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PzGren · September 9, 2018, 07:42 AM

Chrissy,

I imported over 50 firearms from Germany, handling the export from Germany myself and the import here. Your FFL01 can import the rifles for"the occasional personal import" for you unless they are milsurps, those can only be imported by FFL08.
He needs to file ATF Form 6 , the import permit. With this form you can get the export permit in Germany. Getting the export permits in Germany is much, much harder than getting the import permit here. You will most likely need a German exporter to handle the paperwork and a freight forwarder to handle the export shipment. The exporter needs a German tax number, an EORI number and has to have access to the BAFA online site and a freight forwarder needs to declare the export using a specail German customs software system.

The shipment has to go by airfreight and you need a customsbroker to clear the shipment in the first US port of arrival with a filled out ATF Form 6A. From there it needs to be forwarded to your FFL01 and you fill out 4473.

It would be good for customs purposes to have a statement that the guns are gifts from your grandfather.

You will need a customs broker located at the airport of arrival, clearance has to be done using codes that I could never find. For my last import of about 30 firearms I paid the broker about $250. That is still cheaper than you going to the airport of first arrival and do it yourself. Most airlines that ship firearms, like Lufthansa, only ship using direct flights to reduce the theft risk.

Personal imports done by an FFL01 are exempt from the import marking requirements.

September 9, 2018, 07:42 AM	#3
PzGren Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2001 Posts: 1,288	Chrissy, I imported over 50 firearms from Germany, handling the export from Germany myself and the import here. Your FFL01 can import the rifles for"the occasional personal import" for you unless they are milsurps, those can only be imported by FFL08. He needs to file ATF Form 6 , the import permit. With this form you can get the export permit in Germany. Getting the export permits in Germany is much, much harder than getting the import permit here. You will most likely need a German exporter to handle the paperwork and a freight forwarder to handle the export shipment. The exporter needs a German tax number, an EORI number and has to have access to the BAFA online site and a freight forwarder needs to declare the export using a specail German customs software system. The shipment has to go by airfreight and you need a customsbroker to clear the shipment in the first US port of arrival with a filled out ATF Form 6A. From there it needs to be forwarded to your FFL01 and you fill out 4473. It would be good for customs purposes to have a statement that the guns are gifts from your grandfather. You will need a customs broker located at the airport of arrival, clearance has to be done using codes that I could never find. For my last import of about 30 firearms I paid the broker about $250. That is still cheaper than you going to the airport of first arrival and do it yourself. Most airlines that ship firearms, like Lufthansa, only ship using direct flights to reduce the theft risk. Personal imports done by an FFL01 are exempt from the import marking requirements. Last edited by PzGren; September 9, 2018 at 07:54 AM.