Traveling with firearms and ammunition

When traveling to South Africa with your own firearms and ammunition, you must obtain a temporary import, transit, and export permit.

Rules and regulations for importing, transiting, and exporting firearms and ammunition to and from the Republic of South Africa:

· You may temporarily import up to four firearms per hunter. A special application can be made to import more than one rifle of the same caliber, but we recommend bringing only one per caliber.

· Local South African carrier Airlink permits the transportation of firearms. Ensure that your domestic flight to Port Elizabeth airport is an Airlink flight, as indicated on your travel itinerary. Other carriers will not allow firearms.

· You may only bring ammunition suitable for the firearms you are importing.

· A maximum of 200 rounds of ammunition are allowed per firearm. However, there is a weight limit of approximately 11 pounds for ammunition on the plane. This may be less than 200 rounds, so weigh your ammunition before departure.

· No one under the age of 21 may bring firearms into South Africa or apply for a temporary import permit in their name.

· The barrel, frame, or action must have matching serial numbers.

· Self-defense firearms, such as pistols and revolvers, are not allowed to be imported.

While firearm import and export permits can be obtained at both Cape Town and Johannesburg international airports, we recommend applying before your arrival in South Africa. To ensure acceptance at the airport, you can pre-book this as a Special Service Request for Sports Equipment (SSR SPEQ or SSR WEAP) through your travel agent or the Airlink Helpdesk at +27 11 451 7300 (select option 1) or E-Ticketing@flyairlink.com.