Importing RIFs to the UK

[Mad Rag]

@theghosthost16 As all the above have mentioned i would highly recommend renting for your first 3 months to get your UKARA then you can buy all you want. just be aware even if you have a two tone and then paint it, it is also an offence to change the appearance of a IF to make it look like a RIF, not that any site would care but bare it in mind. As the wise @Rogerborghas said, if you have your own RIF and it breaks that's game day over for you if its not a quick fix. if you have a rental and something goes wrong it gets changed out the chances of the replacement rental  breaking is next to nothing.  At the end of the day its only for 3 months so please don't take this the wrong way but just suck it up and deal with it or get a 2 tone. oh and please don't risk importing a rif as said above its likely to be seized and destroyed. 

I can say from my own experience when i rented i had no issues what so ever as @Musica said fife war games have some really decent firehawks that i would recommend ( speaking of that @Musica did you get a visit into FWG? I mind you wanted to go. )

 

[Musica]

@theghosthost16 As all the above have mentioned i would highly recommend renting for your first 3 months to get your UKARA then you can buy all you want. just be aware even if you have a two tone and then paint it, it is also an offence to change the appearance of a IF to make it look like a RIF, not that any site would care but bare it in mind. As the wise @Rogerborghas said, if you have your own RIF and it breaks that's game day over for you if its not a quick fix. if you have a rental and something goes wrong it gets changed out the chances of the replacement rental  breaking is next to nothing.  At the end of the day its only for 3 months so please don't take this the wrong way but just suck it up and deal with it or get a 2 tone. oh and please don't risk importing a rif as said above its likely to be seized and destroyed. 

I can say from my own experience when i rented i had no issues what so ever as @Musica said fife war games have some really decent firehawks that i would recommend ( speaking of that @Musica did you get a visit into FWG? I mind you wanted to go. )

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Yea I was there on the 30th of June. Was a fun site for it being outdoor more in common with The Depot than S8 that is for sure. I enjoyed the game modes a lot more as well as straight forward easy to follow especally as I was learning the site.

 

[Mad Rag]

Yea I was there on the 30th of June. Was a fun site for it being outdoor more in common with The Depot than S8 that is for sure. I enjoyed the game modes a lot more as well as straight forward easy to follow especally as I was learning the site.

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its a really good site and AJ the lead marshal is brilliant. ive not been in a little while but hope to get up there soon 

 

[paradoxum]

Hey so,

I bought some stuff from Evike and had it shipped to a buddy in North Carolina US, who then tried to ship it on to me - but the $130 cost of shipping (-_-) the package, and it was returned to him after reaching miami airport - I'm gonna get him to send the non-guns to me in a separate package, but how do I get the rifle/handgun through customs? Do I need to have a UKARA or other license number on the box or something? The local field uses something called PASS, which they say is recognized by retailers in the UK, will that do?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tommikka]

Hey so,

I bought some stuff from Evike and had it shipped to a buddy in North Carolina US, who then tried to ship it on to me - but the $130 cost of shipping (-_-) the package, and it was returned to him after reaching miami airport - I'm gonna get him to send the non-guns to me in a separate package, but how do I get the rifle/handgun through customs? Do I need to have a UKARA or other license number on the box or something? The local field uses something called PASS, which they say is recognized by retailers in the UK, will that do?

Thanks in advance.

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If it only got as far as Miami airport then its nothing to do with UKARA, but was US customs or the carrier

He should have had something as to why it was bounced back. 

Failure to declare contents on a customs sticker?

They observed it contained gun like items?

The contents were in breach of the carriers prohibited & restricted items list?

For arrival in the U.K. you will ideally want your VCRA ‘defence’ details on the package. Such as your local sites Pass scheme...... UK customs / border force will also probably send you a card asking for import fees 

 

[paradoxum]

My buddy in the US got the package back and he said it had a note on it simply saying "it just said contents prohibited by receiving country so return to sender", what's up with that? even if it were true, which it isn't, when it got to UK customs and they didn't find a license number anywhere THEN I assume they would do something - but not before actually leaving the USA, so what gives?

There was a SCAR-H, a 1911, 3x master mike 40mm's, some magazines, plate carrier/pistol holster and some other misc stuff, nothing like gas cans that would be prohibited. Any advice? Even when I get my PASS number and have my buddy put that on the box, like, how do US customs know that registration number is legit or not, surely the staff at the customs don't have access to the database in the UK to check if the recipient has a license or not? 

