Applying for FAC as a Polish citizen in Scotland – foreign documents?

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mikmik

Active Member
Hi all,

I was hoping I could get some extra info from members here, maybe use your experience, or just some guidance, as I’m a bit stuck on a few points with my first FAC application.

I’m Polish citizen with a settled status and have been living in Scotland for the past 19 years. I recently spoke with my local firearms licensing department to ask what paperwork I’ll need for my FAC application.

I was told I’ll need a document from the Polish police confirming no convictions. That’s not a problem for me, but it seems I need to request it in person and then have it translated. Flying over just for this is pricey, and I’m unsure how long the translation will take. When I asked how long such a certificate is valid for, I didn’t get a clear answer – just a suggestion that “about 30 days should be ok.” Does anyone know if it’s actually 30 days, or longer?

On the medical side, I understand I’ll need the UK medical proforma completed by my GP. What I’m unsure about is whether I also need a similar document from Poland, e.g. confirmation that I don’t have a history of conditions such as depression or schizophrenia while I lived there.
Form 201 itself doesn’t mention anything about needing foreign police or medical certificates, but my local team suggested otherwise. I’d hate to risk my first application being rejected just because something wasn’t included.


So my questions are:
  • Do I actually need foreign police or medical documents for a first-time FAC application?
  • Are there any other EU nationals here in the UK who’ve gone through the process? Could you share your experience?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
There's a polish member in my club just going through this too.
We went to Poland to get his polish firearms medical done as the surgery had destroyed all his records and this was acceptable to the FLD (it was a bit more involved than our medical check), he has been in UK for 19 years and not seen his Polish Dr for a bit over 20 years. The criminal records were easy (easier at least) to get.
FEO visit last week and FAC should be in his hands in the next couple of weeks.

It appears there is no set time period for any of these written but it's down to the request (whim?) of the FLD.

If you have specific questions for him, pm me and I'll pass them on.
 
Can you not ask the Polish Embassy in London how to obtain a Police Good Conduct Certificate? The French Government equivalent can be done online from outside of France if you've ever held a French Carte de Sejour or other Piece d'Identite and I'd imagine that would be similar for Poland?
 
Its a good suggestion, I have not considered this route yet. I originally asked my friend who is a hunter in Poland how he obtained his and he suggested visiting local court. But perhaps that would be a faster route in my case, and most likely it would not need a translation as it should be in English. I'll give them a ring tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
mikmik said:
Its a good suggestion, I have not considered this route yet. I originally asked my friend who is a hunter in Poland how he obtained his and he suggested visiting local court. But perhaps that would be a faster route in my case, and most likely it would not need a translation as it should be in English. I'll give them a ring tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion!
Click to expand...
Good luck, I hope that it all goes smoothly. It always makes things much more complex when trying to work though two countries different systems. I now live in Austria since Brexit but still shoot in the UK so I've come across a few issues with moving firearms between countries and different hunting qualification acceptances.
 
mikmik said:
Its a good suggestion, I have not considered this route yet. I originally asked my friend who is a hunter in Poland how he obtained his and he suggested visiting local court. But perhaps that would be a faster route in my case, and most likely it would not need a translation as it should be in English. I'll give them a ring tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion!
Click to expand...
You may even find that as with the French one you can have your report in English language format. I suspect because the French Consulates all over the world reported that they were being burdened with request to certify translated copies. Good Luck if Poland has the same sort of ability to request your document in English language.
 
My friend, in Lanark, is in the process of getting his license.
Not sure of the his exact details.
He’s in Poland this week for family business but due back next week as the FLO is coming to inspect his security.

If you want I can ask what he had to do, although it might not be exactly the same circumstance as yourself.
 
M@tt said:
There's a polish member in my club just going through this too.
We went to Poland to get his polish firearms medical done as the surgery had destroyed all his records and this was acceptable to the FLD (it was a bit more involved than our medical check), he has been in UK for 19 years and not seen his Polish Dr for a bit over 20 years. The criminal records were easy (easier at least) to get.
FEO visit last week and FAC should be in his hands in the next couple of weeks.

It appears there is no set time period for any of these written but it's down to the request (whim?) of the FLD.

If you have specific questions for him, pm me and I'll pass them on.
Click to expand...
Not sure how I missed your reply! Thanks for that! Very informative and might give you a shout. Really appreciate the offer!
 
LuckyEddie said:
My friend, in Lanark, is in the process of getting his license.
Not sure of the his exact details.
He’s in Poland this week for family business but due back next week as the FLO is coming to inspect his security.

