Can I travel with my firearm internationally?
Asked by: Wilber Bernhard | Last update: February 7, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (29 votes)
Yes, you can travel internationally with a firearm, but it's extremely complex and requires extensive research, permits, and compliance with both U.S. export laws (like EAR/ITAR and AECA) and strict regulations of your destination country, often requiring advance permits, with many countries (like the EU/UK/Jamaica) generally prohibiting them for civilians, risking arrest, confiscation, and severe penalties if done incorrectly.
Can you travel internationally with your firearm?
Yes, you can travel internationally with a firearm, but it's extremely complex and requires extensive preparation, involving strict compliance with U.S. export laws, destination country import laws (often requiring special permits/licenses from their government and the U.S. ATF/State Dept), and specific airline policies, with penalties for non-compliance including fines, confiscation, and imprisonment. Key steps involve contacting embassies/consulates, U.S. Customs (CBP), and airlines early, declaring the firearm, using a locked, hard-sided case, and ensuring it's unloaded in checked baggage, with ammunition securely packed separately.
Do you have to declare a gun at customs?
If you are traveling internationally with a firearm in checked baggage, please check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information and requirements prior to travel. Declare each firearm each time you present it for transport as checked baggage.
What countries can you conceal carry a gun in?
Contents
- 1.1 United States.
- 1.2 United Kingdom.
- 1.3 Canada.
- 1.4 Brazil.
- 1.5 Czech Republic.
- 1.6 Mexico.
- 1.7 Pakistan.
- 1.8 Philippines.
Can I carry a firearm in checked baggage?
Yes, you can put a gun in your checked bag, but it must be unloaded, locked in a hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at the ticket counter; you must follow strict TSA and airline rules, ensuring the case is secure and the keys stay with you, and you are responsible for knowing destination laws.
TSA Guide To Traveling With Guns
What countries do not allow guns?
In some countries, including Cambodia, Eritrea, and the Solomon Islands, private ownership of firearms by civilians is completely prohibited. There may be exceptions for private security companies, militias and paramilitary groups.
What documentation is required to travel with a gun?
To travel with a gun, you need a government-issued ID, a locked, hard-sided case (unloaded firearm), and must declare it to the airline at check-in, keeping the key; documentation for international or specific state travel (like CBP Form 4457 for exports/imports or carry permits) is crucial, but for domestic flights, your ID and following TSA/airline rules suffice, though you must research all destination state laws.
What is the most gun-friendly country?
There isn't one single "most gun friendly" country, but the United States has the highest civilian gun ownership and very permissive laws in many states, while Switzerland is known for its strong gun culture tied to militia service and relatively liberal ownership rules for certain firearms after background checks, and countries like Yemen also have extremely non-restrictive laws, though often with different cultural contexts. Other nations with high ownership or liberal access include Canada, Finland, and Serbia, often linked to hunting or defense traditions.
Is there an international concealed carry permit?
The simple answer is no. As a visitor, you cannot carry concealed in other countries even if you were able to legally travel with your firearms and bring them into the country for other legal purposes.
What is the most armed country in the world?
The United States is the most armed country, holding the most civilian firearms (over 393 million, or about 120.5 per 100 people) globally, far surpassing any military's total stock. While other nations like Russia and China have large military arsenals, the U.S. civilian population is the world's largest "armed group" by sheer volume of guns, driven by a strong gun culture and constitutional rights, although military strength and nuclear power are separate metrics.
What happens if you don't declare a firearm at the airport?
The first thing that will happen is that you will be detained. The firearm, silencer, or other equipment will be confiscated, and you will be detained while local law enforcement agencies are notified. These fines are laid out in the TSA Enforcement Sanctions and you will receive an official TSA Notice of Violation.
Can TSA open my gun case?
Passengers may use any brand or type of lock to secure the case, including TSA-recognized locks. Under no circumstance will TSA open a firearm container.
Can you carry a gun in international waters?
vessel flying the American flag (legally) in international waters may carry any firearm allowed by U.S. federal law as well as legal ammunition to go with it. This, however, is only true in international waters.
What weapons can I travel with?
Within the U.S., you can only travel with firearms and ammunition, including pellet and BB guns, in your checked bags if you're over 18 years old. You must check them with an agent at check-in and declare that you're traveling with firearms and ammunition. Firearms must be: Unloaded.
How many boxes of shotgun shells can you fly with?
Shotgun shells are permitted on American Airlines, provided they are packed properly and declared at check-in. You may carry a maximum of 11 pounds of ammunition in total, including the box. It is important to keep the shells in their original fiber, wood, or metal packaging that separates them individually.
Can I take my gun to Jamaica?
Firearms: Jamaica strictly forbids importing or possessing firearms in Jamaica without prior authorization of the Firearms Licensing Authority of Jamaica. A U.S. concealed carry permit does not allow you to bring a firearm or ammunition into Jamaica.
Can Americans bring their guns to other countries?
If you are traveling internationally on your own, you'll need to obtain a gun permit to legally carry your firearms and ammunition into other countries. These can take months to obtain, so start working on this early!
What is the Trump National firearms Act?
1, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, has removed the $200 manufacturing and transfer tax for suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and AOW's, although the $200 tax remains for machine guns and destructive devices.
Can you carry a gun in your car in Canada?
Yes, you can carry a gun in your car in Canada, but it must be unloaded, out of sight, and in a locked container (like the trunk) or locked vehicle, with stricter rules for restricted/prohibited firearms requiring an Authorization to Transport (ATT) and locked safety devices. Non-restricted firearms (most hunting rifles/shotguns) must be unloaded and locked away or hidden in a locked car, while restricted firearms (handguns) need an ATT, a locked case, and a trigger lock.
What is the freest gun state?
There isn't one single "freest" gun state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Arkansas, Montana, and South Dakota are consistently ranked among the most gun-friendly due to permissive laws like constitutional/permitless carry, strong self-defense protections (Stand Your Ground), and lack of sales tax on firearms. Other states often cited for lenient laws include Arizona, Wyoming, Alaska, Utah, and Mississippi, though some recent political shifts in states like Arizona have impacted their rankings.
What are ghost guns?
What are ghost guns? Ghost Guns are unserialized (and therefore untraceable) firearms that are put together by components purchased either as a kit or as separate pieces. These firearms are fully functioning guns that are as lethal as a fully finished, serialized firearm.
Are guns legal in Italy?
To legally acquire firearms in Italy, individuals must obtain a "purchase authorization" (nulla osta all'acquisto). This authorization permits the holder to purchase and possess a firearm, but not to carry or use it.
Will TSA open my gun case?
No, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is not supposed to open your locked gun case without you present, but they can inspect it and may require you to unlock it for visual confirmation that the firearm is unloaded and ammunition is secured, with the key/combination belonging only to you. You must declare the unloaded firearm at the airline counter, pack it in a locked, hard-sided case, and have only the key/combination. While TSA-approved locks are allowed, many travelers use standard padlocks to prevent unauthorized opening, as TSA has master keys for their locks.
Is TSA PreCheck worth the cost?
Yes, TSA PreCheck is widely considered worth it for most travelers, especially those flying domestically more than once a year, because it offers significantly shorter security lines (99% wait under 10 mins) and lets you keep on shoes, belts, light jackets, and liquids in your bag, reducing hassle and stress. For frequent flyers, the time saved over five years ($78-$85 fee) is substantial, and many travel credit cards even reimburse the cost, making it a highly valuable travel perk.
Is a concealed carry permit considered a form of ID?
It's a state issued id with the exact same information as my drivers license.