European Firearms Pass (EFP)

The European Firearms Pass (EFP) is designed to facilitate the movement of target shooters and hunters from one EU country to another with their firearms.

If you are transporting a firearm or a firearm component to another member state on the basis of an EFP, you must be able to provide reliable proof of your participation in a shooting or a hunting event. You must also hold a Finnish permit entitling you to possess a firearm (possession permit or firearm permit).

Some EU countries require that, in addition to the EFP and an invitation to an event, you need to obtain prior consent or authorisation from the authorities of your destination country before bringing a firearm in. This is something you need to find out from the country where you are heading.

The European Firearms Pass is granted by a police department. Applications are submitted verbally. EFPs are valid for the duration of the associated firearm permits and, in any case, for a maximum period of five years. However, EFPs can be renewed.

When applying for an EFP you must bring along:

• proof of your possession permit, firearm permit or parallel permit
• 2 passport photos
• your passport or identity card.

You can submit your application even if you don’t have a passport or identity card with you. However, as the police department will have to verify your identity, your appointment will take longer.

If the EU classification of any firearm or firearm component associated with the EFP application cannot be found in the firearms database, you must present the firearm or firearm component to the police before an EFP can be issued. In general, the firearms database only includes EU classifications of firearms and firearm components inspected after 26 November 2012.

If you have self-loading single-shot firearms in which you have the right to use high-capacity magazines, you may need two EFPs. In this case, the firearms can be marked in one EFP as category B firearms (small-capacity magazine attached to the firearm) and as category A firearm in another one (high-capacity magazine attached). This way your EFP always corresponds to the EU category of firearms you are transporting.