Shooting as a Visitor in the UK

Visitor’s firearm and shotgun permit procedure

To visit Great Britain with a firearm you will need to apply for a visitor’s firearm or shotgun permit at least six weeks in advance. Anyone attempting to enter Great Britain without a visitor’s firearm or shotgun permit will not be allowed to enter Great Britain with their firearms.

Certain firearms are prohibited in Great Britain such as semi-automatic rifles (other than .22 rimfire) and the majority of handguns/pistols (except for use at events such as the Olympics and only where specific authority has been granted by Her Majesty’s Government). The police, on receipt of a visitor’s permit application, will determine whether a particular firearm will be allowed into Great Britain.

The police will refuse to grant a visitor’s permit where there are grounds for believing that possession of the firearms and ammunition in question represent a danger to public safety or to the peace, e.g. if the applicant has a criminal history.

PLEASE NOTE: All criminal convictions have to be declared to UK police, however old and regardless of whether they are viewed as spent in the applicant’s country of residence.