If you want I can ask what he had to do, although it might not be exactly the same circumstance as yourself.
Click to expand...
Again very generous offer thank you! I'll do little more digging as I just per @enfieldspares suggestion I think there is a way to get a digital copy I can later certify in consulate in Edinburgh.

I'll share more info once I figure out details tomorrow. If not I'll definitely ask more about your friend experience.

Thank you.
 
Here's the French details. Which my wife used to get her Fiche 3.

With the French system the document states only negative matters (crimes, convictions, etc.) so if you are of good conduct what comes back is a letterheaded blank document with a diagonal line through it and an official stamp at the bottom. The much quoted actual "clean sheet" in fact.

I'd hope that for Poland the way forward would be much the same? Online and a choice of Polish or other languages?

Accueil | La France au Royaume-Uni

Ambassade et consulats généraux de France au Royaume-Uni
uk.ambafrance.org uk.ambafrance.org
 
So, on the "criminal conviction free" part seems that the Polish government introduced a "Trusted Profile" which can be created here: Strona główna - Profil zaufany
Apparently, I need to confirm my documents with the local embassy/consulate, and I should be all good! Not sure about the language that the document will be in, but I think the consulate provides translation services.

I'll update once I know more. I have a visit on the 30th if nothing gets cancelled.

Now to figure out medical form requirements...
 
Translation needs to be done by 'an approved body'. No idea who approves the body or if it is just someone the FLD will trust.

No doubt you could translate it yourself, but could the FLD determine how faithful a translation you provide?;)
 
If I understood correctly, the Polish consulate employs staff that has the correct accreditation to do such. But good point. Assume nothing :).
I might check a local certified translator just to have one at hand.

Thanks!
 
M@tt said:
There's a polish member in my club just going through this too.
We went to Poland to get his polish firearms medical done as the surgery had destroyed all his records and this was acceptable to the FLD (it was a bit more involved than our medical check), he has been in UK for 19 years and not seen his Polish Dr for a bit over 20 years. The criminal records were easy (easier at least) to get.
FEO visit last week and FAC should be in his hands in the next couple of weeks.

It appears there is no set time period for any of these written but it's down to the request (whim?) of the FLD.

If you have specific questions for him, pm me and I'll pass them on.
Click to expand...
Bloody lucky im now near a year post interview with Zero response, im fuming to say the least
 
Bloody lucky im now near a year post interview with Zero response, im fuming to say the least
Click to expand...
Wow! That is nuts! I was told about similar wait times in Edinburgh. Seems that where I stay, I am under the jurisdiction of the Glenrothes force (Lucky me, I guess!).
When I called them to get some info on the paperwork , the person on the phone told me they, on average, take up to 16 weeks to get the license application sorted, but it is often done much faster.

I guess we will see how much of this is true! :)
 
mikmik said:
Wow! That is nuts! I was told about similar wait times in Edinburgh. Seems that where I stay, I am under the jurisdiction of the Glenrothes force (Lucky me, I guess!).
When I called them to get some info on the paperwork , the person on the phone told me they, on average, take up to 16 weeks to get the license application sorted, but it is often done much faster.

I guess we will see how much of this is true! :)
Click to expand...
Thats who im with aswell, my neighbour is sitting at near 7 or 8 months post interview with nothing heard yet either. Initial grants don't have a time limit I was told by an ex FEO at a fishing beat I fished on the Tweed. They also don't stay within the licensing itself on initial grants they go to your local areas station and go to the highest person in there for signing off. Idk what the heck is going on but I am a bit miffed it's been near enough a Year, trying to weigh up if there is anything I can do to get this resolved. It doesn't take a year to give a Yes or No, I have heard Edinburgh are quick so you may have better luck if initial grant
 
Hi I have a partial update.

1. I can create a trusted profile on polish government website (profil zaufany)
2. With that I can get a digital "no convictions"(zaświadczenie o nie karalności) certificate from "e-krk" (krajowy rejestr karny).
3. I can get it issued in multi language version or in Polish (adviced by my consulate). The consulate later translates it and put a consulate stamp on it which is what police mainly looks for for authenticity.
4. Regarding medical, there is also a digital medical platform but they would only have data from last few years so no help there. Interesting enough seems that polish NHS have only legal requirement to store medical records for 20 years... Which explains why one person mentioned their data got destroyed.
I still need to do some digging but in theory I can get a polish GP to access my recorda privately and wrote a summary of last 20 years. This would be private service and not something standard but I'll do some more digging next month.

Thank you all for your replies. I'll keep this topic updated if some other folk ever find themselves in the similar situation.
 
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