Flying with a rifle to Germany for driven Boar

[Edward LC]

I'm struggling to find a clear set of advice as to what is needed to fly with a rifle and ammo to Germany in 2023. Does anyone have any recent experience of the process?

I already have a temporary Jagdshein 14 day pass and invitation for the shoot. Is this with my FAC enough?

The shoot is only a month away, any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[finnbear270]

Fly Easyjet & inform them as requested in their T’s & C’s in time they state carrying firearm / ammunition ( max 5 kilo inc casing) before flight booking, make sure you have insurance 10 mill

 

[finnbear270]

Your invitation to hunt provider should advise you of anything important.

 

[long_range_rob]

It may have changed but Germany used to have a ban on NV/Thermal sights so if you’re taking spotting nv/thermal don’t put it in the same bag as the rifle.

I’m sure someone will be along to clarify in a minute

 

[finnbear270]

Hope you are going to an area without heavy wolf predation,some good drives still to be had, especially on state hunts, I now favour Hungary / Slovenia.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

It may have changed but Germany used to have a ban on NV/Thermal sights so if you’re taking spotting nv/thermal don’t put it in the same bag as the rifle.

I’m sure someone will be along to clarify in a minute

They still do (fixed nv scope on rifle) front or rear add ins are it seems allowed as everyone uses them. But for driven boar a 2.5-6 scope is best not a big one.

 

[Heym SR20]

I understand that as well as the Jagdschein you also now need an import permit / visitors Firearms permit for the rifle.

More details here

Weapons and ammunition

www.zoll.de

 

[Steff]

I'm struggling to find a clear set of advice as to what is needed to fly with a rifle and ammo to Germany in 2023. Does anyone have any recent experience of the process?

I already have a temporary Jagdshein 14 day pass and invitation for the shoot. Is this with my FAC enough?

The shoot is only a month away, any advice would be much appreciated.

With the UK being a non-EU country you will need a specific permission to bring your rifle(s) to Germany. I would check with the authority that issued your Ausländerjagdschein. They can tell you which authority will issue this permit. Usually it will be themselves. Your FAC is not sufficient.

 

[finnbear270]

My friends still go to Germany, their most recent trip was last back end of year, through the pipe I think, Dalua on here (Christoph), is worth a chat / message, as he is also a fluent German speaker, so will not have missed anything details wise.

 

[Jamie020]

I understand that as well as the Jagdschein you also now need an import permit / visitors Firearms permit for the rifle.

More details here

Weapons and ammunition

www.zoll.de

This was our experience too if you're considering taking rifles and ammunition into Germany for hunting. In addition to having obtained a Jagdschein (hunting licence) we completed an application to transport permit from a competent authority in the region we would be spending most of our time. The form we completed was referenced "Antrag auf Erteilung einer Mitnahmeerlaubnis" and this was returned, signed and sealed.

In addition to the above, we obtained a "Nachweis Jagdliches SchieBen" whilst we were in Germany prior to the driven hunts. From what we could decipher, that's your evidence of competency for driven shooting. We went to H&H shooting cinema in Northwood prior to the trip and the principles were very similar. The H&H shooting cinema was great fun, would highly recommend, even if you haven't booked or planned to do any driven hunting! Great day out!

Wmh

 

[Olaf]

I'm struggling to find a clear set of advice as to what is needed to fly with a rifle and ammo to Germany in 2023. Does anyone have any recent experience of the process?

I already have a temporary Jagdshein 14 day pass and invitation for the shoot. Is this with my FAC enough?

The shoot is only a month away, any advice would be much appreciated.

Unlike in the uk, in Germany the people you need to talk to about this will be at the local Kreishaus, just talk to them and they should be able to prepare the relevant papers for you. The problem you have is that you will need your paperwork paying for and to be collected and sent to you. Mail from Germany to the uk has a tendency to get held in the uk for some time now before it goes out for delivery too. Do you have a Jagdschein holding German friend who is based in the area that you have an invitation to hunt in ?
Never was a problem when the uk still had the European FAP ……. What made it all so complicated eh ?
Kindest regards, Olaf

 

[Steve Q]

Take a look at the www.FACE.eu website. It has pages for most EU countries, showing the visitor requirements and documentation etc. Very helpful and respond quickly to emails also.

 

[Olaf]

I'm struggling to find a clear set of advice as to what is needed to fly with a rifle and ammo to Germany in 2023. Does anyone have any recent experience of the process?

I already have a temporary Jagdshein 14 day pass and invitation for the shoot. Is this with my FAC enough?

The shoot is only a month away, any advice would be much appreciated.

