Getting Your Gun Abroad

Checklist for travelling abroad with guns

Shooting trips abroad are becoming increasingly popular among UK hunters. From hunting wild boar in Germany to shooting driven dove in Argentina, the variety of species and locations on offer are limitless. However, travelling with a gun and getting it into another country can prove tricky without proper planning and preparation. We’ve put together a handy guide to travelling with a gun and hunting abroad, so you can relax and enjoy the trip of a lifetime.

Make sure your chosen destination accepts firearms

When travelling to other countries in Europe, taking a gun shouldn’t be a problem. At least three months in advance, consult with your local Firearms Enquiry Officer to obtain a European Firearms Pass (EFP). This is free and will allow you to take your firearm into any European country. Traveling to other non-EU countries could be slightly trickier and could potentially require other documents so ask your outfitter, guide or sporting agent what is needed. Once you have established that the gun can be imported into the country, check if a hunting permit is required. Some countries will while others won’t so it’s best to speak to your guide for specialist advice.

Check that your airline accepts firearms  

Some airlines such as Ryanair do not accept firearms but others such as EasyJet and British Airways will happily accommodate a gun and treat it like sporting equipment. It is up to you as the traveller to check this beforehand and make sure that the airline is prepared in advance for your specialist cargo, which can be done online when booking the flight. Some airlines will charge more than others but most will make you pay for the firearm when checking in. 

Store the firearm and ammunition in separate locked cases

For safety reasons, your guns and ammunition should be in separate cases, both of which need to have a lock. You are allowed to travel with a maximum of 5kg of ammunition so if travelling with a shotgun, it’s probably better to purchase cartridges at the other end.

With a Rifle, smaller calibres should be fine on this allowance, however with larger calibres it’s advisable to buy ammunition at your destination which guides will be able to assist with. It’s a good idea to zero a rifle before leaving to save time and ammunition upon arrival, however a quick double check before hunting is advisable. If possible, try to travel with a scope in your hand luggage to prevent it from being bashed about in the hold.  

Give yourself plenty of time for check-in

When flying with a firearm, expect to spend a lot more time checking-in at the airport than you would with a regular flight. Arrive at the airport at least three hours before the flight is scheduled to leave. Take your firearms license and EFP or any other documentation that is required for the country you are travelling to. At check-in, you will be required to fill out a form and then proceed to customs where they will confirm that the serial number on your firearms certificate matches with the number engraved on the gun. At the other end, the gun is usually collected from police or the special baggage area. They shouldn’t come through on the baggage carousel; however this can sometimes happen.

Store your gun with care at your chosen location

Although other countries are far more relaxed when it comes to gun storage regulations, it is still your responsibility to make sure that you return with the gun you left with. If not, you could face charges of illegal arms trading which can hold a large prison sentence. To avoid a run-in with the law, keep your gun in a secure location at all times, especially overnight. For example, a gun stored and covered in a locked car overnight is probably fairly safe whereas under a hotel bed probably isn’t.

Find shooting days available outside the UK.