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Tommikka]

My buddy in the US got the package back and he said it had a note on it simply saying "it just said contents prohibited by receiving country so return to sender", what's up with that? even if it were true, which it isn't, when it got to UK customs and they didn't find a license number anywhere THEN I assume they would do something - but not before actually leaving the USA, so what gives?

There was a SCAR-H, a 1911, 3x master mike 40mm's, some magazines, plate carrier/pistol holster and some other misc stuff, nothing like gas cans that would be prohibited. Any advice? Even when I get my PASS number and have my buddy put that on the box, like, how do US customs know that registration number is legit or not, surely the staff at the customs don't have access to the database in the UK to check if the recipient has a license or not? 

Anyone got any ideas?

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There is a remote possibility that the plate carrier got picked up by an overeager intercepter - there are restrictions on particular military items being exported / imported around.  That’s over doing it

The guns / 40mm shells / magazines might also be the issue

These could do with a note on the export declaration/labels something like “Airsoft RIFs for registered skirmisher 12345”

Even on arrival in the UK if the details aren’t enough you should get a letter saying “You appear to have a RIF addressed to you, is it a RIF, what’s you’re Defence? PS have a customs charge too”

 

[paradoxum]

And here I was hoping I'd get lucky and it would just pass through customs smoothly. I mean, they can't check every single package that goes through can they?

Also hoping to avoid customs charges.. and I thought I was being thrifty by buying in the US and having my buddy ship it so I didn't have to get it two-toned.

 

[Guest]

Currently have a RIF sitting in UK customs from the US, been there a couple of days

 

[GeorgePlaysAirsoft]

And here I was hoping I'd get lucky and it would just pass through customs smoothly. I mean, they can't check every single package that goes through can they?

Also hoping to avoid customs charges.. and I thought I was being thrifty by buying in the US and having my buddy ship it so I didn't have to get it two-toned.

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My assumption would be a combination of sod's law and customs not recognising the PASS number.

I think further documentation is required. I'd be suprised if it was anything other then the RIF.  Ultimately it is illegal to import a RIF.

Best bet is to get UKARA and inform customs on either side of the border. 

 

[RR01]

Just a thought, but is everyone overthinking the OP's question?

1.  He doesn't need UKARA registration, which is mainly the defence for buying a RIF.  He already owns one and there is no UK law that says you cannot own a RIF. Even a sub-18 YO can be gifted one.

2.  His situation is really no different than someone overseas coming here to play at a skirmish with their own RIFs.  So long as he books a game at his preferred site prior to his arrival and carries a copy of his booking confirmation he should not be stopped from bringing it in. As he owns a RIF, presumably he has played regularly at home, so can be considered a regular skirmisher.  That is all the proof needed as far as the VCRA is concerned.

3. If he's never skirmished before, but bought a RIF at home because their rules are simpler than ours then I agree with all the previous comments about renting or posting to a UKARA registered member, or maybe even to the preferred site owners.

 

[Tommikka]

Just a thought, but is everyone overthinking the OP's question?

1.  He doesn't need UKARA registration, which is mainly the defence for buying a RIF.  He already owns one and there is no UK law that says you cannot own a RIF. Even a sub-18 YO can be gifted one.

2.  His situation is really no different than someone overseas coming here to play at a skirmish with their own RIFs.  So long as he books a game at his preferred site prior to his arrival and carries a copy of his booking confirmation he should not be stopped from bringing it in. As he owns a RIF, presumably he has played regularly at home, so can be considered a regular skirmisher.  That is all the proof needed as far as the VCRA is concerned.

3. If he's never skirmished before, but bought a RIF at home because their rules are simpler than ours then I agree with all the previous comments about renting or posting to a UKARA registered member, or maybe even to the preferred site owners.

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It has not got as far as U.K. customs

So its a moot point as to whether he has a VCRA defence

The VCRA would still apply on arrival as it is being imported.  It covers both import and sale.  In this case someone in the US has decided it cannot go through

By attempting to evade import/customs charges, he has incurred postage charges twice (unless he managed to get free internal postage), could still get import/ customs charges and possibly due to having private to private postage has found difficulties 

And here I was hoping I'd get lucky and it would just pass through customs smoothly. I mean, they can't check every single package that goes through can they?