I’d love to know what the outcome was for the OP and how or if his papers needed adding to ?
Anyway, as I said in my post previous to this one. If you are planning on flying to Germany with a firearm, my advice would be to ring up the local Kreishaus and ask to talk to someone in the untere jagdbehörde, explain to them your plans and they should be able to issue you with the relevant documents.
In the past when I have been working in Germany and have a friend coming to visit for a hunt, I or a hunting friend of mine would take their visitors Jagdschein and proof of insurance to the untere Jagdbehörde and get it approved and stamped for the 14 day period that covers their stay. We then would post it back to said friend In the UK by recorded super expensive mail so that they have it with them for arrival at the border control along with their fac and EFP. Now however there is no EFP for British FAC holders and each EU country has its own requirements if you don’t have an EFP . So, for example, if you were travelling to Germany by car and ferry via Holland ( which is how my friends normally come here) then you would need the relevant paperwork for the Netherlands and for Germany which have different requirements.
Flying directly to germany is obviously less hassle than going through France or the Netherlands . I’d love to know what the OP actually , in practice , was asked for when arriving at the German airport? Oh, and also which German airport? Oh, and most importantly, did he have a wonderful time. I do hope so.
Kindest regards, Olaf

 

[Blackdog]

I recently drove to Germany via Eurotunnel. I had my UK FAC, Jagdschein and a written invite from the shoot I was attending. I didn't travel via Holland but had the relevant customs form from them which i applied for by e mail just in case. I admit I did drive and not fly but it was all very painless. Good luck with it.

 

[Olaf]

I recently drove to Germany via Eurotunnel. I had my UK FAC, Jagdschein and a written invite from the shoot I was attending. I didn't travel via Holland but had the relevant customs form from them which i applied for by e mail just in case. I admit I did drive and not fly but it was all very painless. Good luck with it.

That’s interesting to hear. Could you please possibly explain what you had to do a little bit? You say that you had the relevant customs form , which country issued the form ? France or Germany and where did you get the form from and how ? Was it an immediate online form that you just printed off or did you have to wait for it’s approval etc ?
Kindest regards, Olaf

 

[TonyC]

Custom Forms Links - in both cases you must carry your FAC and invitation letter with you. Although I have never been stopped and asked to produce documents you never know.

Via Eurotunnel you must declare on English side who then copy passport and FAC and stamp windscreen hanger to show French Border Force where you go for passport stamping next. At the French end you are straight out onto the motorway system - no checks.

France (Download complete and carry): Cerfa n° 15678 - Document d'accompagnement en cas de déclaration verbale pour l'admission temporaire

Holland (via email + copies of FAC/ Invite/ Travel Tickets) : Application Consent for weapons and ammunition with an Annex to question 7 (Model WM 18 c)

 

[Boomerang]

I wish the European Firearms Pass was still available!!

I flew back from Berlin last Sunday. Although I have a FAC, and my host assisted me with the renewal of my Auslander Jagdshein (visitors hunting licence) and a written invitation, the import/export approval process in Germany for individuals from a 3rd country (non-German and non-EU) weapons changed recently. I did not take my rifle and borrowed an estate rifle. In years gone by I would send a completed "Antrag auf Erteilung einer Mitnahmeerlaubnis" and pay a small fee to local police firearm's team. This form lasted for 12 months but was limited to the number of border entries (e.g. 1, 2, 3 or more).

For individuals who are not resident in the Federal Republic of Germany, the competent authority for the issue of permits to transfer or carry fireams is

• the authority (Ordnungsamt or Landratsamt) in whose district the individual(s) concerned are, or intend to be, staying (such as the venue of a hunt or contest), or
• if no exact location can be specified - in the case of transit, for example - the authority in whose district the German border is crossed.

This appears to be no longer the case. The change in law/process is not well documented (or at least I have not found information online). With the assistance of my German hosts, it appears that the Customs side is now handled by German Customs (www.zoll.de) and there is an online form to complete (it appears to replace the old Antrag referenced in a post above).

In my case, I fly in and out of Berlin - see links below which are available in English and German. I did not actually apply as I ran out of time trying to work things out but did dry run the form to understand what was required. It is very similar to the Antrag. The new form (accessible for Berlin entry in the 3rd link below) requires you to transcribe line entries from your FAC corresponding to the firearms you are taking and to provide a Berlin address. The form has 3 variants (import, export or transit). I think you need to complete the transit version. It is a one-time entry form for specified dates and does not appear to cover multiple entries. There is a file upload facility to upload copies of your passport, FAC, invitation, Auslander Jagdshein etc. In relation to ammunition, officially they only accept boxed factory ammo (i.e. CIP certified). It appears that the processing fee is ca €50 from memory. FYI the import/export certificate is insufficient to purchase ammo in Germany - so take what you need or ask your host to purchase.

https://www.zoll.de/EN/Businesses/Movement-of-goods/Import/Restrictions/Goods/Weapons-and-explosive-substances/Weapons-and-ammunition/weapons-and-ammunition.html

Weapons and ammunition - Competent authorities in terms of weapons legislation

https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/330800/en/

While this change is frustrating for lack of a FAQ, my last experience with a weapon could not have been easier. The customs police were friendly, fast and efficient. I may fully dry the approval process to better understand what further requests are made by Zoll/Berlin police.

