Importing firearms from USA

.30-06

Well-Known Member
My uncle offered me one of his rifles last time I was over there. I politely declined, but he recently repeated the offer which set me thinking.

How would I tackle this if I accepted his offer ?

I presume there are specialists who will ship internationally and that it would have to be sent to an RFD.

VAT ought not to be an issue since the item is not being bought.

It's an old Ruger Model 1 with a gorgeous stock - he had some work done on the trigger and it has had a go-faster re-barrel job done. It's in .270, and I have an available slot for both the calibre and action.

So although it's not a horribly expensive piece it's still very nice and, more importantly, it has been my uncle's for many years so a bit of family history there.

I'm guessing it would be simpler to emigrate and keep the gun over there...

;)
 
Don't know if it's german or EU, but I just got a rifle, shotgun, and pistol. They've been here 20+ years, but never registered on the german (EU?) system. Had to get export permission from the States and import permission to germany (EU?) on them and they will have to be proof shot. Gonna cost me about 60 euro each for the long guns and 100+/- a couple for the pistol. Customs office has the info but it would be simpler to get a shop that exports/imports to take care of it for you. Since it's coming from someone you know and are in contact with (had to track folks down and do extra paperwork because they abandoned the guns. Yours should go real simple...
 
You will need to get a dealer in the states with an export license. He can send to your RFD you inform the police so they are awere of it your dealer enters it onto his books using the exporters paperwork. You will then have to get the gun proofed then once the dealer gets it back he can then enter it on to your FAC.

You will have to pay vat on what its worth I belive as well as import duty.

Thats the way I read it.
 
you can apply for a import licence for yourself to get it direct from a dealer with export papers rather than going through an rfd this end,atb wayne
 
Not absolutely sure on this but you need to speak to the relevant U.S. authority (BATF) and they should put you right, but I believe it may still be possible for you to visit your uncle and have the rifle gifted to you at the airport. You will need to sort the transport arrangements out before you travel. On arrival in the U.K. just demonstrate that you have lawful authority to possess and declare it to customs. There will the be no need to send the rifle for proof as it wil already belong to you. If you go through a RFD the rifle will need to go to the proof house before the RFD can transfer it to you.

Your biggest problem is legally possessing the rifle in the U.S. as a non resident but like I say the U.S. authorities can put you right on that one.
 
ok people are going to say you can,t do this but last yr a mate brought back a rifle back no problem get a slot on your ticket, declare it at your departure from the USA , collect from customs this end, they will ask value, tell them, show them the slot on your ticket, inform your police force when you get home. I queried customs at heathrow when they checked my bow and they agreed this is correct.
 
when i did it i got the rifle details and serial number entered onto my ticket before i got my import cert so i didn't have to go collect from customs it came direct to me reading up abit on this i think there are different methods I also spoke to the police and import/export to confirm i was doing the correct thing and all came back ok, wayne
 
ok people are going to say you can,t do this but last yr a mate brought back a rifle back no problem get a slot on your ticket, declare it at your departure from the USA , collect from customs this end, they will ask value, tell them, show them the slot on your ticket, inform your police force when you get home. I queried customs at heathrow when they checked my bow and they agreed this is correct.

That's what the customs ladies told me when I asked about having one sent to me from back home.... Had I been travelling, it would have been simple, but having it mailed would take a little more. Not impossible tho and if the rifle has any sentimental value, well worth it....
 
ok people are going to say you can,t do this but last yr a mate brought back a rifle back no problem get a slot on your ticket, declare it at your departure from the USA , collect from customs this end, they will ask value, tell them, show them the slot on your ticket, inform your police force when you get home. I queried customs at heathrow when they checked my bow and they agreed this is correct.
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While not doubting the above, how do you get the rifle from the shop, in the first place? I was under the impression that you cant just walk in and hand a wad of cash over.
 
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While not doubting the above, how do you get the rifle from the shop, in the first place? I was under the impression that you cant just walk in and hand a wad of cash over.

You can buy longguns at walmart with a telephone background check in just about any state.... You can also buy direct from Bubba... Accountability to get it over here is a different story, but what Taff says is the way the ladies told me.....
 
