Is a 4457 form required to bring a firearm back into the US from Canada? Is an import permit required to bring a shotgun into Canada?

Also, I have some clients that will be driving up to hunt geese and ducks for three days. We were talking about having them bring the ammo since I'll be flying and I'm restricted to the 5 kg airline allowance.

Is there a limit to the amount of ammo they can bring across the boarder while driving?

Thanks,

I can speak from experience that you will have a most unpleasant experience trying to bring a firearm back into the United States from Canada without a 4457. Been there, done that. Will never happen again.

quote:

Originally posted by Safari James:
I can speak from experience that you will have a most unpleasant experience trying to bring a firearm back into the United States from Canada without a 4457. Been there, done that. Will never happen again.

Sorry about you're experience, but I certainly got a good laugh out of your post!!!

200 rds is the limit without paying duty. the 4457 requirement varies alot. more so in the east less in the west. it is cheap insurance to get. free is cheap

graybird,
Who gave you the trouble? U.S. or canadian customs.

Seems like the Import paper work to get the gun into canda, would suffice for bringing it back home. Of course that would precluded the goverment using common sense.

Thunder Head: I believe you are asking the question of me.

Paperwork into Canada was straight forward for the firearms, however, I had forgotten to get my wife to sign the approproate paperwork for taking our daughter to Canada. So, upon checking the weapons into the country I was asked for the "permission slip" from my spouse for traveling into Canada with a minor without both parents present. My daughter and I both had our fingers crossed when the agent called my wife's cell phone number. Why? Because my wife rarely, if ever, answers her phone. Well, behold the miracle happen and we were floored when she answered the phone and confirmed her identity and relationship to our daugher. After a few more questions we were on our way.

The 4457 was required when coming back into the US. Of all places I picked to screw up... LaGuardia! Like I said in my previous post, it was truly an unpleasant experience. From that point forward the 4457 has received my undivided attention when traveling.

Traveling abroad with a firearm and returning to the US without a 4457 creates two issues for you. First issue is that you could be required to pay a tariff on the appraised value of the firearm in question. Secondly, if CBP pushes the issues there are criminal penalties that can be assessed. It is the criminal penalties that will get your attention!

Getting a CBP 4457 for your firearm(s) and/or any other expensive items (cameras, lens, binocs, spotting scopes, watches, jewelry, etc) is very simple and straightforward.
Don’t be “that person” on your next trip abroad.

Graybird - Get the US 4457 form from US Customs prior to entering Canada or any place else. And Safari James is spot on about including other expensive items on it. I've flown on airlines that make no mention of this form at check-in, you must raise the issue. If you are driving into Canada just go to the US Customs at that crossing first to get the 4457 properly filled out. If you travel again out of the US with the same firearm you can use the same 4457 that you got on a prior trip, I've done it. Get it, it's free, and it added about 10 minutes to our whole crossing time, a heck of a lot less time than trying to re-enter without one.

Thanks folks!

Our trip is scheduled for October and I didn't know about my customers who will be driving across the boarder.

I'll make sure they have their forms in order.

The biggest question for me was how much ammo could they bring across the border. There will only be the two of them while four of us additional guys will be flying. I didn't know if I could buy all the ammo and have them transport it across the border for all of us.

Thanks,

Yup, 200 rounds per person tax free for a hunting trip and 1,500 for a recognized shooting competition.

A suggestion. Make several copies of your 4457, for each of you weapons. Put one copy in the case with the weapon, one in you wallet and one in your checked baggage.
Carry the orginal with your passport.

Jim

Graybird, In my previous reply I overlooked your question about bringing a shotgun into Canada. Each person bringing a gun or guns into Canada will need to have a Canadian Firearms Form 909. Go online, or call Canadian Customs. But each person will need the 909 Form filled out and UNSIGNED and UNDATED upon arrival at the Canadian Customs, be it in an airport in Canada or at a highway border crossing. Have three copies, that's what they want. Along with 25 or 30 bucks. You will be dead in the water without this.

You don't have to fill out the form before arriving in Canada but it will save you time. It's $25.

Thanks folks!

I have the 4457 for everything except the rifle im taking. ill have to drive 2 hrs. each way just spend 5 minutes getting the form filled out.

T-Head: If you are in the US you should not have to drive to get the form. Get it filled out by US Customs at the airport you depart from, or at the US Customs Border Crossing just prior to leaving the US by vehicle. It's not a Canadian form, the 4457, it's for US citizens traveling out of the US with expensive possessions like guns, cameras, jewelry, etc.

I am flying into Canada for a hunt I have the Canadian papers I need but do I need this form 4457 as well?

Tex - Go to your departure airport earlier than usual. Get a US Customs agent to fill out a 4457 for you before you check your firearm with the airline. IT"S A USA FORM, Canada doesn't give a rat's ass about it, but if you don't have it upon returning to the US, you will AT BEST be in for a big delay at US Customs. Holy crap, no wonder those customs agents all treat us like we don't have brains.