Firearms licensing: frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a visitor's permit?
Applications for visitor's permits must be made on behalf of the visitor, to the Chief Officer of Police, by a person resident in that area. In most cases a private sponsor will himself be a certificate holder, but this is not a requirement.
Applications must be made on Form 107 for both firearms and shotguns.
The sponsor may be a private individual, or may make the application in the capacity of a club, shooting syndicate, country estate or shooting organisation.
Group applications can be made for parties of between 6 and 20 people provided they are all shooting at the same location and at the same time, or are participating in the same event or competition. In such circumstances a reduced fee is payable.
See Fees and Charges.
Applications should be made well in advance of the required date, to allow the proper enquiries to be made. The information necessary will be provided by the sponsor
to whom all enquiries will be made.
Criteria for granting a permit
A Chief Officer of Police must not grant a permit to any person in respect of whom he has reason to believe:
- That his possession of the ammunition or weapons in question would represent a danger to public safety or to the peace; or
- That he is prohibited from possessing such weapons or ammunition.
If the grant is not precluded on the above grounds, the Chief Officer of Police must be satisfied that:
- The applicant is visiting or intends to visit Great Britain; and either
- In the case of a visitor's firearm permit, the applicant has good reason for having each firearm and the ammunition to which the permit relates in his possession, or, as respects ammunition, for purchasing or acquiring it whilst a visitor to Great Britain; or
- In the case of a visitor's shotgun permit, the applicant has a good reason for having each shotgun to which the permit relates in his possession, or for purchase or acquiring it, whilst he is a visitor to Great Britain.
When a permit is granted it will be sent to the sponsor who should forward it to the visitor in his country of origin, for presentation to customs on his arrival in Great Britain. The visitor's permit will be accepted in lieu of a Department of Trade & Industry import licence. Failure to produce the permit at the time of importation may render the firearms/shotguns liable to detention or seizure.
Members of EU countries must be in possession of a European Firearms Pass which should be forwarded with the application for the permit.
Should an application for the grant of a visitor's permit be refused there is no right of appeal. However notification of such refusals will, circumstances allowing, be detailed by letter in good time to prevent any unnecessary travel costs.