Private firearm imports
Discussion
Say you have a FAC with an open slot and you also have an overseas firearms licence for the same firearm... Australia for example and in particular _not_ the United States where there are export restrictions:
Can you take the firearm with you as airplane baggage and import it permanently to the UK?
Can you take the firearm with you as airplane baggage and import it permanently to the UK?
Edited by creampuff on Thursday 22 June 18:55
No, you don't need to involve RFDs at any stage. If you do that, there will be fees involved usually and you don't want/need that.
Personal importation doesn't require any special paperwork. You can't get an RFD in the host country to fill in your FAC because it's nothing to do with them.
Just rock up to the red channel when you get back and show them the firearm and your FAC with the slot. They should enter it on your FAC there and then, but sometimes they are reluctant or just not very knowledgeable, so you can get it done by your FEO when you get home.
Personal importation doesn't require any special paperwork. You can't get an RFD in the host country to fill in your FAC because it's nothing to do with them.
Just rock up to the red channel when you get back and show them the firearm and your FAC with the slot. They should enter it on your FAC there and then, but sometimes they are reluctant or just not very knowledgeable, so you can get it done by your FEO when you get home.
FurtiveFreddy said:
They should enter it on your FAC there and then, but sometimes they are reluctant or just not very knowledgeable, so you can get it done by your FEO when you get home.
Wait... I might be being simplistic in my understanding here, but you can come into the country with a firearm not on your FAC, declare it to customs, and they'll let you walk out the building with it without adding it to your FAC?Surely that's open to abuse?
InitialDave said:
Wait... I might be being simplistic in my understanding here, but you can come into the country with a firearm not on your FAC, declare it to customs, and they'll let you walk out the building with it without adding it to your FAC?
Surely that's open to abuse?
There are quite a few areas WRT firearms where the onus is on the FAC holder to do things legally. At the end of the day, the system relies on the vast majority of FAC holders to act lawfully and it works for the vast majority of the time.Surely that's open to abuse?
Worth talking to your local police force for advice?
I'm just saying that, this is quite a legally sensitive area where you can easily land up in hot water if things aren't done 100%. I'm not saying that the advice on here is bad, but at the same time its not something relatively minor like a parking ticket.
I'm just saying that, this is quite a legally sensitive area where you can easily land up in hot water if things aren't done 100%. I'm not saying that the advice on here is bad, but at the same time its not something relatively minor like a parking ticket.
sonnenschein3000 said:
Worth talking to your local police force for advice?
I'm just saying that, this is quite a legally sensitive area where you can easily land up in hot water if things aren't done 100%. I'm not saying that the advice on here is bad, but at the same time its not something relatively minor like a parking ticket.
By all means if you want to put your mind at rest, but there really isn't any more to it than I've said.I'm just saying that, this is quite a legally sensitive area where you can easily land up in hot water if things aren't done 100%. I'm not saying that the advice on here is bad, but at the same time its not something relatively minor like a parking ticket.
FurtiveFreddy said:
There are quite a few areas WRT firearms where the onus is on the FAC holder to do things legally. At the end of the day, the system relies on the vast majority of FAC holders to act lawfully and it works for the vast majority of the time.
Yes, I agree with that, I was just surprised.I suppose my logic was that it can be looser with a "normal" acquisition, because a firearm already in the country should be traceable to someone, and it's a change of that traceability, whereas if you bring it in from another country it's kind of off the books until you do the paperwork.
FurtiveFreddy said:
No, you don't need to involve RFDs at any stage. If you do that, there will be fees involved usually and you don't want/need that.
Personal importation doesn't require any special paperwork. You can't get an RFD in the host country to fill in your FAC because it's nothing to do with them.
Just rock up to the red channel when you get back and show them the firearm and your FAC with the slot. They should enter it on your FAC there and then, but sometimes they are reluctant or just not very knowledgeable, so you can get it done by your FEO when you get home.
Blimey. I know I've led a sheltered life, but it's never crossed my mind that you could pole up in the Red Channel and tell them that you have a .308 in your bag, and could they possibly fill in your FAC! Personal importation doesn't require any special paperwork. You can't get an RFD in the host country to fill in your FAC because it's nothing to do with them.
Just rock up to the red channel when you get back and show them the firearm and your FAC with the slot. They should enter it on your FAC there and then, but sometimes they are reluctant or just not very knowledgeable, so you can get it done by your FEO when you get home.
MKnight702 said:
One thing you may not have considered is actually getting the firearm on the plane in the first place. Often they will refuse to carry them, because guns.
They are sporting equipment to airlines such as Quantas, BA, Virgin etc. but yes it is sensible to check if the airline has any restrictions and what their particular conditions for carrying them are.More airlines (such as BA) are putting up their charges for this sort of thing now as well.
http://www.qantas.com.au/dangerousgoods/Qantas-Fir...
If I were you, I would give them a call just to clarify the bit about needing an export permit. If it belongs to you, usually you wouldn't need to do any import/export paperwork so ask them what that's all about.
If you get stuck, PM me as I know people who travel regularly between UK and Aus with firearms...
Edited by FurtiveFreddy on Friday 23 June 11:06
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