You can buy longguns at walmart with a telephone background check in just about any state.... You can also buy direct from Bubba... Accountability to get it over here is a different story, but what Taff says is the way the ladies told me.....

I presume thats only if you're a US citizen, how does it work if you're a visitor to the country?

Andrew
 
I presume thats only if you're a US citizen, how does it work if you're a visitor to the country?

Andrew
I love it when people skim posts.

The he op is being offered it as a gift. As long as he has a slot on his ticket, that is good to go as far as an import licence, as it is his authority to posess. Just go visit, and bring it home with you, write in the transaction onto your fac, and inform the police, although, customs will do this for you anyway, but it's good form to tell them yourself.

Pete
 
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My understanding is that to possess a firearm in the US as a non-resident alien you must have either a hunting license or an invitation to shoot or hunt from within the US.

To acquire a firearm you can buy privately face-to-face with no background check, but to buy from a dealer will need a background check, plus a delay before collection in most states. The presumption is that a purchase will be allowed unless there is reason not to grant, however dealers have to see proof that you've been living in that state (utility bills, rent receipts etc).

Exporting a firearm used to be possible in person with no customs exit formalities in the US, but I would be very wary about doing this now. Check with the US authorities and ensure that you have written confirmation that it can be done before attempting it, since the penalties are severe (e.g. wearing an orange jumpsuit in a correction facility and having to listen to Johnny Cash). They seem to want export permits for everything now, even asking one US dealer to send a firearm to a second US dealer so they can export it, itself needs an export permit..!

Arriving in the UK, you will need to show your FAC to customs who will enter the details, and pay VAT plus duty.

You're probably safer getting it shipped into the UK through a dealer, there are 3 exporting US dealers that I know of plus several UK dealers with import permits who bring things in. I used to use the informal entry route but prefer to use import/export now, even if it takes 6 months and costs more.
 
Go and look at the BATF website. You or your shipping agent will need a US export licence. If you collect the rifle in person, you declare it to Customs as you leave the US and again here in the UK. (Normally, the rifle will be off loaded direct to Customs.) You go to the red channel and claim/declare the rifle and produce your FAC, and pay any duty/VAT due. If you do it that way, the rifle won't need to be proofed in the UK (unless you are going to sell it to someone other than an RFD.) If you get the rifle shipped to you then it wil probably have to go via an RFD who has an import licence (I have one and an in Cleveland). The RFD will have to get the rifle proofed in the UK before it can be handed to you. Actually, that may not be necessary since the RFD will not own the rifle, you will. I'd have to look into that. Anyway, those are you options:

1. collect it in person
2. get it shipped

Either way, an export licene from the BATF will be necessary. I doubt that would be difficult to obtain since obtaining an import permit (to go hunting in the US) is straightforward and you're just looking to export a hunting rifle.

-JMS
 
as stated earlier to get an import licence it is really easy and you fill out the online form it saves you having a big bill from an rfd who will charge you for filling out the form.
here is an email for the import licence speak to them before filling out the form as it will be rejected otherwise, once you have spoken you will be asked to fill out the form and 5 mins later you will be sorted,atb wayne
enquiries.ilb@bis.gsi.gov.uk
ICMS - Import Case Management System
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/192650/13-803-how-to-apply-for-a-firearms-import-licence.pdf
 
They ask you the value at customs, what you say is upto you, I do know that a .22 rife was worth $10 so o tax payable.
 
I love it when people skim posts.

The he op is being offered it as a gift. As long as he has a slot on his ticket, that is good to go as far as an import licence, as it is his authority to posess. Just go visit, and bring it home with you, write in the transaction onto your fac, and inform the police, although, customs will do this for you anyway, but it's good form to tell them yourself.

Pete

"Just go visit, and bring it home with you,"

If you did that you'd be committing an offence against US federal law by exporting a firearm without lawful authority. You must have an export licence from the BATF. I don't know what the punishment would be, but it isn't going to be a little slap on the wrist.

-Jonathan
 
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