Travelling overseas with firearms | Firearms Safety Authority New Zealand

Learn what you need to know about travelling overseas with firearms, including returning back to New Zealand.

When you travel outside New Zealand

If you are taking a firearm out of New Zealand, you must follow the steps below:

Obtain an export permit or submit a notification of export for your firearms, parts, magazines and ammunition
Obtain a permit to import to bring your firearms, parts, magazines and remaining ammunition back into New Zealand
Complete airline travel and destination country entry requirements
Inform Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority that you have used your permit (or not).

Obtain an export permit or notification of export before you depart

When you leave New Zealand with firearms, parts and/or ammunition (including separated components) you must have a permit to export them from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

There are limited exemptions for firearms licence holders to export firearms, parts and associated ammunition for personal use in game hunting or competitions without an export permit. If you are exempt, you must complete and submit a notification of exempted sporting firearms export.

Where you are only exporting ammunition, you must apply for a permit to export.

You must obtain a permit to export if you are taking firearms, parts or ammunition to most Pacific Island nations. See which Pacific Island nations require a permit to export.

The MFAT website provides information about permits to export.

For more information about your export permit obligations, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Carry a copy of the export permit or acknowledgement of the notification of export as New Zealand Customs Service can ask to view this documentation.

Firearms Registry impacts

If you have not yet recorded your firearms in the Firearms Registry, taking a firearm overseas (exporting) or importing a firearm (even if it is normally located in New Zealand) are activating circumstances.
If you have not yet registered your firearms you only have 5 days after the export event to register the item(s) and all other firearms and arms items in your possession. If you will be overseas more than 5 days you should complete your registration activities before you travel so that you do not becoming subject to a compliance action.
If you sell or leave the firearm(s) overseas, upon your return to New Zealand, you must tell Te Tari Pūreke that the firearm is now permanently exported and update the status of the firearm(s) in the Registry.

Obtain a permit to import firearms back into New Zealand

Before you leave New Zealand, you need to apply for a permit to import so that you can bring your firearm(s), parts, detachable magazines, and ammunition back into New Zealand.

Even if your firearms are recorded in the Firearms Registry you must have a permit to import so that you can comply with your obligations under the Arms Act 1983 and the Customs and Excise Act 2018.

You should apply for a permit to import as soon as possible after receiving confirmation of entry in a target shooting competition, booking a guided hunting expedition, or booking your travel to go independent hunting. This is to ensure it is issued in time for your return to New Zealand.

Apply for a permit to import

Complete airline travel and destination country entry requirements

Entry obligations of countries you will visit

Check the licence and or permit requirements of the country or countries you plan to visit.

Ensure you apply for and receive all necessary permits, and/or licences before you leave New Zealand.

Even when you have all the required documentation you may be subject to further scrutiny at transit and destination airports.

Airlines and transport

Airlines have requirements that you must adhere to when you wish to travel with firearms and ammunition as part of your checked in luggage.

Each airline will have variations in their rules of carriage for firearms or the places to which they will carry firearms.

Confirm what an airline allows before you book your tickets.

Advise the airline (or your travel agent if booking travel that way) that you will be carrying a firearm, parts or ammunition – be prepared to provide details of your items. The airline may record your information on your ticket and may also require details of firearm make, model and serial number, and sometimes the weight of your ammunition.

Ensure you confirm with your airline or travel agent whether you will be subject to:

any obligations in any countries that you will transit through on your way to your destination.
different carriage of firearms rules if your journey involves flying on more than one airline.

Transport and storage

When travelling with firearms or ammunition you must ensure that your items are always securely stored.

Learn more in our guide about storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition.

Soon to expire licence

Many countries, like New Zealand, will not allow a person with an expired or soon to expire licence to bring firearms into their country. Your firearms may be seized and might not be returned to you.

It is recommended that you always apply for your new licence at least four months before the expiry date shown on your firearms licence card.

Ensure your licence is current when booking travel and applying for a permit to import to bring your firearms back into New Zealand, and that it will not expire while you are overseas or shortly after you return to New Zealand.

If your licence is due to expire in less than three months after you will return to New Zealand, we recommend that you submit your licence application as soon as possible. If your application has already been submitted contact the person who most recently emailed you about your application, or contact us by email to firearmslicence.applications@police.govt.nz to discuss completing the process before you travel.

NOTE:

You can travel with firearms by aircraft within New Zealand if your licence is expired if your application for a new licence was received before your licence expiry date. (see our guidance here)
You can access Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Licence Checker function and use this to confirm you are a current firearms licence holder Firearms Licence Checker | Firearms Safety Authority New Zealand

You can access Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Licence Checker function and use this to confirm you are a current firearms licence holder Firearms Licence Checker | Firearms Safety Authority New Zealand

When you arrive back in New Zealand

Going through New Zealand Customs

You must declare all firearms, firearm parts, magazines, and ammunition to New Zealand Customs.

New Zealand Customs detains firearms, firearm parts, magazines and ammunition if you do not have a permit to import for the item(s).

Contact Te Tari Pūreke Permits team

Once you have returned you must email Te Tari Pūreke to confirm that you have used your permit to import to return your arms item(s) to New Zealand (Arms Regulations 1992 Reg 13 Notification of importation) or advise if the item(s) were sold or left overseas.

You need to provide the permit number, the date you used the permit, and list the arms items you brought home.

Contact Te Tari Pūreke permits team on permitfirearms@police.govt.nz