FAC questions

[Essniv]

Hi, new here after a period of lurking. I've returned to the UK after many (30) years abroad, have been a member of a local club for the last year, and own some lands suitable for shooting. My FAC (Covid delays notwithstanding) is now in progress. My question is as follows:

I used to own a really nice custom rifle in Canada, which I'd dearly like to bring over. It's non-restricted in Canada, meaning there is no record of serial # etc. In Canada for non-restricted long guns it is the individual who is licensed on the PAL (possession and acquisition licence), not the actual firearm. There is no registry per-se (abolished in 2012). As my PAL expired, on leaving Canada I merely "gave" it to my (Canadian citizen) brother, to legally hold on his.

How do I add this to my FAC on approval? Given that it is already legally owned in the family, but I'm not supposed to make any entry on my own FAC, does my brother come visit on a hunting trip, and privately "sell" it to me? It's a UK-legal length, calibre and action, category applied for (20" 6.5mm straight-pull). Thought I'd canvas some advice before opening a can of worms with my FEO. Thanks in advance.

[Catch-22]

Not an expert but I’ve had numerous firearms, and firearms components, exported from the States to myself here in the U.K.

Firstly, I’d chat with your FEO and explain what you intend to do and be clear that you’ll use an exporter Canada side, and a U.K. freight importer to help you bring it in U.K. side.

Then I’d locate and speak with a dedicated Canadian export company with good history of exporting firearms to the UK. It could be that PBS International work with some in Canada who could help you. 
A good exporter and freight forwarder (UK side) will be key to ensuring your gun travels over and goes through Border force (HMRC) without issue.

As a private individual you don’t need a UK ‘Import’ license. But rather than filling out all the complex transportation and customs documentation yourself, I’d personally use a specialised freight carrier/forwarder who is used to dealing with firearms. A good one is PBS International. Tracy there is very helpful.
 

In terms of your FAC, you will need the ‘authority’ to possess/purchase said rifle or said calibre. You don’t need the serial on your FAC until the gun gets signed over to you (eg by the freight forwarding company or their nominated RFD).

The gun itself, for ease of importation I would suggest you have it serialised in Canada because, if like exporting from the US, the export paperwork will include the serial number. Again this will make the customs process much simpler and I think it’s now a requirement. 
Otherwise the gun will need to be serialised here (I think proof house can do that for you) but again, having a serial before coming over will make it easier to bring in.

Once in the U.K., your freight forwarder can then send the gun to Proof and from there either you go collect it (and have it signed over to your FAC) or you arrange for them to ship to your nearest designated RFD who will sign over to your FAC.

It is simple enough, it’s just a bit of organisation back and forth. The main thing is use a decent Exporter, Freight forwarder (UK side) and ensure your FEO know what you want to do. Including them in the picture is helpful!

Good luck!

[Essniv]

Thanks for a very prompt and very comprehensive answer. I will speak to my FEO as you suggest. I was hoping it might be a bit simpler, avoiding multiple agents on both sides. My brother travels over frequently, and I return sometimes.

It is no problem checking in a sporting rifle as baggage on the flight, nor visiting the UK with same. Either he can do it, or I can renew my Canadian PAL for around $80 and then travel over as a visitor with MY property. Given that it can be either his or my property on that basis, I was hoping he could simply "gift" it to me, on the same basis as if buying face-to-face on the classifieds in the UK.

The rifle is already fully serialised, proofed etc. It is/was a "working" firearm. It is simply that with unrestricted in Canada you can buy over the counter as long as you have a PAL. There is no restriction on the rifles you can own, nor any need (or even the means) to register the serial#s with the RCMP or any other authority. 

Yes, I have applied for this particular calibre/action on my FAC. 

Edited August 15, 2020 by Essniv
Detail

[Shuggy]

I don’t think that there’s any reason why you cannot serialise it, travel across with it on your Canadian PAL and then simply enter it onto your UK FAC which grants you permission to possess. But the advice to work closely with your FEO is obviously the right way to proceed.

[Mattnall]

We had this exact situation - a club member moved from Canada to England and wanted to bring over his firearms.

He got an exporter in Canada and had them shipped straight to him in the UK. His firearms license (this is also an import license for those item authorised to possess or acquire) already had most of them listed by serial number but two (s1 shotgun and another bolt action rifle) weren't listed but he had 'free slots' to acquire them.

Parcel Force contacted him when they arrived and wanted to see him and his authority to possess at the local hub before he could pick them up. When he picked them up he informed his FEO and wrote the 2 extra on to the license as 'acquired'.

DO NOT use a freight forwarder if you can get away with it - they charge so much more than a regular parcel carrier, and charge you daily fees along with the clearance charge after they arrive in the UK (and they'll mail you a copy of the shipment which will add a couple of days to the charges if you're not lucky). PF for example charge between £8 and £12 for a clearance fee on top of the duty/taxes.

[Essniv]

Thanks for all the excellent advice. 1st stop obviously a chat with my FEO, but it all seem eminently doable. Mattnall's scenario seems closest to mine so I will go with that. Post Canada and Parcelforce, £12 extra plus p&p, what's not to like?

[Mattnall]

There maybe other taxes due (duty, VAT).

Freighted a 1903-A3 from Az to UK a couple of years ago, ended up costing the owner (who arranged the shipping from the US) over £1000 in charges and storage this end for a couple of days stay in a warehouse at LHR and all the other duties and charges incurred. Shipping was also not far off £1000.

Conversely, I had 7 new rifles shipped from an exporter all bundled as one parcel and the total postal cost including shipping across the States from manufacturer to exporter was less than £500 including the duties - it arrived via Parcel Force.

If you get trouble with export info from Canada I'll call the club member, he's since moved from Stansted to Prestwick for his job so I rarely see him any more.