Also hoping to avoid customs charges.. and I thought I was being thrifty by buying in the US and having my buddy ship it so I didn't have to get it two-toned.

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They can check every package if they want to.  But they don’t need to, authorised international carriers do it on behalf of customs.  They judge that from experience based on country of origin, risk etc, how packages look etc.  They don’t even have to open the parcel to look (or even X-ray it). I have had international packages that have never been opened and have been sent VCRA / firearms forms, I think I have only had one package opened in many many years

They can also spot a jackanory customs declaration from miles away

Customs may spot check if they want

Packages may go through X-ray as a matter of routine, dogs may sniff, etc

There are many things 

My assumption would be a combination of sod's law and customs not recognising the PASS number.

I think further documentation is required. I'd be suprised if it was anything other then the RIF.  Ultimately it is illegal to import a RIF.

Best bet is to get UKARA and inform customs on either side of the border. 

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It did not make it as far as the U.K. 

Therefore it’s irrelevant as to whether they recognised the PASS number.  The process would be to hold onto it and send out a form asking about defences 

 

[GeorgePlaysAirsoft]

My assumption (and it is only that) given the message of 'content prohibited by receiving country' is that they've correctly deduced that it is illegal to import a RIF into the UK and said nah, cba with that!

Likewise with the OP - yea he could import a RIF himself and be ok. Or you could face a bit of a hassle like the other chap. 

Edit:UKARA is common enough - ive never heard of PASS before and im a  boring guy. I have no idea what US customs are like but it would be worth contacting them i think.

 

[Guest]

My RIF has just cleared UK customs, my UKARA is on the box ?

 

[paradoxum]

My RIF has just cleared UK customs, my UKARA is on the box ?

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Can you tell me exactly how you put it on there, where about, any other info included with it etc? was it big and visible? anything to help the next attempt work.

3. If he's never skirmished before, but bought a RIF at home because their rules are simpler than ours then I agree with all the previous comments about renting or posting to a UKARA registered member, or maybe even to the preferred site owners.

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I suppose I could ask the local site if I could ship it to them but seems like a hassle. I'll just get a PASS number and put that on and hope next time works.

 

[GeorgePlaysAirsoft]

If you didnt have any documentation on it all i'm not suprised it was seized!!! 

 

[paradoxum]

So the local field uses PASS.

Do I just write like, "REGISTERED VCRA - PASS # = XXXXXXXX"  under the address or something? what specifically should be written? 

Thanks.

 

[Yukarin]

I believe UK Customs has access to the UKARA Database? Would best get a UKARA number so they can check it there and then as opposed to back and forth communication problems.

In my experience whenever UK Customs sees a parcel of mine with UKARA written on it they always check it and charge custom charges.

Ordering RIFs from outside of Europe typically ends up being the same price as in Europe once you account for all costs.

 

[paradoxum]

I believe UK Customs has access to the UKARA Database? Would best get a UKARA number so they can check it there and then as opposed to back and forth communication problems.

In my experience whenever UK Customs sees a parcel of mine with UKARA written on it they always check it and charge custom charges.

Ordering RIFs from outside of Europe typically ends up being the same price as in Europe once you account for all costs.

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PASS is a VCRA number that is recognized too right? because my local place only does PASS not UKARA, I'd have to travel like 4 hours away to somewhere for a UKARA application stamp.

 

[Tommikka]

If you didnt have any documentation on it all i'm not suprised it was seized!!! 

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It still didn’t get far enough for that

he would have got a letter from HMRC/Border Force asking for his defence to justify importing a RIF

It never left America 

So the local field uses PASS.

Do I just write like, "REGISTERED VCRA - PASS # = XXXXXXXX"  under the address or something? what specifically should be written? 

Thanks.

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That should do it

But maybe something to relate it to the site running the scheme.  It depends on how PASS is run

PASS is a VCRA number that is recognized too right? because my local place only does PASS not UKARA, I'd have to travel like 4 hours away to somewhere for a UKARA application stamp.

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There is no official scheme

VCRA is the legislation.  The airsoft Defence is the intent to  ‘skirmish at an insured site’

UKARA is the retailers industry scheme and is the best known scheme

Other schemes can be used