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Travelling with firearms and ammunition for self-defence, sport or hunting is permitted only if you have the required licences and permits and book the service in advance. Ammunition must be securely packed, limited to 5 kg per traveller, not exceeding 200 rounds of ammunition and intended for personal / sporting use only.
Ammunition may not be packed jointly by multiple travellers and must be handed in separately.
Important: Loose or undeclared ammunition, cartridge casings, or similar items may be flagged during security screening and could result in baggage delays, inspection, or confiscation by authorities. South African Airways accepts no liability for items removed or retained by security, police, airport, or government authorities.
Firearms may not be packed inside checked baggage on flights within South Africa. They must be declared at check-in and processed through the Firearm Desk. Ammunition must be packed separately in a secure, lockable hard-shell or metal case and must also be declared at check-in.
The following items may not be packed in checked baggage unless they have been inspected:
Please contact SAA Reservations before travel to add your firearm to your booking. If firearms or restricted items are not declared in advance, the applicable charges must be paid at the airport before they can be accepted for carriage.
A handling fee applies per firearm, per flight sector. Payment at the airport may be made by debit card, credit card, or cash. A maximum of two firearms is allowed per carrier case, per traveller.
Route type
Rate
Domestic
R500 incl. VAT / USD31
Regional and International
R800 / USD52
Firearm import and transport laws are strictly regulated in most countries. Heavy fines may apply if firearms or ammunition arrive without the required permits, licences, or supporting documentation.
Travellers are responsible for checking all requirements with the relevant consulate or authorities for their destination, transit points, and stopovers.
Visitors to South Africa may require a Temporary Import Permit. These permits are generally issued only to:
Temporary Import Permits may be obtained on arrival at the SA Police Firearm Office after immigration.
Flights Outside South Africa
Travellers are responsible for complying with the firearm and ammunition laws of every destination, transit point, and stopover on their journey.
If your itinerary includes a connection within South Africa, South African regulations will apply, even if the departure country allows different handling procedures.
Travellers must not place firearms or ammunition inside checked baggage.
Firearms must be packed in a suitable lockable metal or hard-shell firearm case and must always be declared. Travellers should also request a firearm identification tag for the firearm case to support correct loading and delivery on SAA flights arriving in South Africa.
If your journey starts on South African Airways, you must declare:
to check-in staff for correct handling and labelling.
Please note: although some countries and airlines may permit ammunition in checked baggage, South Africa and certain other countries do not. If you are connecting or transiting through South Africa, ammunition packed in checked baggage may be confiscated during screening.
Declared or identified firearms may be collected from the Firearm Desk after immigration.
If a firearm was not declared at departure or was not correctly labelled, it may be delivered to the normal baggage carousel.
After collecting checked baggage containing ammunition, travellers must proceed to the SA Police Firearm Office to finalise any required import permits and related documentation.
Travellers are strongly encouraged to declare baggage containing ammunition to SAA handling agents at the start of the journey to avoid delays during transfer.
If firearms and ammunition are not checked through to the final international destination, travellers must visit the SA Police Firearm Office before proceeding to international check-in.
Can I carry a firearm in the cabin? No. Firearms are not permitted in cabin baggage.
Can I place a firearm in my checked baggage? On flights within South Africa, firearms may not be packed in checked baggage and must be processed through the Firearm Desk. For other routes, travellers must still declare firearms during check-in and comply with all packaging and legal requirements.
Can I carry ammunition? Yes. Ammunition for small-calibre weapons may be accepted if it is securely packed, intended for personal or sporting use, and does not exceed 5 kg / 200 rounds of ammunition per traveller.
How must ammunition be packed? Ammunition must be packed separately from the firearm in a secure, lockable hard-shell or metal container. Multiple travellers may not combine ammunition in one package.
Do I need to book in advance? Yes. You must contact SAA Reservations before travel to book the carriage of your firearm.
What documents do I need? You must carry all required licences, import / export permits, and supporting travel documentation (passport, return airline ticket, invitation letter from sport shooting event organiser). Travellers are responsible for meeting the legal requirements of every destination, transit point, and stopover.
Are there restrictions? Yes. Automatic, semi-automatic, and military weapons are not permitted. South African regulations may also limit the quantity and type of firearms and ammunition accepted and therefore only one firearm per calibre is allowed. Travellers must be 21 years or older to import a firearm into South Africa.
What happens on arrival in South Africa? Declared firearms must be collected from the SAPS Firearm Office, where travellers must report for permit processing and clearance requirements. Thereafter, travellers connecting to a domestic flight must proceed to the domestic firearm office to check in the firearm / ammunition for onward travel.
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