time I was in SA.No malevenant porters scowling at you for tips. Namibia has it right.
Tusker