Home Office Update
To summarise, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you will no longer be able to apply for a European Firearms Pass (EFP) or use one to travel to the EU with your firearm or shotgun. Before travelling, you will need to check and follow the licensing requirements of any EU country you will be in with your firearm after 31 October.
We’ve recently updated our guidance on GOV.UK to outline this, which you may find useful.
Changes to European Firearms Pass
If we leave the EU without a deal, European Firearms Passes (EFP's) would no longer be validfor UK residents travelling to the EU, or for EU residents travelling to the UK, with their firearms or shotguns.
What this means for police forces
The changes would mean UK police forces would no longer issue EFP's to UK residents who are wishing to travel to the EU with their firearm.
Sponsors of EU visitors with firearms would still have to apply to their local police force for a Visitor's permit, but it would no longer be a legal requirement to show a valid EFP as part of this process. The police will continue to assess an applicant's fitness to hold a firearm as part consideration of the Visitor's Permit application, so current firearms controls will not be weakened.
Apart from changes to EFP's, the UK's domestic firearms licensing arrangements will not be affected by leaving the EU.
What this means for UK residents
UK residents travelling to, or due to be in, an EU country with their firearm after 29th March will need to check licensing requirements with the country they're travelling to. this is particular;y important for anyone taking in competitions or events shortly aftert we leave the EU.
Countries may have varying lead times for applying for licenses, so we are advising that people consider checking requirements now. Without the proper licenses, people may not be allowed to travel with firearms.
What this means for EU residents.
EFP's would no longer be recognised for EU visitors to the UK. Their sponsors will apply for a Visitor's Permit like now, but will need to show a valid EFP as part of this process.
Next Steps
We’d like you to share this information with your members, to make them aware of these changes in case we leave the EU without a deal. If police forces receive any enquiries or applications from UK residents for EFPs, they can direct people to further information on Gov.uk
