I might be moving to Italy in 9 months. I will find out after the 1st of the year. With the Italians having the worlds oldest manufactuering facility of any kind (Beretta), and a very old gun trade, how do things work for hunters? What about non-EU hunters living in Italia?

Kokdyer,
you should contact Express, he has some info about foreign hunters, but I think that he has managed hunts based on invitation in a private propety or resort.

Here below you'll find a short description of the necessary formalities for a Italian hunter candidate.

In Italy it is possible hunt having a licence released after a course, an examination by a commission (the examination is based on a written test and a conversation with experts), a test at the range.
With all the documents released by the commissione and the range society, the receipt of taxes payment and the medical suitability certificate the candidate hunter goes to the local police station, that verifies that the candidate have a clean record, and release the license.
At this point the candidate must hunt with an expert hunter for two hunting seasons.
The candidate have to choose a territorial hunting zone (thz), register at the thz society paying a membership fee.
The description of territorial hunting rules is a very long story.
A hunting season begins at the third Sunday of September and finishes on 31th of January.
During this period there can be limitation on bagging or closing season on game species (hare hunt close at the begin of November).
To make big hunt a specialization course is needed.
Generally speaking the situation, more or less, is not optimal but good, even if guns crimes generate measures that often hit the hunters rights or better all guns owners, hunters included, in an annoying way. New medical visits, rumors on new taxes or prohibitions etc etc.

Confused? Perplexed? Me too sometime

hi guys,i am from england and living here in italia (toscana/tuscany) and im having difficulty understanding what the rules and regs are for non nationals who wish to get firearms certificates.

steve,help!

i have been told by my many hunting friends here,that military service is required,and i think it has to have been in italy,not sure. i went to my local gunsmith,and he seemed to think it was impossible for me to get a porta di armi/license.

many thanks e buon anno.

Elephantstopper, as I said some weeks ago, in a previous post, you must be OFFICIALLY and PERMANENTLY resident in Italy, and then, you can get the licence/permit to buy/own guns as well as a hunting permit. If you live in Italy only 5/6 months each year, forget it. You need the certificate of having served in the (italian) army, because you are supposed to know how guns works, but you can get a similar certificate at an official gun range (poligono di tiro) after a brief lesson. - Lorenzo

hi lorenzo,thankyou.

i am a permanent resident here by all means!

so,what exactly do i have to do??????? thanks for your help.

does anything i mentioned apply? is it actually possible for me to get the portat di armi,then? grazie mille a te,e buon' anno!

You have to go to the closer "Questura" and talk to the policemen at the "Ufficio amministrativo". They will inform you much better than me; anyway I'm sure that you can get the "porto d'armi per uso sportivo". It will not be easy since you are not Italian but it' absoutely feasible. For the hunting permit, refer to Steve's post; he is exhaustive and correct as usual. - Lorenzo

thankyou once again lorenzo. dove sei? io sono qui,vicino di la spezia.

i had both firearms and shotgun certificates in england. questa e buona per me o no?

grazie mille.

I'm in Bordighera, at the other side of Liguria, 11 km from the french border, 250 km from La Spezia. It is very difficult to import guns it Italy; refer to policemen at "Questura" of La Spezia. Regards and best wishes to you and your family. If you have any problems of questions, send me a private message. Lorenzo

I lost a interesting topic for too much days.
Now, Kodyker when will you come in Italy?
My best greetings also to Wildboar and Elephantstopper.
Any news about the licences?

Just got a solid word, about 9 months and I am on my way to Sicily!

I am just going to borrow guns when i hunt in Euorope for the next 4 years as it is too difficult to keep guns in Italy.

I'll try to have more info, even if yu will be in a "shotgun only" region. Never heard about hunt with rifle there. As wildboar wrote it is also a stay time problem (how long?), and bureucratic rules. Give me some time, I'll go to ask to some Police officer.