Importing Canada -UK

[martynmachattie]

Good Evening,

I am currently living in Canada as a UK Citizen and due to return in the early summer.

I hold a UK FAC and have acquired a rifle whilst in Canada.

As far as I am aware my FAC allows me to 'import' this on my return as I hold the authority to aquire that Calibre.

Has anyone been through this process before or know the correct procedure to get this rifle added to my FAC upon my return.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[stalker.308]

I have done this. Yes, your FAC acts as your import permit. The easiest way to do is to actually bring it back with you on the flight. You will need a provincial export permit.

The correct way to get it added to your FAC is on arrival at UK customs, they should write it on your FAC. Inevitably they won't, so just take the provincial export permit and get your firearms Licensing Department to add it.

 

[DVS1]

Good Evening,

I am currently living in Canada as a UK Citizen and due to return in the early summer.

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!

 

[8x57]

If you have the slot on your certificate already make the entry yourself and inform the force who issued your FAC within 7 days. That's what I have done on two occasions.

 

[martynmachattie]

UPDATE !

After a couple of weeks I've finally got a solid answer from the Licencing Dept.

Just need to email them the details, I thought it would be more complicated than that .

 

[martynmachattie]

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!

I have to unfortunately was only over here with work for just under 2 years

 

[GertC]

UPDATE !

After a couple of weeks I've finally got a solid answer from the Licencing Dept.

Just need to email them the details, I thought it would be more complicated than that .

Hallo Martyn. I'm looking at transporting my inherited rifles from SA to UK. I applied for my FAC and it list the rifles calibre but not make and serial number. I asked my Firearms Dept about how to get it on my FAC listed they said ownership can only be done by an RFD I the UK. The Firearms Dept only issue FAC to authorise what type of rifles you can use and not own. Ownership gets done by a RFD. Therefore, under what area does your FAC fall? I'm under Surrey & Sussex.

 

[8x57]

Hallo Martyn. I'm looking at transporting my inherited rifles from SA to UK. I applied for my FAC and it list the rifles calibre but not make and serial number. I asked my Firearms Dept about how to get it on my FAC listed they said ownership can only be done by an RFD I the UK. The Firearms Dept only issue FAC to authorise what type of rifles you can use and not own. Ownership gets done by a RFD. Therefore, under what area does your FAC fall? I'm under Surrey & Sussex.

Unless things have changed I don't think that's entirely correct.
I can't comment on South Africa regarding export and import licenses which may or may not be necessary, but when on two separate occasions when I imported rifles from France I entered the rifles on my FAC myself (I already had the vacant slots for these rifles). This was with the agreement of my local firearms department and I of course gave them the necessary notification after buying them. Others have reported that the entry on their FAC was made by customs at the port of entry.

 

[GertC]

Unless things have changed I don't think that's entirely correct.
I can't comment on South Africa regarding export and import licenses which may or may not be necessary, but when on two separate occasions when I imported rifles from France I entered the rifles on my FAC myself (I already had the vacant slots for these rifles). This was with the agreement of my local firearms department and I of course gave them the necessary notification after buying them. Others have reported that the entry on their FAC was made by customs at the port of entry.

I ask my local FAO from Surrey & Sussex and he mentioned they can't add ownership and only issue FAC for possession. The SA side is a bit complicated, but I have someone looking at it.

I would like an second opinion on the UK side. The RGD that quoted me the UK side said only dealers can export and import and they wouldn't advise me not to transport it myself and go through a dealer. My SA side dealer says I can do it myself if I have an import permit. However my understanding is that my FAC that list the rifles under to be acquired already voids me from needing a import permit.

 

[8x57]

You're probably right regarding your FAC being sufficient. It's obviously quite different if employing an importing RFD rather than collecting the rifle yourself.
I would think that the department for trade and industry would be able to confirm whether you would need an import license in your situation, that's who I would be seeking advice from.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I have to unfortunately was only over here with work for just under 2 years

I am currently requesting my Canuk citizenship due to my naturalized father being one before my birth, a long winded process. Why not if I am entitled to?

 

[GertC]

You're probably right regarding your FAC being sufficient. It's obviously quite different if employing an importing RFD rather than collecting the rifle yourself.
I would think that the department for trade and industry would be able to confirm whether you would need an import license in your situation, that's who I would be seeking advice from.

The DTI confirmed if importing rifles that listed on my FAC and for my own use,(however at the time wasn't aware off two separate listing on FAC of (ii) aquire and (i) ownership) that I don't need import permit and FAC suffice. The ownership transfer that the FAO mention they cant do and only RFD is confusing me. Then I made contact with the RFD that quoted me and say they can't advise on transporting it yourself and should be done from dealer to dealer. Now I'm very confuse. I think the RFD wa ta to make money from me and not just transfer ownership. I will have to make contact with another RFD in the UK to see what they say.

 

[8x57]

Yes the RFD is obviously wanting to get paid for his troubles. However, I see no reason why you need to go through a RFD, just sign it on yourself providing you have the necessary permission in place already.

 

[GertC]

Therefore say all in place from SA side, i.e. transfer rifles from gun dealer in SA name to mine in SA, apply for export permit from SA, I then myself fill in on the FAC the details of the rifles, i.e. make, serial number in the slots available. I then should have no issues coming in to the UK. Once in UK I then send the filled in FAC to my local Firarms Dept Surrey & Sussex to add the rifles as ownership on my FAC in the UK?

 

[8x57]

Therefore say all in place from SA side, i.e. transfer rifles from gun dealer in SA name to mine in SA, apply for export permit from SA, I then myself fill in on the FAC the details of the rifles, i.e. make, serial number in the slots available. I then should have no issues coming in to the UK. Once in UK I then send the filled in FAC to my local Firarms Dept Surrey & Sussex to add the rifles as ownership on my FAC in the UK?

No need to send in your FAC once you are back in the U.K. as you or your South African dealer will have already entered the details of the transfer on your certificate. Then when you next send your FAC in for renewal or variation the firearms department will print off a new copy showing the rifle on the certificate.

Do not however forget to inform your Chief Constable of the acquisition within seven days. This is normally done by email so could be done from South Africa. Request acknowledgement or receipt of the email and keep a copy of it.

 

[GertC]

No need to send in your FAC once you are back in the U.K. as you or your South African dealer will have already entered the details of the transfer on your certificate. Then when you next send your FAC in for renewal or variation the firearms department will print off a new copy showing the rifle on the certificate.

Do not however forget to inform your Chief Constable of the acquisition within seven days. This is normally done by email so could be done from South Africa. Request acknowledgement or receipt of the email and keep a copy of it.

Thank you. When did you last do it or know of someone that did it recently. Just checking if rules changed.

 

[8x57]

It's a few years since I last brought a rifle in to the country, but the law hasn't changed. You should be aware however that while the law is the same different firearms departments have differing views on things and some are far more helpful, or should that be sensible, than others.