I have heard that you now need an EXCOL permit to leave Canada with your rifle? Has anyone else heard of this??

You will need the permit for everywhere except the U.S. Unless things have changed in the lat few days.

You've always needed it when going to countries outside the U.S. but I suspect with the registry now history that they'll get a bit more demanding that people have it. So far, I've had to explain what it was to 80% of CBSA agents but it is the law that you must have it.

An EXCOL permit has been required to temporarily export firearms for at least five years. I required one for a hunting trip to Namibia in 2007. The permit requirement does not extend to all countries nor to all types of firearms. It does apply to telescopic sight and ammunition, so you have to do your homework.

The EXCOL permit is a Department of Foreign Affairs thing and they do not necessarily talk to Customs. In 2007, I had to request that a Canadian Customs agent inspect and sign my permit on return to Canada. I could have walked through the border without it. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't have been breaking the law, however.

Last year I was denied an EXCOL permit to take my gun to Zimbabwe. The reason given was sanctions against Zim. I rented a rifle from the outfitter instead. It made travel planning immeasurably simpler, but one likes to shoot his own gun.

For more info on EXCOL permits go to:
https://www.excol-ceed.gc.ca/M...al/Home_Accueil.aspx

I'd say 75% of customs agents don't know they have to sign the EXCOL permit. You do have to be vigilant and tell them for sure.

A customs agent does not need to sign the form, a gunsmith can sign it. Also now that the registry is gone I would sugest you complete a "Form Y38, Identification of Articles for Temporary Exportation" at the customs office. You Only have to do it once and if you keep it its good forever. It is also handy for cameras and bino's

Trying to sort through the firearm Export papers this week myself. What a pain!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck32:
A customs agent does not need to sign the form, a gunsmith can sign it.

Only if they are certified by the government as a firearms verifier....otherwise it needs to be a customs agent.

quote:

Originally posted by nube:
Trying to sort through the firearm Export papers this week myself. What a pain!!!

Not sure where you are going but there really isn't much to it. If it's outside of the U.S., all you need from Canada in an EXCOL for your rifle, scope and ammo. Some of the destination Country's paperwork can be a bit confusing though.

nube here is a primer on Excol from a few years ago Excol permit process . Might be a little dated but should help you through the process.

On a side note may this temp export permit be another type of backdoor gun registry? I think I shall write to Hon Vic Toews and see what come of it.Be nice to get ride of this piece of paperwork BS and go back to the old Y38 form that we keep in our possession and not Govt's

I had the lady call me today and wanted an invitation letter. Other than that it seems she was happy with the way I filled it out. Yes it isn't too hard sheephunter but there are a pil eof boxes and some of it isn't very clear and you know Gov't they want it all perfect.

One question I do have is what happens if i go through customs without presenting it and get through. So what if they sign it or not?? Sounds like 95% of the time nobody asks for it and I think very few hunters even know about it. I know my first trip I never knew a thing and never had anyone bat an eye comeing or going from Canada

You are required to return the signed EXCOL permit to the Dept of Foreign Affairs to demonstrate that you have returned your firearm, etc. to Canada. If you go through Customs and do not get the form signed, and the DFA comes looking for it, you may have a problem. Thus the onus is on you to get it signed.

I might be wrong, but I think most hunters going to Africa know about it.

I have done the permit 3 times (2005, 2007, 2009). None were signed by customs, I never sent it in and I have never had any queries from anyone about them. The only time I was asked for it was in South Africa as part of SAPS paperwork in 2009. Yet another PITA for us gun owners that serves no useful purpose.

A few years ago I wrote to David Emerson when he was International trade minister and asked why Law abiding Canadians had to do the temp export permit while other countries do not. His pat answer was that it was due to to Wassenaar Agreement. I went through that agreement front to back and they specifically exempt Hunting arms and is set up for military arms and its is only an agreement that is non-binding.

quote:

Originally posted by Wooly ESS:
You are required to return the signed EXCOL permit to the Dept of Foreign Affairs to demonstrate that you have returned your firearm, etc. to Canada. If you go through Customs and do not get the form signed, and the DFA comes looking for it, you may have a problem. Thus the onus is on you to get it signed.

I might be wrong, but I think most hunters going to Africa know about it.

You can also take it to a certified firearms verifier for a signature. They actually called me one time to give me grief about not sending it in after the trip so they do check. I had e-mailed it in but they somehow missed it..

I did a hunt this past April in N.Z. and just had my P.A.L. On my return to Canada via Vancouver I was asked for my P.A.L. and they did not ask to see the firearm.

Well to bring a topic back from the dead, Last Sunday I did complete the forms for the permits for my guns ammo and scope, online and lo and behold monday morning at 8 am I had the permit in my email inbox. Wish they were that quick with my PAL renewal.

And FWIW, only on one of my trips abroad have I ever had customs ask to see my permit. That was a CBSA agent that couldn't figure out why I would bring back empty cases and had to ask me to show him how to open the bolt of the gun to check that the chamber was empty. The Bolt wasn't in the gun as I had it in a pocket in the gun case.

Ya, we've only been asked to show it twice but I definitely wouldn't travel overseas without it. Just something else they could make your life miserable over. Just sent ours in last week for our Namibia trip in July....hopefully it's as speedy!