Kenya - Apply for an Entry Permit of Guns / Ammunition

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Procedure

Apply In-Person
Step 1.

• The first step is to make written application to the Firearm Licensing Authority in Kenya under the Ministry of Interior through Kenya embassy in your country of origin. Guns in Kenya are regulated by the Chief Licensing Officer, appointed by the Commissioner of Police.
• Guiding gun control legislation in Kenya includes the Firearms Act of 2012.
• That such a firearm or ammunition can be permitted into Kenya for only particularly suitable for sporting purposes; excluding surplus military firearm.

Step 2.

• You will then be issued with an application form that will you will be required be filled with relevant information and attach the required documents.
• Details of the required documents can be found in the “Required Documents Section” of this page while the required information can be found in “Required Section” of this page.
• Make sure to accompany the application form with all the required documents.
• These includes the permit to possess a firearm in your home Country.
• A person not meeting the above criteria may not be granted permission to import the firearms / ammunition

• A Local permit is required for a firearm or ammunition brought into the Kenya or any possession thereof by any person who can establish to the satisfaction of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that such firearm or ammunition was previously taken out of the Kenya or any possession thereof by such person..

Step 3

• On arrival in Kenya, the Authorities in Kenya will register your serial number of the weapon Firearms or ammunition which an individual acquired for use (for example, Hunting or bird shooting or protection).
• The firearms and/or ammunition may not be transferred to another person within Kenya.
• This permit does not authorize the importation of a shotgun with a barrel of less than 18 inches in length or an overall length of less than 26 inches.

Step 4

• Upon a satisfactory appraisal of the application the permit is issued in a booklet form, bearing one of the passport photographs of the applicant and carrying the stamp of the Country police headquarters.
• The holder of this permit MUST take the firearms and any unused ammunition back out of the territorial limits kenya upon the conclusion of his/her hunting or sporting activity.

Note:

1. The permit Authorized the applicant of the firearms, carry his /her gun up to the Boarder entry and must,handed to the authorities on arrival. All arms and ammunition, including spear guns, must be handed to the police or customs on arrival and a receipt obtained. The bonded firearms will be returned on departure.
2. In Kenya, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law.
3. In Kenya, civilians are not allowed to possess long-guns but they can carry small arms that are hand-held firearms-such as revolvers, self-loading pistols, rifles, submachine-guns, assault rifles, and light machine-guns-designed for use by one person.3 Light weapons, a closely-related category, are designed for use by several persons serving as a crew in Kenya.

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Required Documents

1. 4 Passport sized photographs
2. Attested copy of address proof:
3. Attested copy of date of birth . (passport copy, Birth certificate)
4. Affidavit sworn before a Magistrate/Notary stating date and place of birth by illiterate or semi-illiterate applicants.
5. Police clearance Certificate,
6. Duly filled application form
7. Gun Permit held
8. Medical report showing applicant is fit to possess a firearm

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government - Head Office
Harambee House,
P.O Box 30510,00100 Nairobi.
Tel: +254-20-2227411
Email: [email protected]
Immigration and Citizen Services
Nyayo House 20th floor, Kenyatta Avenue/Uhuru Highway
P.O Box 30395 – 00100 Nairobi.
Tel: +254-20-2222022
Email: [email protected]
Website:Interior

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade - Head Office
Old Treasury Building, Harambee Avenue
P.O Box 30551 00100 G.P.O
NAIROBI, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 318888
Email: [email protected]
Website: MFA COntacts

Kenya Prison Headquarters.
Bishop Road Upperhill
Next to NSSF Building.
P. O. Box 30175 -00100,
Nairobi.
Tel : 020 2722902
E-mail: [email protected]

Eligibility

• All Foreigners and Resident of Kenya with a Entry pass of Guns or Ammunition license are Eligible.
• Foreigner tourist must have a tourist visa before securing a Ammunition permit in Kenya.

