Information for hunting, shooting, fishing and field sports in Scotland

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Guidance on bringing your firearm or shotgun to Scotland

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Bringing a firearm or shotgun to Scotland


Visitors to Scotland (and the rest of the UK) may only bring their firearm (rifle) or shotgun with them if they have in their possession a Visitor Firearm or Visitor Shotgun Permit. Such permits can be valid for up to 12 months but it is more common that these permits are limited to the length of the visit. The general rules and conditions which apply to the grant of a Firearm or Shotgun Permit are:

• An application for a UK Visitor Permit must be made to the police by a sponsor, a person resident in that police area on behalf of you, the visitor. The sponsor is normally your host, sporting agent or a friend in Scotland. (Group applications are cheaper and may be made on behalf of up to 20 visitors provided they are all hunting on the same premises during the same period.)

• Applications must be made at least 28 days before the planned visit.

• Residents of EU Member States must be in possession of a European Firearms Pass. A photocopy or electronic scan of the EFP has to be forwarded with the application for a UK permit.

• An applicant for any visitor's permit must show good reason for possessing, purchasing or acquiring each firearm or shotgun.

• For those not resident of an EU Member State applications should be accompanied by the original, or a copy of, any hunting or firearms licences held in his or her own country as well as evidence of an invitation to shoot in Scotland.

• Entry into Scotland, or any other part of the UK, will not be allowed unless the hunter has a valid UK Permit. A European Firearms Pass on its own will not suffice.

• Each Permit costs £12.00, though a group permit will cost no more that £60.00.

UK Firearms Permit

This is the permit for the possession (but not purchase) of a firearm such as a hunting rifle, as well as allowing the acquisition or purchase of ammunition. The firearm(s) must be listed on the Permit and the quantities of ammunition to be purchased, acquired and held must also be listed. The conditions of use of the rifle will also be listed and must be complied with. If the visitor needs to use expanding ammunition (a legal requirement for all deer stalking) this must be included on the permit.
UK Shotgun Permit

This is the permit that allows the possession, purchase and acquisition of shotguns and ammunition. In the UK, this permit would authorise most shotguns, including side-by-side and over-and-under shotguns as well as semi-automatic shotguns with a magazine capacity of two or less. (Semi-automatic shotguns with a larger magazine capacity are rarely used for hunting in Scotland and would only be authorised by a UK Firearms permit.) No territorial restrictions are placed on a Shotgun Permit, meaning that the shotgun can be used on any hunting ground in Scotland as long as the visitor has permission to hunt there.


Shooting in Scotland – borrowing a shotgun or a firearm

It is possible for a hunter to come to Scotland and to hunt with a borrowed shotgun or a borrowed rifle. This avoids the need to apply for a UK Visitors Permit.

It is only permitted to borrow a shotgun from the owner or occupier of private land and to use that shotgun “in the presence of” the owner or occupier. This is rather restrictive and most hunters wishing to hunt with a shotgun should apply for a permit and bring their own shotgun. However, some sporting agents and estates may be able to arrange for visitors to borrow a shotgun.

For deer stalking with a rifle most estates will be able to arrange for visiting hunters to borrow what is known as the “estate rifle” and to use that rifle while in the presence of the owner or in the presence of his employee, such as the gamekeeper or professional stalker. This is a common occurrence but it is important to check with your sporting agent or your host that a suitable rifle is available. It is very important to note that this is not available to those under 17 years of age.
For further advice please contact the relevant Scottish Police Firearms Licensing Department as listed below:

Central Scotland Police
firearms.licensing@centralscotland.pnn.police.uk
01786 456312

Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary
firearms.licensing@dg.pnn.police.uk
0845 242 263
01387 242263

Fife Constabulary
firearms.licensing@fife.pnn.police.uk
01592 418424

Grampian Police
firearms.licensing@grampian.pnn.police.uk
01224 306270

Lothian & Borders Police
firearms.licensing@lbp.pnn.police.uk
0131 311 3297/8

Northern Constabulary
firearms.licensing@northern.pnn.police.uk
01463 720484

Strathclyde Police
firearms.licensing@strathclyde.pnn.police.uk
01415322486

Tayside Police
firearms.licensing@tayside.pnn.police.uk
0845 600 5705
01382 596858

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