Gentlemen,

As you might have heard the UK has voted to leave the EU and is in a bit of a .... well running around like a headless chicken comes to mind, as nobody has a clue what this means. The default will be that the UK will have the same relationship with Europe as any other non EU country that has n't yet negotiated special relationships - so pretty much the same position as the US, Canada, Australia, Argentina etc etc.

Key question that is vexing many UK hunters is going across to Europe hunting. Currently all we need do is ask our Firearms Licensing to issue a European Firearms Pass and off we go and can happily drive across Europe to our hunting destination. At the other end you do of course need to comply with local requirements for permits etc - you can't just go hunting.

But for all you non EU members of AR, how much of a headache is all the paperwork to take firearms to Europe and do you need to complete such paperwork for each and every country you wish to visit - for us driving to the continent is often so much easier and cheaper than flying.

I fully appreciate that our powers that be dont reciprocate on the EFP and require any visitor to be issued with a visitors permit.

It was no big deal. Filled out paperwork, sent it to my outfitter and he sent me permit. It was more a hassle when entering country the guy at passport control was asking where I was staying and I pulled out the permit to look it up and I thought he was going to have a heart attack when he found out I was traveling with a gun. He called his supervisor and got laughed at.

I have a similar question. I am going to Switzerland next month traveling from Kennedy Airport or Newark. Most flights have one stop. Are there any countries I need to avoid as far as traveling with a rifle. We will not be leaving the airport on any stop overs just transiting.

The procedure to bring a firearm/ammunition in The Fatherland is:

1. You require a purpose; hunting or sport shooting.

2. You are required to have an Import/Export Permit (Erlaubnis zum Verbringen von Waffen/Munition).

I an not familiar with the sport shooting part although I would imagine the organization sponsoring a shoot or competition would be the responsible party.

As for hunting is is very similar to the current English Visitor Permit in that a "sponsor" or someone who applies for the permit on your behalf is required. This document is obtained via the sponsor's local issuing (city/county/state) authority. They can be obtained for multiple entry and valid for up to one year.

Net, I organize a two week "daily hunting license" or Tagesjagdschein and the Erlaubnis zum Verbringen von Waffen/Munition for my guests.

Recently one of my guests from Texas was asked to produce both documents (Hunting License & Erlaubnis zum Verbringen von Waffen/Munition) at the Lufthansa check-in counter when checking in with his firearm at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

My other guests have driven from their respective EU state to Germany. The Erlaubnis zum Verbringen von Waffen/Muntion is still required in addition to an EU Firearms Pass.

This despite the fact that up until several years ago all my (especilly English) guests simply produced their EU Firearms Pass and their Tagesjagdschein and were checked and boarded on aircraft. Now they are asking for the German Permit also.

In my experience the EU firearms pass did very little to help me move freely with firearms within the EU. Many countries require prior notice and applications for temporary permits such as Romania or the other extreme is France where you require no paperwork.

If you have an eu firearm pas you can enter romania without any prior paperwork! You just bring the hunting invitation and you eu pas and/or other gun related documents and they will give you an paper, this paper you give back when you leave romania!

For Sweden to:

1. You require a purpose; hunting or sport shooting.

2. You are required to have an Import/Export Permit

A application are made 1-2 months ahead to the Police at the point you enter sweden(ex Arlanda airport Police). Cost 27£/300sek
The same if you have a EU firearmspassport the temporary import application are added so you need both. You may have to send a hunting invitation or lease permit. Confirmation of a shooting competition or similar with your application.