Fees

• fee structure is highlighted on page 36

1. For import or export permit
2. For each permit of a registered firearms dealer . 1,000
3. For each permit for a resident of Kenya: Per gun.. 200
4. Per ammunition ... 100
5. For each sport hunting permit .. .. 100
6. For each permit for sporting bulk ammunition (not exceeding 500 rounds)……. 150
7. For each permit for sporting bulk ammunition (not exceeding 500 rounds)……… 200
8. For each fishing gun permit ... 200
9. For each permit for person who is not a resident .. 300

Validity

• Valid for a period of 90 days

Documents to Use

• application forms are available as from page 36

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• Processing take 60 days

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. 	
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

• Foreign citizens should take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling to Kenya.
• Foreign travelers should exercise caution and are strongly encouraged to register with their home Embassy prior to or immediately upon their arrival.
• Firearms must be bonded and are held by the proper authorities until time of departure. However Import of all firearms, including sporting guns, is prohibited in Kenya.
• You will need a permit to own any gun in Kenya. Firearms should be licensed and must be securely locked on board, under the captain's control only.
• At times Fire arms must be declared and if customs are satisfied that they are safely secured, you may be allowed to keep them on board.

Required Information

1. Name (in full)
2. (a) Postal address

   (b) If above address is temporary only, state address to which communications should be sent

   (c) Residential address .

   (d) Length of period resident at address (c) .

3. Age
4. Nationality .
5. Occupation
6. Reason for requiring the firearm(s) and ammunition
7. Firearms and ammunition for which certificate required—

   a. firearms—

   i. possessed at date of application*

   ii. desired to be purchased or acquired

   b. ammunition— Quantity Calibre and Type

   i. possessed at date of application

   ii. maximum amount desired to be purchased or acquired at any one time

   iii. total amount desired to be purchased or acquired in one year

   iv. maximum amount desired to be possessed at any one time

   (a) Whether a firearm certificate has previously been held, or applied for, by applicant

   (b) Date and place of issue of any firearm certificate previously held

Need for the Document

• Non-immigrant visitors entering the Kenya with firearms or ammunition must surrender their firearms at the arrival port of entry. It is not easy to obtain a Gun permit into Kenya.
• They should inquire through their country's embassy or consulate about the permit required. Some countries impose a stiff prison term for importing illegal firearms.
• No person shall import or export any firearm or ammunition save under and in accordance with the terms of an import or export permit issued by an authorized officer.
• Diplomats, foreign law enforcement officials and visiting dignitaries designated by the Kenya Department of State are not exempt from this requirement when bringing a gun for hunting purposes.

Information which might help

• A list of firearms, with their type and details, must be handed to the authorities on arrival at the port of Entry in Kenya.
• No person shall import or export any firearm or ammunition save under and in accordance with the terms of an import or export permit issued by an authorized officer: Provided that where any firearm or ammunition, not being a firearm or ammunition the importation of which is for the time being prohibited under subsection (2), is imported for the personal use of the owner thereof but without an import permit under this section having been previously obtained authorizing the importation thereof, the importation shall not be deemed to contravene the provisions of this section if the firearm or ammunition on importation is left in customs control until an import permit under this section is obtained in respect of the importation thereof.
• No person shall import or export any firearm or ammunition, or any firearm or ammunition of a class or type, of which the importation or exportation is for the time being prohibited by the Minister by order published in the Gazette.
• Any person who contravenes any of the provisions shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than fifteen years.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

• Firearms Act
• Police Act

Others

• The permit Authorized the applicant of the firearms, carry his /her gun up to the Boarder entry and must,handed to the authorities on arrival. All arms and ammunition, including spear guns, must be handed to the police or customs on arrival and a receipt obtained. The bonded firearms will be returned on departure.
• In Kenya, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law.
• In Kenya, civilians are not allowed to possess long-guns but they can carry small arms that are hand-held firearms-such as revolvers, self-loading pistols, rifles, submachine-guns, assault rifles, and light machine-guns-designed for use by one person.3 Light weapons, a closely-related category, are designed for use by several persons serving as a crew in Kenya.