I have no idea what you need to do if your entry port is not Berlin....for what it is worth the information requirements are not dissimilar to what the UK expects from visitors with firearms. Hope this is helpful...

 

[Andyquadra]

@Edward LC how was you trip?

 

[Jamie020]

I wish the European Firearms Pass was still available!!

I flew back from Berlin last Sunday. Although I have a FAC, and my host assisted me with the renewal of my Auslander Jagdshein (visitors hunting licence) and a written invitation, the import/export approval process in Germany for individuals from a 3rd country (non-German and non-EU) weapons changed recently. I did not take my rifle and borrowed an estate rifle. In years gone by I would send a completed "Antrag auf Erteilung einer Mitnahmeerlaubnis" and pay a small fee to local police firearm's team. This form lasted for 12 months but was limited to the number of border entries (e.g. 1, 2, 3 or more).



This appears to be no longer the case. The change in law/process is not well documented (or at least I have not found information online). With the assistance of my German hosts, it appears that the Customs side is now handled by German Customs (www.zoll.de) and there is an online form to complete (it appears to replace the old Antrag referenced in a post above).

In my case, I fly in and out of Berlin - see links below which are available in English and German. I did not actually apply as I ran out of time trying to work things out but did dry run the form to understand what was required. It is very similar to the Antrag. The new form (accessible for Berlin entry in the 3rd link below) requires you to transcribe line entries from your FAC corresponding to the firearms you are taking and to provide a Berlin address. The form has 3 variants (import, export or transit). I think you need to complete the transit version. It is a one-time entry form for specified dates and does not appear to cover multiple entries. There is a file upload facility to upload copies of your passport, FAC, invitation, Auslander Jagdshein etc. In relation to ammunition, officially they only accept boxed factory ammo (i.e. CIP certified). It appears that the processing fee is ca €50 from memory. FYI the import/export certificate is insufficient to purchase ammo in Germany - so take what you need or ask your host to purchase.

https://www.zoll.de/EN/Businesses/Movement-of-goods/Import/Restrictions/Goods/Weapons-and-explosive-substances/Weapons-and-ammunition/weapons-and-ammunition.html

Weapons and ammunition - Competent authorities in terms of weapons legislation

Weapons legislation – Applying for a relocation permit - Services - Service Berlin - Berlin.de

While this change is frustrating for lack of a FAQ, my last experience with a weapon could not have been easier. The customs police were friendly, fast and efficient. I may fully dry the approval process to better understand what further requests are made by Zoll/Berlin police.

I have no idea what you need to do if your entry port is not Berlin....for what it is worth the information requirements are not dissimilar to what the UK expects from visitors with firearms. Hope this is helpful...

We were asked to fill out and use the Antrag auf Erteilung einer Mitnahmeerlaubnis form. Our trip was two weeks ago. Flew from LHR into Dusseldorf, and came back through Berlin to LHR. We travelled with rifles and ammunition, and didn’t have any issues with regards to absent documents.

Be interested to know what others have experienced recently on their travels. Perhaps we were fortunate.

 

[Blackdog]

That’s interesting to hear. Could you please possibly explain what you had to do a little bit? You say that you had the relevant customs form , which country issued the form ? France or Germany and where did you get the form from and how ? Was it an immediate online form that you just printed off or did you have to wait for it’s approval etc ?
Kindest regards, Olaf

Hi Olaf, If you plan on driving and want to transit through Holland you will need to complete the form below online:

Application Consent for weapons and ammunition with an Annex to question 7 (Model WM 18 c)

Dutch Customs. You can use this form to apply for a consent for the export, import or transit of weapons and ammunition.

www.belastingdienst.nl

They were very quick and I think it took about two weeks, as I said you only need this to go through Holland otherwise your UK FAC should suffice.

As I went to a part of Germany near Frankfurt I had no need to go through Holland in the end. I asked in Germany what was required and was told a valid 14 day Tagesjagdschein together with my Shoot invite and UK FAC was satisfactory.

This video produced by Fieldsports Britain was very useful too

How to cross the UK border with guns post Brexit

The French Customs at Eurotunnel couldn't have been more helpful and were more interested in whether my HS would bite them if they stroked him.

Hope this helps

Steve